Why do station footbridges often have frosted glass.

[RyanOPlasty]

I can't see any particular problem with using clear glass apart from those stopping to look out possibly restricting flow on the bridge. If this was the case then uncovered footbridges would have higher sides.

My local station (Nuneaton) has a wide bridge and the relatively new glazing is frosted. Another station I occasionally use has had the frosted glass replaced with clear during a recent renovation.

 

[Bletchleyite]

If this was the case then uncovered footbridges would have higher sides.

They often do as an anti-suicide measure, which they do in two ways - one, to prevent people seeing trains and thus thinking of it, and two, to make it much harder to climb up and do it. I know of two that have been increased in height and made opaque in recent years, one being the Redway bridge just south of Milton Keynes Central and the other being Doctor's Bridge in Aughton, between Town Green and Aughton Park stations (which makes me sad as we used to wave at trains from it when I was a kid and get a friendly "toot" )

However I think on station footbridges it's more about preventing people seeing their train approaching and thus running for it. East Croydon certainly is.

 

[Cornish Pasty]

Female modesty?

 

[nerdowell]

Isn't it also a privacy issue at open stations for the surrounding properties? Stop people staring directly into peoples bedrooms from the bridge? I know one of the bridges proposed for the Northumberland Line was scrapped because they couldn't guarantee that neighbouring properties privacy would be adequately protected from looky-loo's (think it was Chase Farm Drive crossing)

 

[Bletchleyite]

Female modesty?

I don't know if that is the reason but it would seem a useful side effect. And then along came Irizar with that stupid "fake tram" bus design that has windows placed precisely where a bad actor could use them to see up someone's skirt (let alone the high risk of them getting damaged)...

 

[fgwrich]

I think for stations like Reading, it’s also used as a light diffuser. The Reading bridge used to be quite painful in the evening when the sun hit that level moment - and made trying to see the information screens actually difficult with the amount of glare bouncing off everything. Likewise it’ll also bounce less reflective light back, which for a driver coming into platform will be a benefit not to be blinded by sunlight from shiny glass.

 

[Peter0124]

Stratford used to have see through material on the footbridge to Westfield, before being completely covered up by advertising posters now.

 

[Benjwri]

It's fairly common to do things like this more generally where there are windows on each side to stop birds flying into the windows, and the cleanup of that.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It's fairly common to do things like this more generally where there are windows on each side to stop birds flying into the windows, and the cleanup of that.

That's an interesting idea. I note that in Germany it's common to have silhouettes of birds stuck to things like that to scare them off. They go into my upstairs front window all the time, it shakes the whole house, they tend to end up lying dazed on the grass for a bit then get up and fly off, though I have seen one die doing it which ended up in the bin.

 

[Surreytraveller]

It could also be to stop people seeing a train at the platform and causing them to make a dash for it, having an accident in the meantime.
That's why they were installed at East Croydon

 

[ccityplanner12]

If I become Prime Minister, the first thing I will do is rip out the frosted glazing on Wimbledon station footbridge. That station is a particular blackspot for people running for trains at last minute & getting injured, which the frosted glazing has not solved and arguably makes worse: it makes it feel claustrophobic causing people to panic. You can't judge your timing because you can't see whether the train's just pulling in or going in 10 seconds (people will just assume the best case scenario because nothing ventured, nothing gained), & you can't see how crowded the platform is.

As for vandalism, this is not so much an issue at Wimbledon because it's busy, but I find that the frosted glazing is less vandal-resistant because vandals carve their tags into the film with a screwdriver or blade.

 

[MikePJ]

One other possibility is that it reduces fear of heights. I have a moderate fear of heights which is triggered by feelings of what climbers call "exposure" - the fear that comes from seeing all the way to the ground. I get this in stairwells, especially where open tread stairs are used, and having something that blocks the downward view really helps. Cathays station footbridge in Cardiff, which I use regularly, has steep, open-tread stairs with lots of exposure and it wobbles when you walk on it - I really hate it! It is being replaced eventually... but I do wonder if architects sometimes consider this factor especially with crowds. A bridge that produces fear of exposure will result in more people walking slowly and anxiously holding the handrails and will slow crowd flow.

One weird thing is that I used to have a job that involved climbing antenna towers, and given a ten-day training course I did get over my fear, but it has subsequently come back again now that I don't do it any more...

 

[norbitonflyer]

I don't know if that is the reason but it would seem a useful side effect. And then along came Irizar with that stupid "fake tram" bus design that has windows placed precisely where a bad actor could use them to see up someone's skirt (let alone the high risk of them getting damaged)...

Many modern double deckers have glazing all the way up the stairs. The Borismaster is a case in point.

 

[py_megapixel]

Many modern double deckers have glazing all the way up the stairs. The Borismaster is a case in point.

I forget the exact wording but I remember noticing that Transport for Greater Manchester's bus spec, which was released under FOI a few years ago, does actually stipulate that consideration has to be given to this when designing glazed panels next to staircases. So at least someone has noticed it as an issue!

Edit: here is the line I was thinking of, quoted from https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/requ.../attach/7/New and Used Bus Specifications.pdf

If transparent materials are used to provide the aisle side staircase panel in the lower saloon or where the staircase is seen from the outside of the Vehicle through a window, obscured material should be used to provide a decency screen for passengers using the staircase.

 

[yorksrob]

It's a stupid idea that if someone can't see their train, they won't run for it.

The pernicious idea that if you deny passengers visual information of where their train is, you will somehow make them "safer".

 

[Sheridan]

At Liverpool South Parkway the walkway over the platforms has clear glazing and there are always a fair few people waiting there - I can never tell if they’re just keeping warm before their train arrives, or if they’re waiting to see which platform the next Liverpool Lime St service will go from before they commit.* Either way, if they couldn’t see out they’d probably have to go down earlier.

*Liverpool-bound trains can arrive from two different lines and if one is late then it can be advantageous to wait in case they get out of order. There are no audio announcements for platform changes either.

 

[NSE]

It's a stupid idea that if someone can't see their train, they won't run for it.

The pernicious idea that if you deny passengers visual information of where their train is, you will somehow make them "safer".

I agree. I will run for trains. Sorry, but I will. By blocking my view I don’t know if the 19:21 is about to leave, so I won’t run or if it’s just pulling in and a light jog will get me onboard. Therefore i’ll run just in case. Do I ignore the no running signs? Yeh course. I’m not perfect. But by blocking my view, I don’t know if a brisk walk will work, so I’ll err on the side caution and run.

 

[yorksrob]

I agree. I will run for trains. Sorry, but I will. By blocking my view I don’t know if the 19:21 is about to leave, so I won’t run or if it’s just pulling in and a light jog will get me onboard. Therefore i’ll run just in case. Do I ignore the no running signs? Yeh course. I’m not perfect. But by blocking my view, I don’t know if a brisk walk will work, so I’ll err on the side caution and run.

Absolutely.

The situation is even more ludicrous at Leeds as they have clear glass on the main transfer deck, yet they've frosted the Eastern footbridge.

 

[NSE]

Absolutely.

The situation is even more ludicrous at Leeds as they have clear glass on the main transfer deck, yet they've frosted the Eastern footbridge.

Not a station I’ve frequented more than a handful of times so I can’t picture it, but I can understand the frustration. East Croydon is one of my most used stations and it irritates me.

 

[Bevan Price]

At some locations, I hate footbridge where you cannot see if anyone is on the bridge whilst I am at ground/platform level. Especially at night, I always wonder if some dodgy character might be hiding on the bridge, waiting to attack/rob some innocent victim...

 

[yorksrob]

Not a station I’ve frequented more than a handful of times so I can’t picture it, but I can understand the frustration. East Croydon is one of my most used stations and it irritates me.

I can well imagine.

 

[Mugby]

Different reasons for different circumstances.

Take the case of Wakefield Westgate, the Down platform has hardly any shelter and can be a very bleak place to wait in inclement weather.
Passengers for Leeds were in the habit of waiting on the footbridge (out of the wind and rain) and then going down the steps when they saw their train approaching. Frosted glass on the bridge put a stop to that because you can't see approaching trains anymore. Simples!

 

[yorksrob]

Different reasons for different circumstances.

Take the case of Wakefield Westgate, the Down platform has hardly any shelter and can be a very bleak place to wait in inclement weather.
Passengers for Leeds were in the habit of waiting on the footbridge (out of the wind and rain) and then going down the steps when they saw their train approaching. Frosted glass on the bridge put a stop to that because you can't see approaching trains anymore. Simples!

A stupid bloody idea - we never caused any trouble on the footbridge.

 

[Howardh]

A stupid bloody idea - we never caused any trouble on the footbridge.

Still waiting there and follow the progress of your train on real-time trains instead!

The fully enclosed footbridge from Bolton's bus station to the station goes over the rail tracks, some windows are clear but many others blacked out. Pity because it's nice to watch the trains pass under, but if fully glazed could be horrendously hot in summer. Wonder if that's the reason for it's design? But a few more clear windows would be nice!

 

[Tester]

Different reasons for different circumstances.

Take the case of Wakefield Westgate, the Down platform has hardly any shelter and can be a very bleak place to wait in inclement weather.
Passengers for Leeds were in the habit of waiting on the footbridge (out of the wind and rain) and then going down the steps when they saw their train approaching. Frosted glass on the bridge put a stop to that because you can't see approaching trains anymore. Simples!

Why is it that when someone says Simples! it's always something daft?

It can't be just me

 

[Belperpete]

The cynic in me thinks it is so that the windows don't have to be cleaned as frequently. As people won't look out of opaque windows, they are less likely to notice how dirty they are.

 

[Railcar]

The frosted glass at East Croydon is ineffective, since the platform (and waiting train) is visible half-way down (that's when the running begins)

 

[Belperpete]

The frosted glass at East Croydon is ineffective, since the platform (and waiting train) is visible half-way down (that's when the running begins)

So it is partially effective, if it means people only start running when half-way down. Some mitigation is better than none.

 

[GRALISTAIR]

It's fairly common to do things like this more generally where there are windows on each side to stop birds flying into the windows, and the cleanup of that.

I had not thought of that but, yes, makes total sense.

 

[Western 52]

The new footbridge at Abergavenny has large clear glass windows with a good view. They seem to keep them clean too.