WALKSCAPE
Crosswave EditionWhat Changes When You Cross a Street in Singapore
2026-03-16
What a Crossing Looks Like to a Visitor From Korea
Singapore’s ties to British administration and law are visible in larger institutions and in some of the smallest habits on the street. I noticed it first at a pedestrian crossing.
At home I usually notice the signal first. In Singapore I also had to learn to notice the type of crossing. Sometimes a light gave me the turn to go. At a zebra crossing I could see a driver slowing down well before I moved.
Traffic Comes From a Different Direction
In Singapore vehicles keep to the left and the steering wheel is usually on the right. That alone changes where you expect to see a car coming from when you reach the curb.
On foot, it also matters whether the crossing is marked with stripes, controlled by a signal or set up to give someone additional time. The details of the marking tell you how to use it.
Four Street Features to Look For
Britain has several named crossing designs. Singapore’s Land Transport Authority uses its own terminology for many installations. The distinctions you’re most likely to notice concern the road markings, the signal, extra crossing time and where a bicycle is meant to go.
- Zebra crossing
- Signalized pedestrian crossing
- Green Man+
- Bicycle crossing signal
The difference between a zebra crossing and a crossing with a pedestrian light is the first one I noticed. The way you decide when to step off the curb changes with it.
Zebra Stripes and the Duty to Give Way
The stripes are familiar from Korea. In Singapore a marked, uncontrolled crossing is commonly called a zebra crossing.
There is no pedestrian signal at an uncontrolled zebra crossing. A driver must give way to someone crossing or starting to cross.
I saw drivers slow and stop as people came up to the stripes. It felt different from waiting for a light. I still looked in both directions and checked that traffic had stopped before I stepped out.
To someone who’s used to waiting for a light, the quiet can feel unfamiliar. The marked crossing and the movement of traffic are what you have to read.
Crossings With a Pedestrian Signal
At signalized crossings, look for the red and green pedestrian figures. Markings can differ from the familiar zebra stripes, so the signal tells you when it’s your turn.
At some crossings, a push button registers a request to cross. Press it and wait for the green figure before stepping out.
I watched people come up, press once and wait. The small movement at the pole was easy to miss until I knew to look for it.
Green Man+ and a Little More Time
At a crossing equipped with Green Man+, eligible seniors and people with disabilities can tap a concession card on a reader to get a longer green signal.
The difference can be several seconds, depending on the crossing. Those seconds give someone who moves more slowly a little more room to get across.
Crossings With Bicycle Signals
Some junctions have a separate crossing or lane for cyclists with a signal in the shape of a bicycle. Follow the markings and signals on the ground and at the pole.
The design shows where a pedestrian should expect to share the space and where a rider should keep to a dedicated part of it.
The Difference I Noticed as a Visitor
On the streets I knew in Korea, I was used to taking the pedestrian light as the main cue. In Singapore it was useful to identify the marking and the kind of signal before I got to the curb.
Each design answers the same question a little differently. When is it someone’s turn to cross?
The zebra stripes, the red and green figures and the extra-time reader all show what the street expects from the people using it.
Seeing the City From the Curb
Once I understood the markings, it was easier to see what the person in a car or on a bicycle could see, too. The street made a little more sense from the curb.
The clarity was part of what made the crossings feel familiar after a few days.
What I Remember About Crossing
It only takes a few seconds to notice a crossing and a few more to get to the other side.
During that time, it matters who has the turn to move and how everyone else can tell.
By the end of the visit, those small exchanges had become part of what I remembered about walking through Singapore.
LTA · Walking and Green Man+ · Singapore Statutes Online · Pedestrian Crossings Rules