The “Steps That Make a Difference” project connects the activities of the “Octopus With an Attitude!” projects with the activities of the “Is Anyone Awake? Choose Life!” project into a coherent approach in order to have a greater impact. On one hand, it focuses on vulnerable groups in traffic, and on the other, it deals with traffic planning, emphasizing the need to account for imperfections in the behavior of traffic participants when designing traffic solutions.
Steps that make a difference in the area of the Zagreb Borongaj railway station
In 2022, four people died in the area of the Zagreb Borongaj railway station. Numerous educational campaigns and warnings are not enough, so the SGI has proposed several solutions. In the National Road Safety Plan of the Republic of Croatia for the period from 2021 to 2030, the Ministry of the Interior identifies humans as the most critical factor in traffic safety, attributing responsibility across three key levels: the responsibility of road traffic participants, the responsibility of traffic creators or planners and the responsibility of infrastructure managers.
This is best seen in the area of the Zagreb Borongaj and the Trnava railway stations. It probably seems unusual to consider road traffic participants as responsible for railway accidents, but the fact is that to a lesser extent, the users of the Trnava railway station are road vehicle drivers along with railway passengers and railway workers. Over 80% of these users are residents of Donja Dubrava who, as road traffic participants, need to cross the railway line in order to get from point A to point B.
Education and prevention have proven insufficient because citizens continue to engage in illegal and risky behavior and endanger their lives and health. This is where the responsibility of the creators or traffic planners becomes critical. It is imperative to recognize the strategic importance of Zagreb Borongaj railway station for the eastern part of Zagreb. Spanning a length of 3 kilometers, the station effectively divides Donja Dubrava into two parts. Along these 3 kilometers, you will come across underpasses at the Maksimir and Čulinec stops, as well as a pedestrian crossing on Osječka Street. However, beyond these points, pedestrians and cyclists are left to find their own way across the tracks. Few people are willing to walk an additional 20 minutes to access one of the existing underpasses, leading to the creation of numerous illegal crossings throughout the station area. The issue of insufficient number of underpasses requires a systematic solution.
It is important to assess the dynamics and intensity of rail, pedestrian and cyclist flows in traffic. Until now, improving traffic safety has been based on analyzing statistical data on accidents, fatalities and injuries. However, when someone gets hurt, it is too late. Planning should be based on everyday behavior. In the area of the Trnava railway crossing and all other regular and irregular crossings in the area of the Zagreb Borongaj station, it is necessary to start with the analysis of the traffic dynamics and intensity.
This includes determining how many trains pass through, identifying peak traffic periods and understanding how many pedestrians, cyclists, and moped riders cross the tracks at the Trnava crossing as well as how many of them commit traffic violations and why. The high traffic intensity involves more than 75 trains and over 7,500 vehicles in a span of 24 hours. This is why, in addition to traffic planners, it is vital to involve psychologists. Fortunately, both are readily available nearby at the Scientific and Educational Campus Borongaj.
Based on this data, it is suggested that the City of Zagreb should build an effective two-level solution. There is also the National Road Safety Plan (NRSP) that addresses the black spots. The crossing from one side of Donja Dubrava to the other in Trnava is covered by the area of action 8 of the NRSP, concerning active traffic participants (pedestrians and cyclists).
Claims of insufficient funds are unconvincing given Matija Mandić’s presentation at the Road Safety Conference revealed the following: one traffic fatality costs the Republic of Croatia 10 million kuna (€1.3 million). This year alone, 4 people died in the area of the Zagreb Borongaj station.
During the implementation of the project “Octopus With an Attitude – Steps that make a difference”, local residents and members of the Donja Dubrava City District Council expressed a common sentiment: “People have been dying here for more than 50 years, it’s nothing new!”
The SGI therefore supports and proposes the following:
- Identifying road traffic participants who are injured within the railway infrastructure areas.
- Involving traffic designers and psychologists in solving the problem of the Donja Dubrava residents crossing the railway tracks and resolving the black spot in the area of the Trnava railway station.
- Building a two-level infrastructure solution.
- Let’s transform Trnava from a location marred by railway accidents into a vibrant hub bursting with life, community interaction and innovative solutions.
“Steps that make a difference” & an attitude that stands out from the crowd – Borongaj Student Campus
“The Urban Development Plan for the Borongaj Student Campus encompasses an area in the eastern part of Zagreb, situated within the Peščenica–Žitnjak city district and it covers an area of approximately 85 ha. The area of the scientific and educational Campus is located between the consolidated urban districts of Maksimir and Ravnice to the north, the Žitnjak industrial zone to the west and south, and unconsolidated residential settlements to the east. Very different suburban and urban structures surround the Campus, without any clear functional or design connection. The Campus is located on the central city axis in the east-west direction and therefore has an extremely favorable geographical and traffic position thanks to the immediate proximity of the railway line to the north and the planned extension of the Vukovar Street to the south.”
On the way to the Borongaj Campus, coming from the north, we are inevitably greeted by a railway line that we have to cross if we want to reach the Campus. The line that used to connect suburban areas with the city has now become a problem. It is located in the middle of the neighborhood and poses a challenge for people trying to reach the Campus on the other side properly and quickly. Maksimir and Trnava railway stations are located on the west and east sides of the Campus, respectively, about 2 km apart. South of the line and roughly in the middle lies the campus; the bus stop is on the north side. These days, students prioritize free time, often hurrying to catch lectures or buses at the very last second. In doing so, they choose the shortest vertical southward route through overgrown and vast shrugs and a dirt desire path. Driven by our curiosity, we walked along this path in order to understand the charms of traffic risk by using an illegal railway crossing. In the 15 minutes it takes from the bus stop, across the illegal crossing, to the back entrance of the Campus, we met several students who confirmed that they have been using this path throughout their entire studies because it is the shortest…
The problem was identified through both quantitative data from railway safety statistics and qualitative data gathered from observations of pedestrians crossing the railway line. For this reason, a preliminary research and analysis of the section of the railway from Podsused to Sesvete was conducted. An assessment was conducted of unauthorized railway crossings near the Borongaj student campus. The devastating results spurred us to action.
The Borongaj campus accommodates approximately 4,500 students from various faculties: the Faculty of Transport Sciences, the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation, Croatian Studies and the Faculty of Economics. Even if only 10% of students use the illegal crossing, that’s still 450 students.
Project Implementation
Project: “A STEP THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE & AN ATTITUDE THAT STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD” – Educational and preventive concept promoting a safe and healthy lifestyle in traffic for students of the Borongaj Campus, consisting of five parts:
- Educational and preventive activities in traffic.
- Educational and preventive activities for all students of the Borongaj Campus and nearby primary school on the topic of safety and a healthy lifestyle in traffic (basic traffic principles, compliance with traffic rules, “a healthy mind in a healthy body”, developing good habits, acquiring new knowledge, promoting traffic culture and correcting risky behavior).
- Educational Trail – “A STEP THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE & AN ATTITUDE THAT STANDS OUT FROM THE CROWD” (route / path from the Trnava stop leading to the student Campus, a 15-minute walk).
– Informative, educational and preventive messages promoting a healthy lifestyle, proper and necessary behavior in traffic, especially near the railway, and the development of good habits.
- Involving citizens in project activities and informing the public – citizens of the city of Zagreb will be informed about the project through promotional announcements and media statements: before, during and after the activities, at the opening of the “Educational Trail”, through weekly communication via social media and our website during the duration of the project.
- Involving volunteers in project activities – influx of users at the illegal crossing during peak hours or exam periods, communicating and sharing educational and promotional materials during preventive activities, coming up with messages about safe and healthy lifestyle, participating in educational sessions, workshops and the Info corner.
School for Life – Video identity of HSS (2020)
In Zagreb’s Trnava, a fun art project has sprung up on the path between the level crossing and Resnik. The illustrations cover the path and the neighborhood children, as well as the adults, can color it with chalk. Their vibrant work decorates the path until the next rain washes away the coloring book and all its colors, preparing it for a new round of painting.
This is a work of an academic painter and several street artists. While it is a bit childish, our intention was, after all, to connect with children and young people who cross the railway every day. Their number is significant: the Campus accommodates 4,500 students and 128 pupils from Resnik attend the ‘M.J. Zagorka’ primary school, located on the other side of the railway. This work was created specifically for them.
Through proactive activities, we want to inform and educate students about traffic and the necessity of traffic rules as a prerequisite for safety and to prevent unwanted risky behavior and accidents.
Our aim is to highlight critical behaviors and the risks they pose, to motivate, initiate and encourage active community participation and the creating a safer and healthier traffic environment. This includes promoting socially acceptable behavior of traffic users and participants, reducing the number of accidents, injuries and fatalities, striving for ‘0 accidents’, raising the level of traffic culture, creating positive attitudes about traffic, building mutual tolerance, changing acquired negative attitudes, fostering solidarity, human and ethical relationships and raising awareness about the necessity of preserving human health and life as well as protecting the environment.
Unfortunately, accidents are very frequent near this crossing. Four young people recently lost their lives there.
The Story of Hendrix
When we mention the name Hendrix, the first association is that we are talking about the famous guitarist, Jimi Hendrix. This story has a connection with the legendary musician. Before we delve into it, we would like to thank the company Skira, which supported us with the introductory video. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkAtvnXGKM8)
When we talk about bridges, we are talking about structures that connect shores and people. They serve primarily political and social purposes but also possess aesthetic value. Some stand out for their beauty, others for their size and some for their fascinating stories.
Railway bridges are particularly appealing to people due to their beauty and accessibility.
The Hendrix Bridge technical data
The official name of the bridge is the New Railway Bridge. The old single-track bridge, built in 1862, was located a few meters upstream from the current one. It was the first railway bridge over the Sava River, and, at that time, the largest and most complex structure in Croatia. The new double-track bridge was built at the end of 1939.
Today, there are eight bridges on the main course of the river within the city area. The railway bridge is centrally located, close to all major roads and in a residential area. It is close to public transport, sports facilities and nightclubs, making it a place bustling with people both day and night.
The bridge is an arch bridge with the famous Langer beam. Its material is steel with riveted connections. The total length of the bridge is 306 m, its width is 9 m and the largest span is 135 m. The traffic frequency averages 100 trains per day. The bridge is distinctively green.
Name
The official name of the bridge is the New Railway Bridge, as it stands almost in the same place as the old bridge, which was just a few meters upstream. However, nobody uses that name. In fact, I’m sure very few people even know it. They usually call it the Railway Bridge, the Green Bridge because of its color or the Hendrix Bridge after the famous graffiti. During the 1987 Universiade, some guy hanging from the bridge wrote the name of his favorite guitarist for the first time.
He had no idea that his graffiti would mark the bridge forever. The local government and Croatian Railways didn’t like the graffiti, considering it “vandalism”, so they decided to remove it and repaint it green. After a few days, a new Hendrix graffiti appeared in the same place. The local government didn’t want to ignore the problem and painted over it again.
After a few days, you guessed it, the graffiti was back in the same place. So, the local government started a war with the graffiti artist and the local community. They even hired a security guard to protect the bridge from people (but not to protect people from the bridge).
The repeated appearance of the graffiti on the bridge led to the name being recognized by the local population. For 26 years, the local community has been pushing to rename the bridge Hendrix.
This conflict between the local government and the community has led to a large number of people engaging in risky behavior on the bridge, such as walking and climbing on it.
A structure with a special aura
The Hendrix Bridge is a structure with a special aura. It attracts almost everyone:
– It is part of a tourist tour
– It was immortalized in the song by the well-known band Vatra, in the lyric: “on top of the Hendrix Bridge…”
– Graffiti artists have painted various iterations of the Hendrix Bridge graffiti around the city
– It has been photographed more than a million times, sometimes even at great personal risk to the photographers
– Under the bridge, a sculptor created a stone sculpture titled Vodan
– A young artist has crafted Hendrix jewelry
– Famous brands have used it in many advertisements
– It is depicted on the label of two local craft beers
YouTube SGI video
At the top of the bridge, risky behavior is a common occurrence. The track should be for rail traffic only, but there is always some curious showoff eager for a challenge. Under the bridge, many outdoor activities, sports and cultural events take place. The most famous are the Green River Festival and the Hendrix Half Marathon.
This is a key part of where and how it is possible to combine the attractiveness and uniqueness of the Hendrix Bridge with improving traffic safety and reducing risky behavior.
The Vision Zero approach recognizes errors in human behavior and seeks effective safety solutions. We at the SGI also recognize risky behavior on the Hendrix Bridge and have decided to act before new accidents occur.
Problem
In addition to its beauty, the Hendrix Bridge also attracts risky behavior. Not many classic train accidents happen, but the bridge is infamous for suicides and dares by young people. About 10 people climb or walk on the bridge annually, either individually or in groups.
Access is simple. There is no fence. There is a path. You can reach the path near the bridge in just a few steps. Two more steps and you will find yourself on the bridge. There is a warning and prohibition sign, but it has been vandalized.
Railway bridges are similar to all other bridges, but they also hide some dangers:
– there is no space / path for pedestrians
– the train is wider than the track itself
– there is electricity and a high risk of electrocution
– the bridge has rivets and is not stable for walking
– when the train reaches the bridge, it creates vibrations and there is a high risk of falling from the top of the bridge.
In 2018, a fatal accident occurred. To this day, a candle can be seen near the railing. 🙁
Young, but not so smart
This short video clip shows one of the worst examples of risky behavior on a bridge, and can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjKTJhOgmBI
YouTube video of young people on the Hendrix
Risky behavior doesn’t only concern people who like challenges. Here is the account of a train driver who encountered a group of children walking on the bridge. He managed to stop the train at the last second. For him, this was a highly stressful experience.
When train no. 961 approached the bridge, the train driver noticed a group of children walking on the bridge and immediately applied the brakes. After the train stopped, the children moved away from the bridge. After making sure that the track was clear, the train driver continued his journey.
“The young man in the picture can celebrate his second birthday today, but it cost me two years of my life,” said the train driver. (November 13, 2020)
Lack of statistical data
There are no publicly available statistics on incidents or suicides on the bridge from the local government, Croatian railways or the Ministry of the Interior. The only available information about risky behavior and death on the Hendrix Bridge comes from media reports and community discussions on social media.
Typing “Hendrix Bridge” into Google returns a lot of different results, from explanations of the name, initiatives to rename the bridge, posts about climbing or walking on the bridge, risks, TikTok challenges, accidents, deaths, attempted suicides, Hendrix half marathon…
There is also a post that “assists” climbers and gives them instructions on how and where to get to the top the fastest and what equipment (shoes) to use.
We also discovered “safety angels”, residents who call the police every time someone climbs or walks on the bridge. Imagine if safety on the bridge depended solely on the empathy of a neighbor on their balcony or a woman in a nearby shop.
Some of the SGI solutions are related to activities under the bridge:
– Info boards with QR code with rules of conduct and warnings about the dangers of risky behavior
– Education
– New educational and promotional material for all residents, especially for young people
– Collaboration with graffiti artists, establishing a designated graffiti area on the walls under the bridge
– Repainting the bridge rivets can restore the bridge to its former glory
– Motivational cards focusing on cultivating healthy habits
– Promoting sports and steps that make a difference in traffic and railway safety.
This year, we held lectures about the Hendrix Bridge at three universities. We distributed educational leaflets and motivational cards with some of the best quotes from Jimi Hendrix to students. The idea behind the cards is that when we face a challenge or negativity, we read a quote that positively motivates us, shifts our focus to what is important and helps us solve the problem or challenge.
You can keep the card in your bag, wallet, give it to a friend or use it as a bookmark!
We also participated in the Hendrix Half Marathon along with our mascot, the octopus with an attitude, and steps that make a difference!
The music for the promotional videos was made by our friend and SGI member Mario Dautović. Thanks Mario!
Finally, we have a question for you. Do any of you participate in running events? What distances do you run? Join us next year in the race and create healthy and safe steps under the Hendrix Bridge!
Trespad
This year, we presented The Story of Hendrix at the TRESPAD (Trespassing & Suicide Prevention) event, as part of the ILCAD 2023 conference in Warsaw.
