Selfies with Christmas lights: a risky practice on Passeig de Gràcia

BarcelonaAs soon as the traffic light turns red and the vehicles stop, pedestrians leap onto Passeig de Gràcia. But not everyone just wants to cross the street: occasionally, some want a souvenir photo with the Christmas lights and ask for pictures at one of Barcelona's most iconic spots for holiday illumination. The snapshot often lasts only a few seconds, but sometimes the photographer tries a little harder, or the model asks for more shots, making the most of the time the light is red or amber. Of course, some get distracted and don't realize they're dangerously occupying the roadway when the light turns green for cars. It's when their calculations fail that you hear the honking of horns or the exclamations of drivers eager to move on.

For the most part, the incident fades away before the traffic light can change again, but tensions and jeers also arise. "It's green!" a girl calls out to the driver honking his horn, criticizing him for not having time to take the picture despite being in the pedestrian crossing on a green light. Another car simply chooses not to brake and avoids the pedestrians. These are some of the scenes that ARA has captured on Passeig de Gràcia in recent days, following the switching on of the city's Christmas lights.

As a preventative measure, the Barcelona City Police (GUB) has increased its uniformed presence at the most problematic spots, and if necessary, they cordon off the area to prevent people from crossing outside of designated crosswalks. Thanks to these measures, incidents are currently under control, according to the City Council, which nevertheless asks for "caution from the public, as the road is not closed and signage and traffic lights must be respected."