Monday

I review a model for a traffic signal design in Greenwich town centre. The borough is working with us to make improvements for people walking or cycling. Computer models allow us to predict what will happen to traffic and for cyclists or pedestrians when we change traffic light times and road layouts. This means we can check if our designs are right before starting construction.

Tuesday

I head out to Woolwich, where there is a new wide crossing to cater for more pedestrians. I want to make sure that some traffic signal timings I have adjusted are working properly. I’ve shortened the waiting time for pedestrians and ensured that buses can progress without getting held up too much.

Cat Evans, network manager, Transport for London. Photograph: Transport for London

While I am reviewing the signals, a black cab driver pulls up to see what I am doing. He’s worried that I’m lost and wants to see if I need any help. It’s times like these that I’m reminded how odd I must look to others when I stand looking at traffic signals for a long period of time. Once I explain what I’m doing and how I’m trying to improve the timings, we talk about all of the traffic signals in different parts of London. He knows a lot and gives me some recommendations of where we can make improvements.

Today’s visit goes quite smoothly, but when I went out to see some new traffic signals in Kidbrooke recently, a family of swans decided to cross the road, so I couldn’t test my timings until they reached their destination (another pond).

Wednesday

I receive an enquiry from a motorist about traffic signals in Snaresbrook – they think they aren’t green for long enough. I check the traffic control system for any obvious faults, as well as our incident system in case there are any roadworks in the area. I can’t spot anything unusual, so I head to the junction to see what’s going on. Using detectors buried in the road, this junction adjusts its timings according to how much traffic it detects at any specific time. I find that a detector is faulty on one approach to the junction, so the lights stay green for too long because they think that there are vehicles there when they are not. I report the fault and change the system timings until it’s repaired.

Thursday

I am working to improve bus reliability in Romford, using new technology that tells the traffic signals if a bus is running late against its schedule. How late the bus is running will affect what the traffic lights do to get it back on track. In just a second or two, the traffic light system will decide whether to keep the signals green for a bit longer or to turn them back quickly to ensure that the bus isn’t waiting too long.

Friday

I arrive at the network management control centre. It is a big room with CCTV screens where everyone works to keep London moving during any events. Today, there is a taxi demonstration. I work with the police and the events team to ensure we know where the protest is taking place, so we can keep traffic flowing on alternative routes.

If there is something unplanned, like a traffic collision or breakdown, we have to look at the wider area to change the traffic light timings to get everyone moving again. We help everyone, not just vehicles – for example, if I see lots of people struggling to cross the road after a big event, I can change the crossing timings temporarily until the crowd has cleared. It’s pretty fast-paced, but it’s great when you see on CCTV that the queue has gone.

If you would like to contribute to our My working week series about your job in public services, get in touch by emailing sarah.johnson@theguardian.com

• This article was amended on 4 March 2019. Owing to an editing error, an earlier version of the Wednesday entry said that poorly timed lights affected pedestrians. This has been corrected as only vehicles were involved.