Bird helping people to cross the road (7)

I believe the answer is:

pelican

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'bird' is the definition.
(pelican is a kind of bird)

I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.

(Other definitions for pelican that I've seen before include "Large bird with pouch in bill for storing fish" , "Water bird with throat pouch for fish" , "Nice pal (anag)" , "Its beak holds more than its belly can" , "Large-billed seabird" .)

I've seen this clue in the Evening Standard.

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