CITY TRAFFIC

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 77, 24 December 1919, Page 2

CITY TRAFFIC

SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC WHAT MOTORISTS SUGGEST DANGER FROM CARRIER STANDS In common with other bodies, tho Wellington Automobile- Club is interesting itself in the question of devising better mewls for controlling the growing volume of traffic in the 'busy streets of Wellington. ~ As soon as it can be arranged, a deputation from tho club will wait on the City By-Laws Committees to discuss how best to taeklo .tho problem. . Tho. corner of Kent Terrace and Courleniiy Place has lonj been regarded as a Nut of danger to pedestrians nnil li'otorigta alike-, particularly in view , ' of tlio fact that, the tramway authorities havo been accustomed to "park" idle .tramoarß in the vicinity. The difficulty with regard to tho trams may bo removed shortly, ns the City. Council is negotiating' with tho Harbour Board. for ,lho use of a site at Clyde Quay on which to eccomniodato tho cars which arp temporarily out of commission, ...With a view tn improving the existing conditions at Coiirtenay Place, the Automobile Club lias two suggestions to make to the ByLaws Committee of tho City Councjl. One is that a double- tram lino should be run through tho presont reserve, with a shelter-shod on each side, thus leaving Kent Terrace clear of tram traffic. The oilier proposition is that. a singlo lino for north-bound trams should bo laid in Cambridge Terrace, and another single line for south-bound trams in Kent' Terrace, vehicular , traffic to follow tho tram traffic in whichever direction it 13 proceedinp; ■ ■ • . . ...

In respect to traffic conditions- in, other parts, of the .city, tho club has various proposals-to submit. It considers that to. make. the approach to Constnblo Street safer, tho corner, of Ricldiford Street should be widened. Improving the Roads. Complaint has been mado from time, to time of the number of motor-cars that use Lambton Quay when they coiild very woll proceed by other routesi ■ The Automobile Club feels that most motorists would prefer to travel along Foatherston Street were tho surface. of tho thoroughfare improved. At present the roadway is very bumpy, and a. journey ovor a "pot-holed" thoroughfare is not conducive oither to steadiness of tho nerves of a motorist or to the preservation of the springs of liia motor-Ciir. Much of the traffic congestion which obtains at present along Moxlmm Avenue, Kilbirnie, could, it is considered, bo alleviated if provision were made, for vehicles to proceed from M'oxh.am Avenuo into Hamilton I?ond. It is also contended that something should be done to denl with the question of express stands.in busy streets. At present- numbers of these stands are held to bo p.menace, both to motorists and pwkstnnns. At tho lost meeting of the committee of Hip Automobile Club a-member mentioned that on a certain eland in the city a carrier's liovfo and cart had moved out of it? place in ibu lino of Btand'ng vehicles, and, in order to alloiv the traffic to proceed, a inntorisH hnd to get out of bis car to put, the express into its proper pos'tion again.

Motorists nnd Public Streets. The resolution passed last work by the City Council prohibiting- motor traffic : n the mnin streets of thq city, except siicli motor vehicles as have business in those streets, does not find much favour with motorists. ' '"No motorist will go stone Fonther-ston Street or Jervois Qu'ny bennse the snrffic.es of the ronds nrp'too bad," remarked . a motorist to a !PoMjnto.\' report »r yesterday "If the City Comic'l would put the ronds iu'ordw motorists would use, them gladly in preference to LimbQuay, Willis, and Manners StrH>U. They won't go .over I his 'tou?li stud" t.n (hnve their lives Imliincd out of them. Tf .tho City Counc'l would do the wrtrli here suggested, it would bo tlin 'first stop towards relieving the conpr-stion. in till; busy streets. With regard to' the pwmr>=wl to pii'Vi>nt onr rtVng tlio'ronin streets of the city. I doubt if the'idea ia priictioMilo, nnd wh«t!i<»r tlm resolution pnwed bv, Hie Ctv Council is not ultra vires. It is doubtful whether niiy■bn'ly Im. s power,to ?tnp Irallic in n iiy miblic street, If thpy try to nrcvent us from <-oin;r thrmwh" (lie public streets \ro will take the mnthr up very seriously, and it ie T>n«ib!p that n fiuprem» Court act-on will !»•> 'tiVr>>) to test tin? validity of the CMy Council's prohibition. 1 am quite certain' that Hi? •most il'sii- ■ serous noition of tlm e'ty i« Grey Struct, with its-'cftfripi* stand. T'.wt itnm) ip lieftnped for 14 wrier*, but en day 'o.'t week I counted 32 vehicles there. ' Furthermore, When the Grey street stand is full,, and carts are standing .cmlw'flc on to the parcel post ontfcinea to the Post Office, I defy a.ny motorist or other vehicle driver to get through tho street Tho situation of the Conrtpimj , Place expreao stand is aim dangerous. Molor ists always encounter trouble, at that spot owing to eb'ldren eontinually runni.ng in, and outbeliitul tlip \\e Jvwe been to- the, City. Council before nbout this carrier-stnn'il question, nnd have rcce : v«l.i\ synuiathetie heariiig, but the carriers go t the t/iilxniv members (j"d-they get. their wny. Th's enrnfr nupstion will have to be dralt- witli. There are upwards of 700 carriers licensed ■n.-'Wellinutftti, and they M tivowd into the busy parts of the city Licenses are still bfjrv \tm\Pi\ to tnxi-driveii;! and these have, to be Tirnvidod for. Year nfter year the street.", of Weljinirfon become, more crowded, but jiotlrnß is done to help to solve this veiy fierioiis problem of the rcculution of traffic,"