WANDERING WALKERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 57, 4 September 1926, Page 10

WANDERING WALKERS

CROSSING PLACES WANTED

PROTECTION OF MOTORISTS

TBAFFIC CONTBOL PBOBLEMS.

Pedestrians usually consider that traffic bylaws should be framed for their protection against the motorist, but drivers of motor-vehicles also desire protection against the vagaries of the pedestrian. This and other points in connection with traffic control were brought by a deputation to the Bylaws Committee of the City Council yesterday afternoon. The serious menace that existed in allowing pedestrians the unrestricted freedom of the roads was the first point made by Mr. H. Shortt, who spoke pn behalf of the "Wellington Automobile Club. He referred to bylaw 1000, which, he said, would protect the motorist against the aimless wanderings of the pedestrian crossing the street. Tho chairman, Mr. M. F. Luckie, replied1 that the subject was under consideration at the present timo. The committee was taking up the enforcement of the bylaw referring to crossing places. If these were denned by lines at right angles to the traffic it would impose a corresponding duty upon motorists to slow up at such crossing places. If there was carelessness at times on the part of pedestrians, the same could be said of motorists, and it was incumbent upon the council to curb it as far as possible. The Motor Carriers' Association had as its spokesman Mr. Frank Boss, who stressed the necessity for additional pointsmen at such, centres of congestion as Lambton quay, the foot of Queen's Wharf, and the intersection of Manners and Taranaki streets. Pointsmen were also becoming a necessity in the evening. There was difficulty, he knew, about arranging this, but something should be done whereby the motoring public could be better protected. , Parking places for cars was another ] point touched upon by Mr. Boss. Carriers, he said, found it increasingly difficult to deliver goods owing to cars being left along the sides of roads at other than declared parking places. The speed and noise of motor-cycles, especially at night, and the practice of cyclists in hanging on to the backs of vehicles also needed attention. In reply, tho chairman said that the points raised by Mr. Boss were all of importance, and should be dealt with by regulation. The committee would go fully into the matter, and give it most earnest consideration. He agreed that in view of the rapid increase in motor traffic additional inspectors were needed for the control of traffic, especially at corners whore congestion was likely to occur. The. agreement with the police ..expired on 31st August, and an arrangement had been made for them to carry on during the current month. The Minister had been approached through the Commissioner (Mr. M'llveney), but owing to being too busy with his Parliamentary duties he could not give it attention until the House rose; but there was. a proposal for the Government to make the control of traffic uniform in all the large cities. The council was faced with the financial side of the matter, as it was said that the service was costing the police more than the council was paying, and if further service were needed the oouncil would have to pay a good deal more than it did now.