Driving us all crazy
Recently I had reason to call-in a decision (with Alexis and Chris) made by the Executive Environment sub-Committee, chaired by Cllr Mike Greene. The decision they had taken was over a one way system in College Crescent between Finchley Rd and Fitzjohns Avenue. I was unhappy that the decision to instigate a one way "up" the hill towards Belsize was the wrong decision for two very closely linked reasons. School safety and traffic chaos.
We are all adversely affected each and every day by the school run. Whether it be by the clogging up of our local streets, the increased pollution, the dangerous parking, or whatever. This is an avoidable annoyance and the decision on College Crescent could've sent a clear message. Had the sub-Committee followed the advice given by the subsequent scrutiny committee it is very possible we would already be seeing a lessening of this road chaos.
The scrutiny committee rightly realised that over 80% of the traffic on the section of College Crescent every morning was delivering school children ( not to mention the rat-running builders vans who regularly cut through Belsize). By recommending a one way system down the road (to the Finchley Road), traffic would've been dramatically cut and by incorporating a cycling contra-flow system the sub-Committee would've sent a clear and concise message that it was at once acting decisively against excessive car use and also that it was rightly committed to implementing viable and essential Safer Routes to School schemes.
The one reason most often cited by parents when asked why they drive their children to school, is road safety. We have to consistently push for the Safer Routes to School scheme to be incorporated. Only when we do this will parents see we are serious about the school run issue, and be encouraged to use other methods to get their children to school. If by incorporating these safer routes we residents have to make an additional 2 or 3 minute detour then so be it. Our roads will be both safer and clearer.
Unfortunately the sub-committee decided in favour of the traffic so we are stuck with the situation we had before. I will however keep pushing for this issue to be addressed as it is a serious concern for the residents of Belsize and I believe it is only a matter of time before a child gets hurt or worse in the morning traffic mêlée.
We are all adversely affected each and every day by the school run. Whether it be by the clogging up of our local streets, the increased pollution, the dangerous parking, or whatever. This is an avoidable annoyance and the decision on College Crescent could've sent a clear message. Had the sub-Committee followed the advice given by the subsequent scrutiny committee it is very possible we would already be seeing a lessening of this road chaos.
The scrutiny committee rightly realised that over 80% of the traffic on the section of College Crescent every morning was delivering school children ( not to mention the rat-running builders vans who regularly cut through Belsize). By recommending a one way system down the road (to the Finchley Road), traffic would've been dramatically cut and by incorporating a cycling contra-flow system the sub-Committee would've sent a clear and concise message that it was at once acting decisively against excessive car use and also that it was rightly committed to implementing viable and essential Safer Routes to School schemes.
The one reason most often cited by parents when asked why they drive their children to school, is road safety. We have to consistently push for the Safer Routes to School scheme to be incorporated. Only when we do this will parents see we are serious about the school run issue, and be encouraged to use other methods to get their children to school. If by incorporating these safer routes we residents have to make an additional 2 or 3 minute detour then so be it. Our roads will be both safer and clearer.
Unfortunately the sub-committee decided in favour of the traffic so we are stuck with the situation we had before. I will however keep pushing for this issue to be addressed as it is a serious concern for the residents of Belsize and I believe it is only a matter of time before a child gets hurt or worse in the morning traffic mêlée.
posted by Arthur Graves at 12:29 PM
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