The House of Commons Transport Committee published a report earlier this year - Parking Policy and Enforcement that is critical of current parking policies. Among those who gave evidence to the Committee were Caroline Sheppard, Chief Parking Adjudicator for England and Wales, and Martin Wood, Chief Parking Adjudicator for London.
Those local authorities that have adopted civil enforcement powers would be required to enforce a ban on pavement parking as they carried out their other enforcement duties. The police too should be involved in enforcement of this aspect of street management. With clear signage and after a period of intense enforcement, we expect that a pavement parking ban would become self-enforcing as the public become familiar with, and accept, the new rules.
262. The Government must grip the problem of pavement parking once and for all and ensure that it is outlawed throughout the country, and not just in London. Councils should have the option of an ‘opt-out’ of a national pavement parking ban where this is vital, rather than relying on the use of individual Traffic Regulation Orders on specific streets and local Acts to impose a ban. That such an initiative will initially require additional resources to enforce is no excuse for allowing some pavements to continue to be swamped by cars and made inaccessible to large numbers of pedestrians.
Read the report (pdf, 712KB)
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
Sue Essex hasn't enough information to decide on congestion charge for Cardiff!
Reply on behalf of Sue Essex
I forwarded your message to Sue, and she has asked me to respond to your query re the congestion charge.
Sue said that it seemed to have worked very well in London, and that she supports it in principle. However, she would need more information on traffic flow etc. before she could judge whether it is really appropriate for Cardiff.
I forwarded your message to Sue, and she has asked me to respond to your query re the congestion charge.
Sue said that it seemed to have worked very well in London, and that she supports it in principle. However, she would need more information on traffic flow etc. before she could judge whether it is really appropriate for Cardiff.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Inconsiderate parking
If every business parked an ugly van with advertising in mainly residential streets our environment would be dire. Then we have cars partly parked on the pavement in Whitchurch where they shouldn't be.
Double yellow line abuse and pavement form hell
Not pretty sites in Cardiff city centre opposite the castle
What a mess the pavement is in and all that gum and rubbish -ugh!!
A report from the Pedestrians Association [July 1998] identifies that the number of injuries caused by
falls on poor quality pavements are likely to far exceed those caused to pedestrians by vehicles, yet these go unreported in official accident statistics. The Association also draws on the 1997 National Road Maintenance Condition Survey which shows pavement conditions to be worsening year on year.
Excluding NHS costs in treating fall victims, it also estimates that the cost of poor pavements could
total over £500m a year from legal and insurance costs and staff time dealing with claims.
A report from the Pedestrians Association [July 1998] identifies that the number of injuries caused by
falls on poor quality pavements are likely to far exceed those caused to pedestrians by vehicles, yet these go unreported in official accident statistics. The Association also draws on the 1997 National Road Maintenance Condition Survey which shows pavement conditions to be worsening year on year.
Excluding NHS costs in treating fall victims, it also estimates that the cost of poor pavements could
total over £500m a year from legal and insurance costs and staff time dealing with claims.
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Some action required Jayne and Adrian!
Dear Jayne and Adrian - Councillors for RhiwbinaI would appreciate it if you would clarify your position re road narrowing at Heol Llanishen Fach - will it be easier for folk to cross the road if the road narrowing is removed? What is the exact issue here?
Please have a look at my blog and tell me what we can do about traffic congestion, lack of pedestrain crossings, badly maintained footpaths and where there are actually dropped kerbs they are not fit for purpose! Cycling is so dangerous that folk are cycling on the pacements but it is dangerous for pedestrians...........
Please have a look at my blog and tell me what we can do about traffic congestion, lack of pedestrain crossings, badly maintained footpaths and where there are actually dropped kerbs they are not fit for purpose! Cycling is so dangerous that folk are cycling on the pacements but it is dangerous for pedestrians...........
Conwy to paint dog poo?
Conwy to paint dog poo to highlight foul problem 25/11/2006 - A campaign to encourage people to clear up after their dogs starts in Conwy on Monday 27th November. Cllr Janet Finch-Saunders, Conwy's Cabinet Member for Community Safety said, "By now, every dog owner in Conwy should...
Step up or get on your bike, Rhodri
First Minister Rhodri Morgan could be axed from a campaign to promote cycling in the city - unless he does more to promote greener transport.Mr Morgan is honorary president of the Cardiff Cycling Campaign, but members say he has supported car users since coming to power.
In the campaign's annual meeting last night, the group voted unanimously to remove him - unless he influenced the Assembly's current consultation Welsh Transport Strategy to favour public transport, cycling and walking. Nov 23 2006 Katie Bodinger, South Wales Echo
Cyclists slam Cardiff Lib-Dems pro car policy
Cyclists slam Lib Dem green credentials 22/11/2006 - Ruling Lib-Dems on Cardiff Council have failed to control the car-promoting projects of planning and transport officers, despite claiming green credentials, it was claimed today. Dr Dyfed Wyn Huws, Chair of Cardiff Cy...
Road tolls prove a success in cities around the world
London’s congestion charge is probably the best-known in the world, but it has not been the most successful. That honour appears to go to Durham, a city in northern England noted for its cathedral and castle. Durham introduced a cordon-based pricing scheme in 2002, the first in the United Kingdom, and six months before London.Traffic has fallen by 90 per cent. In comparison, London's congestion charge has reduced its considerably higher traffic levels by about 20 per cent, and has led to a 29,000 rise in bus passengers going into the city centre during morning peak.‘Congestion Charge’ Council Hailed as Country’s “Most Innovative”
The North East council which introduced the UK’s first road charge – has been voted the country’s Most Innovative Local Authority in a major national award scheme.
The North East council which introduced the UK’s first road charge – has been voted the country’s Most Innovative Local Authority in a major national award scheme.
Saturday, November 25, 2006
New York traffic calming
Traffic calming New York style and no railings! We can do it differently! Traffic calming can look good and note that cyclists are thought about too!
Traffic calming ideas
Great ideas - doesn't this this look good and they manage with out railings!!!
Costs a bomb to run a car!
Goes like a bomb - and costs one Miles Brignall Guardian tells sus that owning and running a petrol engine car is an expensive business, whether you use the vehicle or not. Figures produced annually by the AA Motoring Trust show that medium-sized cars (costing £10,000- £13,000) set their owners back more than £2,600 a year in standing charges alone. That figure covers depreciation, insurance, road tax and breakdown cover - and that's before you put a drop of petrol in the tank or get the vehicle serviced.
Once you include all running costs, owners are paying £3,425 a year - even if they cover just 5,000 miles a year. The figure rises to £4,300 for those driving a typical 10,000 miles a year. ..
Once you include all running costs, owners are paying £3,425 a year - even if they cover just 5,000 miles a year. The figure rises to £4,300 for those driving a typical 10,000 miles a year. ..
How long has your car been parked outside your home..
The caring, sharing way to drive Guardian Unlimited, UK - How long has your car been outside your home since you used it last? If you are one of the growing number of city dwellers whose vehicle spends more time gathering dust than being driven, it could be time to sell it and switch to a car club.
Join the carbon revolution
New. G-Wiz AC Drive
The UK and the world's best selling electric car, from the creators of the UK electric car market. Buy new or used, supported by a full in-house servicing, warranty and re-sale facility. Look, ask, book a test-drive and buy on-line. Simple.
The UK and the world's best selling electric car, from the creators of the UK electric car market. Buy new or used, supported by a full in-house servicing, warranty and re-sale facility. Look, ask, book a test-drive and buy on-line. Simple.
Further, faster, more powerful, improved handling and even more environmentally friendly. With free alloy wheels to 30.11.06.
Bus fares too high in Cardiff
Cardiff the worst for parking Nov 25 2006 claims Ben Glaze from the South Wales Echo but how about bus fares - it can cost a family with 3 children £12:00 to go into the city centre even ig it only for 20 minutes. We need less parking and more encouragement to use the bus. As it is impossible to get about the city of Cardiff on the bus people will continue to drive. Cities that restrict traffic are more popular.
Don't plan to shop/party in the city centre at Xmas or New Year by bus!
You would think that we would encourage people to go by bus into the city centre at Christmas and the New Year but no way!Cardiff Bus will be running a normal service up until Christmas Eve. Then the service will run as follows:
Christmas Eve - Sunday 24 December - Normal Sunday service but with last buses at approximately 18:30 - far too early too stop so don't plan on shopping too late.
Christmas Day and Boxing Day - No Service so don't plan to visit family or go to the park.
Wednesday 27 to Saturday 30 December - normal Saturday service but with reduced daytime frequencies on main routes
New Year's Eve - Sunday 31 December - Normal Sunday service but with last buses at approximately 1900 so isn't this bad for business and won't it encourage people to drink and drive?
New Year's Day - No Service - spoil sports
Tuesday 2nd January 2007 - normal service resumes
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
e-petition Tony Blair .on 4x4s scourge of 21srcentury urban environment
from the BBC politics websiteOne of Tony Blair's latest wheezes to engage directly with the public is to ask them to send e-petitions to the Downing Street website. A personal favourite, however, suggests Tony Blair should "stand on his head and juggle ice cream" on the basis that, "if he is not going to resign, the least he can do is provide us with some entertainment". All very funny. But the most surprising thing is that this particular petition has received so many backers that only the first 500 names have been published on the site. I wonder how long this particular initiative will last?
The 4x4 is the scourge of the 21st century urban environment. Uneconomic, gas-guzzling and downright dangerous, they prowl the streets outside our cities' primary schools, seeking whom they may knock down and seriously injure. The average 4x4 appears to be driven by harrassed parents with a back seat full of screaming kids in areas with many children engaged in the risky activity of crossing roads. They are accidents waiting to happen. We would be better off with them removed from our streets. Please sign up and beseech our government to rid us of this modern pest. Or at least make them pay heavily for their continued existence.
The 4x4 is the scourge of the 21st century urban environment. Uneconomic, gas-guzzling and downright dangerous, they prowl the streets outside our cities' primary schools, seeking whom they may knock down and seriously injure. The average 4x4 appears to be driven by harrassed parents with a back seat full of screaming kids in areas with many children engaged in the risky activity of crossing roads. They are accidents waiting to happen. We would be better off with them removed from our streets. Please sign up and beseech our government to rid us of this modern pest. Or at least make them pay heavily for their continued existence.
Horseman1960@aol.com
Another email from horseman1960"Will you. You try to slander me and I will put you in court so fast your head will spin. Your a waste of space. Go out and get a life and don't put your stupid, uneducated views on to others. Your to stupid to know that some so called 4 by 4's are not fuel guzzler and have the same size engines as a standard family car. Now go and do something useful like read a book dopey."
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
London congestion charge needed urgently!
I have written to Russell Goodway, chief executive of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce and a former leader of the council who said today "A London-style all- day congestion charge is not acceptable and would be met with marked hostility not only in Cardiff but in many other UK cities... Mr Goodway was speaking after a UK chamber of commerce survey suggested there was conditional support for some form of charging - now widely seen as inevitable as ministers seek to shake-up road taxation to create a more environmentally-friendly, pay-as-you-drive systemNov 21 2006 Tomos Livingstone, Western Mail tomos.livingstone@wme.co.uk
Why is a London style congestion charge not acceptable? Perhaps we should have a hierarchy of road users to get things into perspective. Cardiff is way behind in Europe and the other UK cities by ignoring the blindingly obvious that we must tackle car users and reduce the number of cars going in to the city centre before we reach gridlock!
Picture above is one of Russells earlier schemes before the car lobby won?Are we lagging behind Hull?
Why does it cost so much to travel on the bus? A family of 4 travelling from Thornhill into the Cardiff City Centre will pay £10:00 - cheaper to take the car people think!
Plus the question about that stuff stuck around the castle - what a mess and it has been there since last year! Why?
I sent a similar letter to Sue Essex AM.
Is Hull more attractive than Cardiff?
And just what is that shed thing outside the castle?
The tourists are just queuing up for this spectacular view!
Castle view?
What a mess! Why are these hoardings or whatever still here? Seems to be a car park developing behind.
10 out of 10 for making life difficult for pedestrains ! Why do we always have to cross the road in two gos or parts?
I don't care about pedestrians!
Just got to pop to the cash machine and doesn't give a hoot about others!
Pavement damage Beulah Road
Particularly local business should have soem concideration for the local environment and the state of the pavement.
Monday, November 20, 2006
Transport 2000's New Life for Main Roads Network
Main roads are often noisy, polluted places, dominated by cars and dangerous for people on foot. But main roads are also the places we use to get to the shops, catch the bus, walk to the local park or visit the doctor. Most people use main roads every day to get to work or to walk to school. We need new life for our main roads! Main roads and high streets should be:
- Easy to cross where you want to cross
- Places for people
- Safe from traffic danger
- Green, clean and attractive
Transport 2000’s New Life for Main Roads Network can help you reclaim your main road or high street from traffic.
Learn from Hull who have pioneered an innovative high street scheme
Cardiff must learn from Hull!
A pioneering crossing marking has been used in the raised areas to highlight where people are likely to cross. The scheme makes use of the shared space concept at this junction where the lack of markings encourages drivers to slow down.
A pioneering crossing marking has been used in the raised areas to highlight where people are likely to cross. The scheme makes use of the shared space concept at this junction where the lack of markings encourages drivers to slow down.
find out more about Streets for People
Streets for People
Transport 2000's Streets for People network supports community groups, residents associations and individuals who want to improve their local environment. Streets for People can help you with your campaign for safer streets, slower speeds and traffic reduction and can provide newsletters, briefing sheets, posters and advice.Summer Speed Watch took place in June with a number of Streets for People groups organizing street events. In Dunvant, Swansea, two schools took part, with more than 850 children asking for a 20mph speed limit on streets around the schools. Local people in Bishopston, Buckinghamshire organised an "Exercise your right" demonstration with people walking and cycling up and down the village as many times as possible.Find out more in the Streets for People newsletter and the New Life for Main Roads newsletter. click here to find out how to campaign for safer streets.
Transport 2000's Streets for People network supports community groups, residents associations and individuals who want to improve their local environment. Streets for People can help you with your campaign for safer streets, slower speeds and traffic reduction and can provide newsletters, briefing sheets, posters and advice.Summer Speed Watch took place in June with a number of Streets for People groups organizing street events. In Dunvant, Swansea, two schools took part, with more than 850 children asking for a 20mph speed limit on streets around the schools. Local people in Bishopston, Buckinghamshire organised an "Exercise your right" demonstration with people walking and cycling up and down the village as many times as possible.Find out more in the Streets for People newsletter and the New Life for Main Roads newsletter. click here to find out how to campaign for safer streets.
Keep the road narrowing at Heol Llanishen Fach
Heavy traffic kills people. Traffic also kills communities, with parents' fear of the dangers making streets no-go areas for children. The higher the traffic volume, the less time people spend outside - and the lower the likelihood that they will know their neighbours.
Reducing vehicle speeds by traffic calming is vital.
Keep the road narrowing at Heol Llanishen Fach
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Reducing vehicle speeds by traffic calming is vital.
Keep the road narrowing at Heol Llanishen Fach
SHOW YOUR SUPPORT!
Put Pedestrains First
1. Pedestrians - then...
2. People with mobility problems
3. Cyclists
4. Public transport users (includes bus, coach, water, taxi & rail)
5. powered two wheelers Commercial/business users (includes deliveries and HGVs)
6. Car borne shoppers and visitors
7. Car borne commuters
Note: Pedestrians with mobility problems should be given the highest priority
2. People with mobility problems
3. Cyclists
4. Public transport users (includes bus, coach, water, taxi & rail)
5. powered two wheelers Commercial/business users (includes deliveries and HGVs)
6. Car borne shoppers and visitors
7. Car borne commuters
Note: Pedestrians with mobility problems should be given the highest priority
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Anti-social behaviour
Inconsiderate parking in Whitchuch village which doesn't allow the bus to pull in making it difficult for passengers to board.
Death junction traffic lights bid
Pensioners David and Diana Evans have taken action to see a new set of traffic lights added to the road where they live. Mrs Evans, 65, of Broad Street, said: 'We have lived here for 41 years and in that time we have seen the roads get more and more dangerous. Nov 10 2006 Gareth Rogers, South Wales Echo
Traffic should be banned from Cardiff city centre
A grieving mother has called for all traffic to be banned from city centres on the night of big sporting events, after her son was hit by a bus and killed in the hours following a Wales international. Western Mail 16 Nov
Friday, November 17, 2006
Blame the police not the council says Chief Transport Officer Cardiff County Council
Not us to blame says council official - read his reply here
My Ref: TIW/RC/NRG/26603
Your Ref:
Date: 17th November 2006
Dear Madam
Cardiff: Inconsiderate Parking
I refer to your e-mail enquiry and associated website and I would respond as follows.
The Council is continuously striving to improve conditions for all road users, and numerous traffic regulation orders have been introduced to assist in alleviating parking and congestion problems.
The photographs taken at various locations around the city have in the main indicated offences of driving on the footway, causing an obstruction and failing to comply with local traffic regulation Orders. These are all breaches of legislation which can be dealt with by enforcement action.
The enforcing authority for both national legislation and local Orders is the police not the Council.
Yours faithfully
Neil Godfrey
For Chief Transport, Infrastructure and Waste Officer
PLEASE REPLY TO: Transport, Infrastructure and Waste, Room 301, County Hall, Cardiff CF10 4UW
Tel: (029)20873256 Fax: (029)20873302
email: TIW-CH@cardiff.gov.uk
My Ref: TIW/RC/NRG/26603
Your Ref:
Date: 17th November 2006
Dear Madam
Cardiff: Inconsiderate Parking
I refer to your e-mail enquiry and associated website and I would respond as follows.
The Council is continuously striving to improve conditions for all road users, and numerous traffic regulation orders have been introduced to assist in alleviating parking and congestion problems.
The photographs taken at various locations around the city have in the main indicated offences of driving on the footway, causing an obstruction and failing to comply with local traffic regulation Orders. These are all breaches of legislation which can be dealt with by enforcement action.
The enforcing authority for both national legislation and local Orders is the police not the Council.
Yours faithfully
Neil Godfrey
For Chief Transport, Infrastructure and Waste Officer
PLEASE REPLY TO: Transport, Infrastructure and Waste, Room 301, County Hall, Cardiff CF10 4UW
Tel: (029)20873256 Fax: (029)20873302
email: TIW-CH@cardiff.gov.uk
Whose brilliant idea was this to stick this in the middle of the path!
Double poles? What a daft idea - do we pay people to plan where to locate these signs?
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
4x4s are a blight on the road Horseman1960
4x4s are a menaceNo, other than stupid people who don't look at the facts. Do you really think that an 1800 engine is a fuel monster. Go and do some homework then put your stupid notes on cars. Do you know what climate change is? can you prove that it is taking place and that cars are to blame?Your a fool
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