13-year backlog to repair poor Welsh roads

All over Cardiff pedestrain crossings are in urgent need of maintainance - painting etc. Double yellow lines need urgent attention and enforcement of traffic regulations.

Cyclists are at risk not only because of the road condition but speeding traffic, lack of investment in cyling lanes and total lack of enforcement of traffic regulations.

Over one million potholes on British roads
It would take more than ten years to repair them

WELSH roads are locked in a spiral of decline that is leaving them ridden with "swimming pool" sized potholes that will take almost 13 years to clear, experts warn. Darren Devine, Western Mail

Councils waste £250 million a year on dumped cars!

Councils waste £250 million annually on dumped cars
Astonishing figures on how much money is wasted by local government on the problem of abandoned vehicles! Recycle your Car

The money could be better spent on improving pavements and crossings. There should be a recycling tax on cars at the time of purchase and then, like bottles with a deposit they are likely to be returned to an appropriate place or collected by someone else.

Reduce your CO2 emissions if you must buy a car!

The Department for Transport's campaign about reducing CO2 emissions when you buy a car and when you drive is the first to launch under the cross Government brand "Act on CO2", aimed at giving the public useful information on how to reduce their individual carbon emissions.

All cars on the road today contribute to climate change because their engines burn fuel and therefore produce carbon dioxide (CO2) every time we drive. Yet you can easily reduce these emissions and save money too.

You could also choose a new car with a more fuel efficient engine. Or make sure your tyres are pumped up correctly to reduce resistance. Even travelling a bit lighter when you're out and about can help.

Visit the Act on CO2 website for full information, advice and tips. There are games to play and a savings calculator to find out how you can reduce CO2 emissions from your car.

Close Kingsway in Swansea - no more deaths!

Campaign to get the Kingsway, a main road, closed in Swansea during weekend nights after Geraint Flynn died after being hit by a car in February 2005. It is the road where boy racers congregate and Geraints mum has had much public support. The council have agreed to do a full study on the cost of closing it.

It follows a petition signed by 12,000 people, collected by the family of a 19-year-old student who died after being run over two years ago.
Geraint Flynn's family said the Kingsway was being used by "boy racers" who were endangering revellers. Council leader Chris Holley said a report would be commissioned on the effects of closing the road. The proposal was backed by a full meeting of Swansea council on Thursday evening. Read the article

See also Road Peace

CPZ - Cardiff Bus boss warns of anarchy

Cardiff Bus managing director is quite right that we must have enforcement of parking controls. It is a disgrace that this has to be argued for. Parking at bus stops means that the bus can't pull in and elderly and disabled passengers can't board the bus. Whitchurch Village Cardiff is an example of the thoughtlessness of motorists and an example of the blatent disregard for the parking laws. But they know they will not be punished or even retrimanded. Time for a change. Picture from Whitchurch Village bus stop. Why are are local politicians not doung something to stop this? Are they afraid of the MOTORISTS? See the Living Streets parking policy.

Plans for Cardiff council to take over enforcement of parking controls from the police must carry on if the capital is to kept moving. That is the claim of Cardiff Bus' managing director David Brown. Mr Brown believes the abandonment of controlled parking zones should not stop a city-wide 'decriminalised' scheme because it could lead to anarchy as motorists continue to ignore traffic regulations.
Mr Brown went on: 'I don't think the benefits of CPZs were fully understood. That decision has now been taken so we have to move on. 'But there is still clearly unanimous support for enforcement of parking controls and tackling illegal parking.
'That will benefit residents but also the bus company because discourteous drivers parking at junctions or on double yellow lines do slow buses through traffic.

'Funding sources need to be found to ensure decriminalised parking can go ahead.
'Proper enforcement is recognised as critical to keeping the city moving and open for business and illegal parking affects everyone.

'The best way forward for the council is to keep the programme of decriminalised parking so we avoid the city descending into anarchy.'
Mar 20 2007 Phillip Nifield, South Wales Echo

Have your say on the city's parking problems at forums.icwales.co.uk
Look at the album of parking on double yellow lines here.

Don’ t you dare pity the picked-on motorist

I thought I would pop this in to inspire those of you who are faltering with the motorists winning the war and CPZ uturn!

I support the war against the motorist. Why not? The bastards are constantly at war with me
David Aaronovitch January 30, 2007

Get rid of the cars!

One man's dedication to ridding the streets of cars and handing power back to pedestrians appears to be working wonders ...new role as chair of Living Streets.

.........Underlying Loveday's approach is some hard economics. He has shown the good burghers of Norwich that giving pedestrians the right to roam is good for business. Examples are at every turn as he takes me on a guided walk around the city. Despite its name, Gentlemen's Walk has been traffic-free since only the early 1990s. "Traders didn't like the idea at first," Loveday recalls, "so we did a three-month trial and found that pedestrian flow increased by 300% at peak times." Result: no further objections from retailers.
Chris Arnot Wed March 14, 2007 The Guardian
Cardiff could learn a lesson here. Don't give in to the car lobby!

What do cyclists have to do before Cardiff Council takes any notice of their complaints?

Good point by Max Willis - time for a change! What will it take for them to take any notice?

The Way Cardiff Council road-men (or contractors) ignore cycleways is a disgrace.
Cardiff only mandatory cycleway - alongside the North Road car park -has a section again just blocked by barriers with no warning or night-time lights.In the week, a lorry was parked right across the Taff Embankment trail near the Tudor St crossing, while roadmen dug a hole (same place that they dug up last autumn and used a sign "Cyclists Dismount" that had no legal status).These are "highways". If cars were using it, there are protocols about signs etc. to follow. For cycleways, they do nothing.

Fill That Hole

http://www.fillthathole.org.uk/report

Neighbourhood Fix It to report broken paving slabs etc

Report, view, or discuss local problems like graffiti, fly tipping, broken paving slabs, or street lighting

Bid for safety improvement work in Whitchurch

Council Traffic Officers worked with teachers and pupils at Whitchurch High School apparently to identify the routes they used and any safety issues and then submitted a bid for safety improvement work to the Welsh Assembly. Too little - it is disgraceful the state of pavements, appalling dropped kerbs and too few crossings.
Look at these pictures of the state of the crossing on the route to school for children and young people from Rhiwbina to Whitchurch. too many 'islands' and is it possible to reach the controlls?

The bid submitted to the Assembly included the following improvements to routes used by pupils.
Velindre Road roundabout - Velindre Road and Kelston Road - pedestrian crossings
Pantbach Road - pedestrian crossing
Three phased scemes providing cycle lanes along Manor Way
Church Road - soeed reduction scheme
Park Road and Park Crescent - junction improvements and speed reduction measures
St Margarets Road - improvement to dropped kerbs
Plas Treoda - table junction and speed reduction measures
Pantmawr Road and Coryton Rise - junction improvements
Provision of cycle stands and lockers at the school

Cllr Asbo Sophie Who Howe boast of promoting road safety when as the councillor for Whitchurch she hasn't done anything about the illegal parking on double yellow lines or had pedestrians crossing well maintained and nothing about the dangerous crossing across manor way.

WAG IMPROVED MEASURES FOR CAR PARKING CONTROL

It is clear that the current system needs to be improved. The sooner the better. This persistant and blatant illegal perking has to be stopped. The picture shows Whitchuch Village where drivers park on double yellow lines with total impunity.
IMPROVED MEASURES FOR CAR PARKING CONTROL consultation package was published for consultation on 30th January
2007. The closing date for comments is 28th March 2007. The document will be
displayed on the Transport for Wales website from 12:00pm on Tuesday 6th
February 2007.

This consultation deals with new proposals to strengthen decriminalised parking enforcement. The proposals will be given effect through Regulations made under Part 6 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.

Plans for new measures to overhaul the country’s system of civil parking enforcement in Wales. The draft proposals make clear that the Welsh Assembly Government wants local authorities to use parking enforcement powers to keep the traffic flowing and not to raise money.
Regulating the availability and pricing of car parking is an important tool for restraining the growth in the use of private car and for encouraging the shift to public transport. The Assembly Government will continue to support local authorities to take on these management responsibilities. The aim is a fairer system for all.

The highlights of the Government’s proposals, which goes to public consultation today, include:
• Wheel clamping only for the most persistent parking penalty evaders
• More transparency and information for road users with authorities publishing their policies and reports
• Dedicated training for everyone involved in administering civil parking enforcement from on the street right up to the boardroom
• A more motorist-friendly appeals process with a penalty charge discount reoffered after an informal challenge
30th January 2007
Ffôn * Tel 01686 613116
Ffacs * Fax 01686 613193
Cath.Midgley@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK

Shopkeepers misled on CPZ

Jenny Randerson AM says Shopkeepers misled on CPZ The shopkeepers who are opposing the Controlled Parking Zones in Cathays and Plasnewydd, seem to have been seriously misled about how they will work.

They are designed specifically to deter long-term commuter parking in order to help both residents and local shops. More resident spaces will make it easier to park near your home and the cost of residents' parking permits will be reduced overall, with the first permit free and the second one at a reduced rate, which will reduce the cost of permits for two car families by £15.

The scheme is designed to help shopkeepers and shoppers, with the first 15 minutes parking free and only 10p for the first hour.

It is clearly, therefore, wrong to suggest people will now go to shop in Canton, rather than Albany, Wellfield and Crwys roads.

Nobody will think it's worthwhile to spend time and petrol travelling all the way to Canton to avoid a 10p charge.

I used to shop regularly in Albany and Wellfield roads but I stopped several years ago because 1 could never find a parking space.

A small charge, plus the enforcement of parking restrictions by increased numbers of traffic wardens, will ensure a turnover of shoppers in nearby spaces, rather than the all-day commuter parking we now have.

The only way we are going to get more traffic wardens is if the council takes them over.

The police force has reduced traffic warden numbers by 30 per cent and has made it clear the issue is not its priority.

Jenny Randerson AM Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for Cardiff Central, Cardiff Bay

Bus service - its just a sitcom

There was a good letter in the paper from David Hampson Colwill Road, Gabalfa, Cardiff 8 March

Bus service - it's just a sitcom!

Classic British comedy On the Buses seems to have reappeared on the streets of Cardiff, only this time around like many remakes it's nowhere near as funny.

In fact the only joke is how Cardiff Bus is being run.

Parties in Wales support the cutting back of public transport

Friday, March 09, 2007 Anonymous left a comment ...
Blair & Brown and the 4 neo-liberal parties in Wales all support the cutting back of public transport and more road building. More and more roads are not sustainable: we need an alternative.

In the context of this blog, you might find very interesting a study by Lynn Sloman, this authorative report shows how local schemes such as school travel plans, workplace travel plans, etc., could cut urban traffic from between 15% and 33%. www.roadblock.org.uk/resources/LessTrafficWherePeopleLive.pdf

Also on a similar subject, Friends of the Earth did a good study on schemes to replace school buses and the "school-run" with the

CANTON CPZ POLL RESULT IS BAD NEWS FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Cardiff Friends of the Earth today expressed regret at the decision of Canton residents to reject a Controlled parking Zone (CPZ) in their area in last Friday’s referendum. The CPZ scheme, which was designed to deter commuters from parking in Canton’s streets, would have seen a reduction in congestion.

The benefits would have included a decrease in air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions as commuters would be encouraged to switch to more environmentally sustainable public transport. Reduced congestion would also make public transport more efficient, as pointed out by Leo Markham of Bus Users UK. Buses are relied upon by disadvantaged members of society, such as the elderly and those on low incomes who cannot afford to own cars. These groups would have enjoyed greater access to services and jobs as a result of CPZ since bus services would be quicker and more reliable. This is particularly the case in Canton as Cowbridge Road East is the main artery connecting the deprived Ely and Caerau wards with the City Centre.

Dr Marc Buehner, Cardiff Friends of the Earth’s Transport and Planning Spokesman said, “Friends of the Earth have always campaigned in favour of greater local decision making and of course we repsect the outcome of the referendum. However, there is no avoiding the fact that this is a victory for the motoring lobby at the expense of the environment.”

“There was perhaps a failure to make the environmental case for CPZs in months leading up to the referendum. Should the CPZ scheme be called into question in any other wards where they are proposed, Cardiff FoE will endeavour to put that point of view across.”

info@foecardiff.co.uk

Additional details:
Retailers vastly overestimate the proportion of customers arriving by car, and underestimate how many customers travelled by foot, cycle, or bus. A recent study conducted for SUSTRANS revealed that retailers on an arterial road in Bristol thought that 43% of their customers arrived by car, when in reality only 22% drove. Likewise, retailers estimated that only 12% of customers lived locally, within half a mile, when in reality 42% travelled less then half a mile, and a whopping 86% lived within a 2 mile radius. The research also showed that pedestrian shoppers visit more shops when they are in the area, compared to motorists. Thus, concerns from retailers that lack of parking damages their business are an urban myth. CPZs, if supplemented with better public transport and pedestrianisation, are good for communities, not bad. They increase the cohesion of the social fabric by preventing congestion and making the area more attractive.

Audit Commission highlights the dangers for child pedestrians on our streets

'Changing Lanes' a report by the Audit Commission published on 26 February, has backed up the work of campaigning charity Living Streets, highlighting the fact that our streets can be dangerous places for vulnerable pedestrians, in particular children.
Read the full article Tuesday 27 February 2007