Dangerous Pavements Campaign

Dangerous pavements
Join the campaign and save lives.

In Cardiff Roads and Pavements - Are you a Pedestrian? We all use pavements. If you see a vehicle damaging a pavement, please note the registration number and report the incident to C2C Tel: 029 2087 2087.
All enquiries to: Cardiff Council Transport, Infrastructure & WasteBrindley RoadCardiffCF11 8TX Tel: 029 2078 5200Fax: 029 2078 5218
Email: highways@cardiff.gov.uk

Traffic pollution levels pose severe risk in South Wales

Why are we being poisoned? So what is keeping our politicians from doing something about this?

I suggest that we ban highly polluting cars from the road such as SUVs. Raise funds to pay for public transport which keeps going up in cost by at least raising parking charges by 1. introduce congestion charging. 2. Make using the bus more attractive and easier by auditing the services at present which as in Cardiff go almost entirely into the city centre that circle the city and go across. 3.Introduce more bus stops to meet needs - e.g. the bus stop that used to be from theSchool of music has been moved and therefore WAG workers have some distance to go to find a bus up,Caerphilly Road.4.Stop cutting services -Cardiff are proposing cutting no 68 to Llanishen which take civil service workers to Ty Glas high rise buildings. With such poor bus services no wonder people fee l they have to take their cars. Try getting a bus after 6.30 - try using the bus to get anywhere after 6.30. Caerphilly buses stop at 6ish. Not good for economic development either.5. Cardiff Bus have a £3.00 day ticket which is non transferable so if we have a stagecoach bus come along we can't use our ticket.6. Buses go along Northern Ave all day to and from the valleys but don't stop to pick up passengers either way so why this waste of resources at best and segregation at worst?7.Sardine Train services overcrowded and tying to hit targets so they skip stops when late and leave passengers stranded or waiting for hours etc.8. Some park and ride out side the city.9. Stop parking at bus stops- on double yellow lines and on the pavement 9. Start all over.

See also my posts on ...Demand tough fuel efficiency standards for Europes carsTake action before 30th June Find your MEP and tell them what you think.Thursday, June 14, 2007 Shed some Green Light on parking charges!

Time for Cardiff Drivers to see Green Light.Soaring pollution levels could pose severe risks Jun 30 2007 by Ben Glaze, South Wales EchoDANGEROUSLY high levels of air pollution have been recorded in South Wales, according to an official report.Pollution in several places in Rhondda Cynon Taf “could pose a risk of significant adverse health effects” according to the council’s public health experts.Officials found levels of nitrogen dioxide were above legal limits at eight hot-spots across RCT: Aberdare town centre; The Broadway, Treforest; Cilfynydd, near Pontypridd; the A4119 at Mwyndy, near Llantrisant; Pontypridd town centre; East Road, Tylorstown; and the A473 corridor through Church Village, Llantwit Fardre and Tonteg.Their report blames fumes from congested traffic and the high level of housing in affected areas.An RCT council spokeswoman said: “Findings indicated that nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant mainly produced from road traffic, required further, more in-depth examination.“As such the council has recently published a report about its in-depth examination entitled Third Stage Detailed Assessment for Nitrogen Dioxide for public consultation.“The report has identified eight areas within the borough which are affected by air quality and therefore require the declaration of air quality management areas.Plaid Cymru AM Leanne Wood said: “Now these problems have been identified it is crucial they are addressed as soon as possible.“This pollution comes from car exhausts and so it is no surprise these hot spots are in the very areas where traffic congestion is worst.“Action needs to be taken immediately to reduce traffic volumes in all of these areas, but the real answer lies in the provision of high-quality, affordable and accessible public transport so that people do not need to sit in traffic jams.”ben.glaze@wme.co.uk

An Inconvenient Truth

Global Warning
The real story of what is happening with climate change
Free Admission to the Oscar Winning Film
Thursday 5th July, door open 6.30pm for 7pm
Clwb Y Bont, 85A Stryd Taf, Pontypridd
Followed by a discussion of the issues arising from the film. Chaired by Julian Rosser,
Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru. Sponsored by Pontypridd Friends of the Earth

No voice - no choice

The Government wants to fast track new power stations, runways, major roads and other big developments – whether people want them or not. The Planning White Paper will effectively silence local opposition to big polluting projects. The public have until 17 August to respond to the Government's proposals.

No voice, no choice
Contained in the White Paper are proposals to:

Streamline major projects
Like nuclear power stations, airports, major roads and large incinerators.
Stop you from having a say
By removing your right to be heard in Public Inquiries and local plans.
Threaten local shops
By encouraging out-of-town supermarket development
These proposals will lead to a major increase in CO2 emissions – at odds with the Government's aim to tackle climate change.

Did you know?
A coalition of environmental and civic organisations numbering more than 2 million members opposes the Government's Planning White Paper.

Who is affected?
Communities throughout the UK will be faced with new power stations, nuclear waste sites and other major energy projects. Plans for airports, major roads and large waste incinerators will affect England only.

Your community, your shout
The planning system offers key checks and balances which are now under threat. Sustainable development is being stripped apart to benefit big business. These proposals are bad for people, bad for democracy and bad for the environment.

Protect your rights and local voice in planning – please take our quick online action at to respond to the Government's proposals.

See planning disaster

Worst Roads in Wales

WORST WALES ROADS NAMEDic Wales - 24 Jun 2007. £8m has recently been spent on electronic message signs and road sensors designed to give drivers the latest information on traffic conditions on the English side of the M4, near Bristol, in a bid to tackle the appalling accident rate there.

So far this year, 702 accidents have occurred on 18 principal roads in Wales. This is an average of 39 incidents per road with a high of 259.

Wales' principal motorway stretch, and busiest road, was the M4 which suffered 259 incidents whilst the A48, A470, A55, A40 and A465 combined registered 342.
The most accident-prone stretches of road in Wales are dominated by the M4. The Westbound stretch from Junction 29 Cardiff East to Junction 32 Cardiff North already has 36 reported accidents this year. The Eastbound stretch between J33 Cardiff West and J32 Cardiff North takes the next spot with 17, and the Westbound stretch between the Brynglas Tunnel and J26 Newport (North) has 12. The M4 dominates the top ten accident-prone stretches of road in Wales with 119 incidents occurring in ten stretches alone. The top A road stretch is held by the A48 Eastbound between Llanbeder and East of Caerwent with 8 incidents.

Scotland to lead world on climate change

SCOTLAND is to lead the world in action to combat climate change, cutting carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050. John Swinney, the Cabinet secretary for finance and sustainable growth, told the Scottish Parliament he was committed to an ambitious programme of cuts that would be an inspiration to the world and help to turn this country into "the green energy capital of Europe".
However, he was accused of performing a "major U-turn" by dropping an SNP manifesto commitment to mandatory annual emissions reductions of 3 per cent.
Scotsman 22nd June 2007 Herald 22nd June 2007

C ome on wales -what are you waiting for?

Highway code new changes hit cyclists!

I've heard that there's a new Highway Code in production and that some of the new rules (for cyclists) are a bit controversial e.g. http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/roads4bikes
Danger lane: are new rules making cycling riskier?
Changes to the Highway Code have aroused cyclists’ safety fears, reports Joseph Dunn in the Times

This issue is not devolved to the Welsh Assembly Government.

You therefore need to contact the Driving Standards Agency, The Training Centre, Harrowden Lane, Cardington, Bedford, MK44 3ST Telephone 01234 744063 / Fax 01234 744050 / website: www.dsa.gov.uk

The Department for Transport (DfT) issued a press release on 1 June about further changes to cycling rules in the Highway Code laid before Parliament on 28 March 2007 - this can be found on the DfT web site at www. dft.gov.uk.

Pedestrain Crossing Heol Llanishen Fach by the Mormon Church

Great new crossing.

Is this crossing in Rhiwbina safe for pedestrians?
If you think it isn't shouldn't we slow the approaching traffic, narrow the road at the approach or have a green man?

Would help to if we didn't put the pole in the middle of the pavement!

Or should we move the Crossing to make it a longer walk for pesdestrians? No way!!




Spotted at Rookwood hospital -
just picking someone up!

Shed some Green Light on parking charges!

Time for Cardiff Drivers to see Green Light.

The city centre of Cardiff should be readily accessed by all sections of the community. It should not be dominated by the car, but offer safe, attractive, pedestrian-friendly environments.

Increased parking charges should be re-cycled to provide better public transport, walking and cycling facilities at all location levels.
The local bus service fails to meet peoples needs for travel to the city centre. Almost all households in Wales - 90% say that the bus service does not meet the need either for travel at night or travel on Sunday

City centre retailers underestimate the number of their customers arriving by bus, walk and cycle and their spend profile and overestimate the number and effect of car borne customers.

A commission for integrated transport study revealed that public transport users do not spend significantly less than car users in city centre, particularly once income bias is eliminated. Therefore, any reduction of existing car shoppers should not result in significantly less retail spend. People travelling by bus, cycling and walking are more likely to support their city centre, visiting it more frequently than car users.

It is a myth that reducing traffic will harm the economy.

Research carried out by the German Institute for Urban Research6 indicates that a sustainable transport approach benefits trade in German towns. It says: "Retail trade in central city districts increases with policies that encourage environmentally friendly transport
Modes” Another German study showed there was no relationship between the amount of car parking provision and the amount of money people spent in shops.

Half of lone parents lack a car and two thirds of single pensioners. The great majority of these groups are women. Women are the primary users of bus services. The cost of bus fares has gone up considerably. Recently bus fares went up in Cardiff from £2.60 to £3.00. therefore it would cost £6.00 for two adults to go to the city centre for any length of time. Is it right that it has been cheaper to go by car? Since 1974 bus fares have increased by 87 per cent in real terms. Between 1997 and 2005 motoring costs fell by 9 per cent!
Buses are late or cancelled because of traffic congestion. Transport policicy in Cardiff discriminates, passively or actively, in favour of cars and against buses and cycling. In Cardiff where parking is plentiful and has been free or cheap, there is no bus priority and no enforcement, so buses are very unattractive option compared with cars.

A 'Green' parking charge should vary depending on the amount of pollution they create. Cars should be banded depending on how many grams of CO2 they emit per km. By implementing schemes that reduce carbon dioxide emissions we could make a positive impact on climate change nationally and globally .


Time for everyone in Cardiff and our council to catch up with other local authorities and see Green light!!!




.

Slow traffic at school now! Why beg? 20's plenty

Slow down and make our school walk safer
Jun 11 2007 - DRIVERS are being begged to slow down around Birchgrove Primary School, in Birchgrove Road. Not a response from the authorities promising to reduce speed limits now? Why not? - children should come before motorists. lets see some action now! Before it is too late.
Global road traffic injury epidemic, see commission for Global Road Safety, June 2006. Make Roads Safe: a new priority for sustainable development. http://www.makeroadssafe.org/documents/make_roads_safe_low_res.pdf

Petition - funding for 20mph zones

Living Streets resources on 'Safe Routes to School'

http://www.transport2000.org.uk/communityaction/20PlentyPoster.pdf

when there is no charge for Parking!

Ever wonder how life would be if we travelled in ways that benefited our health and our environment? We’d have safer roads, cleaner air and a better quality of life.
It’s easier to do than you think.

Change Your World is asking people to swap just one car trip from 1-7 July and choose something that’s better for the planet instead. And guess what? If we all give up one car journey that week we’ll reduce car traffic by 10%. And save money - there is no charge for parking! Fancy giving it a go? Sign up at www.changeyourworld.org.uk from 1 June to make your swap and for the chance to win a bike worth £449.99.
Change Your World is run by Sustrans Charity number 326550

Demand tough fuel efficiency standards for Europes cars

Over a quarter of Europe’s carbon emissions come from transport, the majority of these from cars. Car makers have failed to deliver on their own targets on emissions and now the European Commission are proposing legally-binding targets. The car industry is fighting hard to avoid these mandatory targets but these targets must be tough enough if they are going to have an effect on climate change. The Commission are asking for your opinion on what their policy should be. Tell them that you want tough mandatory and long-term targets that will significantly reduce the impact of the car on our climate.Take action before 30th June
Find your MEP and tell them what you think.

What idiot put that in the middle of the pavement?

Caerphilly Road - Cardiff
There is a new develoment of housing totally out of sympathy with the other side of this tree lined road.
In this barren landscape with no trees, looms a 'thing',
a 'box' stuck right in the middle of the pavement - why?
What idiot planned this? Can we not have streets obstacle free? Is that too difficult? And doesn't it look horrible.

In the distance you can see the crossing which is a long way from the cross roads so elderly, disabled people and young people all risk their lives because of the Ridiculous positioning of the crossing.

In the picture below you can see the lengths to which motorists go to save them walking a few metres. Parking on a crossing - some people have no shame