Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1925. PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10684, 30 December 1925, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian. Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 1925. PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.

The congestion of pedestrian traffic in the shopping streets of the Borough, especially hast Street, on Christmas hive, and the certainty that the same state of affairs will prevail to-morrow night, emphasises the need for the institution of some measure of control. Certainly on such occasions as those mentioned some inconvenience in wending one’s way along the pavement is expected and cheerfully accepted, but blocking of the footpaths prevails on all late shopping nights, and on all sale days; in fact, it is present in more or less acute form every day of the week. In every section, groups of persons engaged in conversation monopolise the centre or the greater part of the thoroughfare, necessitating a devious course on the part of the passer-by; and where no island exists the meeting streams thread their respective ways in and out of the press with a disregard of the rule of the path that is exasperating. Time was when the footpaths of Ashburton were ample enough to allow of this irregular means of progression without more than a minimum of disadvantage; now, however, the number of pedestrians lias so increased that even under the most ordered conditions the width of the paths is not more than sufficient. When the towns of New Zealand were laid out the designers as a rule sought to cater for ■expansion, but it was not humanly possible for them to visualise the growth that has taken place within the last threequarters of a century. So that in every city it has long- been necessary to enforce strict regulation of traffic; even the smaller towns have had to tackle the problem, and Ashburton, if it is not to be last on

the road of progress, must act in a similar manner. As there is a rule of the road, so there should be a rule of the footpath, and the Borough Council should not delay in framing and enforcing a bylaw to deal with the matter. Most, of the progressive centres have adopted the “keep to the left” rule. This has the advantage that the pedestrian on the outside is facing the vehicular traffic so that a step off the pavement on to the roadway is taken with a clear forward view of oncoming traffic. The only objection raised has been that it has created confusion in the minds of those who have been life-long observers of the old “keep to the right.” But in Ashburton there will be no cause for complaint on that score.

While on the subject of traffic control, it may be asked why the by-law regarding the parking- of cars is not enforced. Under the by-laws cars are allowed to stand in any street for a quarter of an hour, but for an indefinite'period in certain localities only. Yet it is a common thing- for cars to be left for long- periods within the busy area of the town, and often two and even three deep. This is against the interests of public safety and the authorities would be acting for the general good by putting a stop to the practice.