TRAFFIC CONTROL.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19690, 6 August 1929, Page 9

TRAFFIC CONTROL.

IMPORTANT DECISIONS.

INCLUSION OF PEDES-

TRIANS.

REGISTRATION OF BICYCLES

OPPOSED

The following suggestions relating to the control of traffic were submitted to the Bv-laws Committee of the City Council by the Special Traffic Committee and were referred to the Council last evening for approval: Traffic Domes —It was decided to recommend that traffic domes be installed as required at intersections; each intersection to be treated on its merits.

Parking Cars in Colombo street— The question of the parking of cars in Colombo street between Armagh street and St. Asaph street has been further considered, and the committee recommends that a five-minute limit be made for all vehicles in this area, subject to special provision being made regarding trade vehicles. Tail Lights on Vehicles—The committee recommends that provision be made in the by-laws for all vehicle, with the exception of bicycles to carry a tail light at night. Tramway Traffic -- The comniittG6 ro* commends that the attention of the Tramway Board be drawn to the following matters: —(a) The question of a distinguishing light being carried on a tram travelling on the wrong side of the road; (b) the inconvenience caused to traffic by the shunting of tramcars in Colombo street between Lichneld and Cashel streets; (c) the advisability of eliminating the stops for trams at Tuam and Cashel streets on the Colombo street line, and at the intersections of High and Cashel streets. Covering of Side Channels —The committee considers that the channels should be covered in streets in the business portion of the City which it is not intended to regrade, and recommends that the City Engineer be asked to furnish an estimate of the cost of this work» Control'of all Traffic —The committee is of opinion that where traffic inspectors are on point duty all traffic should come under their control, including pedestrians. Registration of Bicycles—The committee is of opinion that the time has arrived when all bicycles should be registered, and that a portion of the back mudguard should be painted white, and recommends that the City Solicitor be instructed to draw up a by-law giving effect to this recommendation. Erection of Notices—The committee recommends: —-(a) That notices be erected in prohibited areas to the effect that vehicles are not allowed to stop in this area; (b) that notices be erected outside theatres and dance halls with regard to the parking restrictions. White Lines at Crossing Places —The committee recommends that white lines be painted at crossing places with a view to drawing attention to pedestrians as to where they should cross the streets. Several other recommendations from the Traffic Committee relating to safety, zonea in Cathedral square, the stopping of tramcars midway between street intersections, and the angle parking of car* on one side of the street have been held over for further consideration.

Restriction on Parking.

Cr. J. A. Flesher moved an amendment that the minimum time for parking cars in Colombo street be ten minutes. Ho said the limit of five minutes was absurd. Cr A. E. Armstrong said that a five minutes' limit would mean a hardship to business people, who would find it impossible to take in goods from vehicles outside. A longer time t-'ian fifteen minutes was also lecessanr for shopping purposes. He seconded the amendment, but would have liked to see the time extended to fifteen minutes. Cr. J. W. Beanland said that there was special provision made for business people in certain conditions. He was in favour of the motion as it R+ Cr! F. R. Cooke said that fifteen minutes was too short for shopping purtioses. . 1 Cr. Thacker: I have waited for two hours. . . ~ x ,. Cr. Cooke, continuing, said that there were plenty of places near Colombo street where cars could he Darked while t>eople were doing their shopping in Colombo street. Cr. E. H. Andrews said that ten minutes was short enough, and he would like to see the time extended to a quarter of an hour.

* 'lnsufficient Tixoe."

Cr. T. H Butterfield said he could not support either the clause or the amendment. Even ten minutes was an insufficient time, and if people were not going to have fifteen minutes, it was not worth while allowing motors in the street at all. A certain amount of parking was necessary in almost every street in Christchurch and Latimer square would not park nearlv sufficient cars to be used as an alternative. ... , Cr. D G. Sullivan said if ti»e reduction in the time was not fifteen minutes it was useless making the by-law. Councillors: Hear, hear. Cr. Andrews: The Council has never enforced the twentv minutes. Cr. Sullivan said the by-law had always been difficult to enforce. There was a vast amount of traffic m Colombo street, and the nosition was becoming very difficult. There was a continuous demand for traffic reform, hut immediately a move was made there was an outcry. To take the case of pedestrians, it seemed to be very difficult to get them to submit to any control. The Council would have to stand up to the problem, no matter where the opposition came from. The great mass of the public were forced to carry* their parcels. Cr. Lyons: Don't say anything hard about the motor-owning class. Remember rou are one of us. Cr. Sullivan said he was going to •adhere to the five minutes' limit. Cr. A. Fraer said that the traffic of the City was goine east, and while there was no suggestion of clearing Manchester street she did not think that cars should not he allowed to park even in Colombo street at least ten minutes.

Delivery of Gooda.

Cr. P. R. Sharpe stated that in some cities the delivery of goods from vehicles was prohibited except at certain hours. Tradesmen could not be P 1 vented from standing in front of their premises as that was their business, but sometimes vehicles stood for half an hour outside a shop. It was time that such a practice was stopped. . Cr A. W. Bearen said ten minutes was a fair compromise. The other proposal savoured of treading on the public's toes. Cr. E. Parlane supported the amendment. In the case of a load of flour, he said, at least ten minutes was necessary to deal with It. The shopkeepers,

in many cases, would be only too pleased to deliver goods if orders were Cr. H. T. J. Thacker said there waa total prohibition between the Beresford and the Dominion Buildings, in the "bottle-neck," and in front of places of amusement He ask«d whether one gossiping motorist should be able to hold up Cr. Butterfield's car or Cr. Cooke's donkey shay. The motor inspectors had assured them that it was impossible to a conviction for exeeedinf the time limit for parking. He had seen a car stand in front of Petersen's in Hich street for two hours. He admitted there were streets as busy as Colombo street, but the committee wanted to start somewhere, the proposal had been carefully thoucht out anH something had to be done to avoid chaoe.

Trams Blamed for Congestion. The greatest barrier to the flow of traffic were the trams, which stopped at intersections instead of midway between them. At any time of the day Armagh street was lined, not with the cars of shoppers, but with those of itinerant people. The amendment was carried by 10 vote* to 6, the voting being as follows : _ , , „ _ , Ayes: Crs. Butterfield. E. Parlane, \rmstrone:. Flesher. Beaven, Williamson. J. Parlane, Fraer, Lyons, and Andrews. % _ . Noes: Crs. Sullivan, McCombs, Cooke. Sharpe. Beanland, and the Deputv-Mavor (Cr. Thacker). Cr Tivons then moved the substitution of fifteen minutes for ten minutes. He had vet to see that there was any need for the prohibition, especial.* from St. Asaph street to Lichfield Cr. Butterfield seconded the amendment. , . , Cr. Sullivan protested against the moving of amendments by Councillors who were on the committee. Cr. Flesher: I did not vote for the motion in committee. Cr. Sullivan- Cr. Flesher did not vote aeainst it. Cr L v "n«: I was absent at the time. Cr. Tli acker: It is only fools who do not change their opinions, Cr. SulllV Cr' WH. Williamson said he would be in favour of prohibition applied to the whole Citv. but it was unfair to single out one street. Building contractors must have a certain time to discharge loads. Cr Sullivan: Something would be done to meet them. Cr Williamson said if cars were kept out of one street they should be kept out of another. . _ The amendment was lost by 11 rotes to 5, the voting being as follows: — Ayes: Crs. Butterfield, Armstrong, Williamson, Lyons, and Andrews. Noes: Crs. Sul'ivan, McCombs, Cooke, Sharpe, E. Parlane, Flesher, Beaven, J. Parlane, Fraer, Beanland, and the De-puty-Mayor.

The New Regulation.

Cr. Lyons suggested that the restriction be 30 minutes for commercial vehicles, and Cr. Sullivan agreeing, the regulation was carried as amended. The following was the formal motion passed:— M , "In exercise of the powers conferred by The Municipal Corporations Act, 1920, Section 357 (h) and the CJ»rist> church By-law No. 14, Sections 55 and 114, the Christehurch City Council doth, by resolution, inake the following regulations: (1) The Regulation number 9, created by resolution of the said cil on the 31st day of January, ' is hereby revoked, as to paragraph 1 (a) thereof.—(2) No person, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, except Fridays and on Fridays between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. shall permit any vehicle described in Section 55 of the said By-law, to stand or stop in any portion of Colombo street between the lines of the intersection of that street with the southern boundary of Armagh street and the northern boundary of St, Asaph street for a longer period than 10 minutes: provided that nothing in this regulation shall apply to any person in charge of any vehicle standing for not longer than 30 minutes in Colombo street oetween the above limits whilst actually engaged in loading or unloading goods from or into any shop, warehouse, or premises. This proviso shall be read as being subject to the restrictions imposed by Regulation 14 (1) (e) of the Motor Vehicle Regulations, 1928, dealing with motor vehicles at tramway stopping places. The foregoing regulations shall come into foree on the l4lh day of August, 1929."

Tramway Traffic.

Or. Cooke moved that lulwlfttt* 4 be taken back and given further consideration. He thought it rather mischievous to interfere with train stoppings at the streets mentions. It would cause congestion of traffic from that point to Lichfield street. The trams at 5 o'clock picked up passengers in Cashel street on both sides, and took them out of the City. To stop the trams as suggested would only cause a great deal of congestion as there were many factories south of Cuw street. He considered that to travel from Cathedral square* to Cashel street was quite far enough for a tram to have to run. ... . Cr. Thacker said the clauses relating to the trams were only drawing the Tramway Board's attention to the Council'*, wishes. Cr. E. R. McCombs seconded the amendment. The trams carried any number op to 100 people, and a string of three as long as a train would perhaps carry not more than three people. She did not see how Councillors could endorse a proposal to make tram-users walk a considerable distance to the shopping centre. Cr. Lyons said he was strongly in favour of (a) and (b) but not of _ Section (c). If a tram went round Stewart Dawson's corner without stopping, it would be highly dangerous. The safety which such tram stops gave made them well worth while. It was a pity the points oonld not be taken out of the tram lines in Colombo suggested that (a) and (b) be approved, and (c) be taken back. Cr. Cooke approved this. Cr. Flesher said the Tramway Board was exercising commonsense m its present policy of stopping trams before the intersections were crossed. * Automatic Control. Cr. Beaven said that the. time had arrived to exercise automatic control. To expect inspectors to control was altogether too much. He would like to see such a system liistalrea at Colombo and Cashel streets. Cr Sharpe drew attention to toe London system of traffic control and advocated it.

Registration of Bifiye'ii Cr. Butterfield, speaking with to bicvcle registration, said that it would "be a good idea as it would enable by-law breaker* to be detected. Cr. Armstrong opposed the suggestion, considering that it would be too much for inspectors to have to watch cyclists and_pedestrians, as well as the motorists. To his mind, it was ridiculous to expect a cyclist to paint his mudguard white. Cr. Lvons opposed the suggested registration of cycles as being calcnlated to fall most heavily on those least abte to bear the burden. It would be known as the schoolboys' tax. He asked the Council to picture the clencal work that would be involved in the registration of 40,000, perhaps 50 000 bicvcles. He asked what would happen in the case of cyclists coming into the City from, say, Bumiier and New Brighton The Mayor: They would have to be registered, too. "What about a man cycling round the world," asked Cr. Armstrong. "He would have to register his bicycle in Cbristcburch," mid Cr. Lyons amidst laughter.

Or. Andrew# said lie mi to suggestion ni not practicable. He b*Bered the avenge number <rf bkjycles in Chriatclrarcfa wee about ore P* family. He wae {transfer a fwo«r of the control at biwewi, bi* eeeM not support regiatration, wlueii thought woold not bdp Ike®. W some other place tr? rt fiijt, •■§£ msied. "I don't know of ft p»* ffl tbe world where bicycles » **•!•- tored." Hb hoped the tors would make an juub{M of * taw ssnffi church had a by-law cwaapetliiig a cyclist to haTO a red wfcctflr ®* machine, but it was nsow covered up by tbe rider's overcoat. , Cr. Cooke said he did pot think »• sub-clause woold m®et the caee. Be moved that it be take* back. Cr. McCombe said to becoming educated. She monan ®* aleo supported tfcia waa carried by_l4 rotes to 3, thoee opposing It being ©a. Th acker, Beaven, and Fraer. The report, aa amended, was ton adopted.