TRAFFIC HAZARDS

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 1

TRAFFIC HAZARDS

Lunch-time traffic in Cathedral square on Thursday was as busy as it had been on any day this year; but buses, cars and cyclists came to a halt for a small group of pedestrians a duck and five newlyhatched ducklings. The unperturbed mother shepherded her brood under

feet and in front of braked vehicles. Walking against the gyratory system, they came from the back of the Cathedral, round past Warner’s Hotel and across the pedestrian safety zones, heading for the Avon river at Worcester street.

A well-meaning pedestrian tried to gather the ducklings into a hat for safer conduct, but was restrained by a busdriver who said nothing would happen to them. Nothing did. They were a more effective block to traffic than the white glove of a traffic officer.

Motorists were not so tolerant at the Colombo streetHereford street-High street lights a little later. From dozens of pedestrians waiting for the “cross now” signal, an elderly woman stepped out and crossed against the red light, to the consternation of other road users. “You can’t wait for ever, can you?” she observed when she reached the other side. “No, but you won’t be waiting long if you go on like that today.” answered a waiting pedestrian, a retired police officer.