TRAFFIC TANGLES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 25 May 1925, Page 5

TRAFFIC TANGLES

POST OFFICE SQUARE

DANGERS

A MOVE-FOR CONTROL"

Several months ago, in fact well over a year ago, official representations were made by the Harbour Board to the City Council upon the subject of traffic control in Post Offica Square, one of the most tricky traffic centres of the city, but, from what can be gathered, it was felt that someone had stepped over the head of someone else, and a plan which was submitted was pigeon-holed, and Jeft pigeon-holed. On several occasions since then the question of whether something should not be done to straighten the tangle out lias been raised, but nothing definite has been done, although, it is is understood, another plan has been drafted. It may be that further representations will be made in the near future, and a definite plan worked out The wonder of it is. that so few accidents happen in Post Office Square, particularly in the area immediately in front of the Queen's Wharf gates, for there Raflerty's rules only are observed. Jervois quay provides a very fair speodway for traffic running north, while south-bound traffic splits up in dangerous fashion on either side of the old waiting-shed in front of Shed 7. When the railway carried on to Ta Aro Station this shelter provided a needed safety zone, but it is an opeir question whether it could not be much better placed today, with the railway lines removed altogether. As a safety zone it is safe enough—when on e gets there, but it is well out of the line of any but the "jaywalker" for a direct crossing from anywhere to anywhere. It has been suggested that it should be removed altogether, and that a more useful shelter should be erected in the Square to serve all lines running through the area, but apparently there is corsiderable opposition to this suggestion. Possibly something on those lines may bo done" if Post Office Square is made the central start-ing-point for tho city's fleet of motorbuses.

The stranger to Wellington—and a very great number of strangers st«p on to city land at the Queen's Wharf gatesis very likely to be caught and damaged considerably if he not Walk .with great circumspection past the end of the shelter-shed. He crosses the strip along which the old railway tracks ran, and takes a breath in the lee of the shelter-shed island; a glance up Jervois quay shows all clear as far as northbound cars are concerned, and he steps out boldly. Someone behind him reaches out. in time to pull him back from a speed car or two swinging in to run welJ inside the lorry stand in the quay just over the crossing. He is quite entitled to believe that if he has crossed over one line of south-bound traffic he may expect traffic, in the. other direction in the next few yards, 'but not so in Post Ofiico Square. There is another danger spot, to drivers rather than to pedestrians, at the entrance to the wharf itself. * Hall a dozen lines of traffic run past outside the entrance, and two or three vehicles may be turning in, from different traffic streams, at once,.while lorries and vans arp also running from the wharf. Here, however, tho speed danger does not en- ! ter into thejposition very seriously, as the check at the entrance slows up all vehicles, either coming or going. CAES TO MEET BOATS. Another suggestion which has been made for the better control of wharf trafficis that a parking-place should be established in the Square somewhere adjacent to the wharf gates for cars which run down to meet passenger boats. The 1 objection to the present order of things is that so many cars now run to tho ship's side thai, serious congestion follows upon the wharf, legitimate wharf traflic is slowed down,' and an element of danger is again introduced. It i 3 considered by those who favour this suggestion that ample space is available in Post Office Square i'or such, a park-ing-place provided a jjiaiv were properly drawn up and steps "were taken to see that rules laid down were observed. FAST AND SLOW. There appears to be a good deal of feeling among the residents and business | people of Wellington South as to tho casual manner in which traffic moves along the main roads to Newtown, Island Bay, and Constable street, and motorists who regularly use these thoroughfares are likewise agreed that it is time something was done to bring something like order into the very mixed traffic which runs down to the city in the morning and home again in the evening. A good deal of the danger, from the motorist's point of view, is that horsedrawn traffic—and Adelaide road and Riddiford street probably carry more horse-drawn traffic, morning and evening, than any other roads of the city-~ almost invariably chooses to follow the inner side of the •■traffic line, and overtalcing cars must swing out round them, well on to the tram tracks. Several accidents have already occurred from this very cause, one only a night or two ago-.