FIXING TRAM STOPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20600, 26 June 1930, Page 13

FIXING TRAM STOPS.

REASON FOR LOCATION. CONVENIENCE TO MOTORISTS. An inquirv addressed to the Herald raises the question of the most suitable locaticnior tram stops. The writer says: "It would be interesting to learn why the outward-bound tram stops should almost invariably be placed at the nearer corner cf intersecting roads, so holding up motor traffic wishing to turn into those roads. The same hindrance is created by the inward-bound tram when it stops at the farther corner of side roads. There may be some very good reason, and one would be glad to hear of it." Officials of the Transport Board, to whom the query was conveyed, stated vesterdav that the location was chosen because experience showed it to produce the least inconvenience. If tne tram stopped at the further corner, that is. bevond the intersection, motor traffic, which was obliged to stop also, would bank up behind the tram and block the side road so that traffic using the side rr.ad would be unable to cross the mum road at right angles to the tram. Moreover, if the string of motor-cars held up on the main road was a long one, it would also be impossible lor the cars mentioned by the inquirer to turn to the left into the side street, and there would be a complete stoppage of traffic. Another point raised by the transport officials was ihas at busy street intersections trams were often ooliged to stop in any case before the cross-over owing to the stream of traffic crossing the main road at right angles. In such a case passengers would be inclined to aught, the motorman would have to wait nntil they had stepped down and then would haveto stop the tram at the other side cf the intersection to pick up the people waiting at the official tram stop. That would mean hopeless confusion and annovance to motor tramc. An exception, it was pointed out, had been made in the case of the intersection of Khvber Pass with Mountain Road, but that, was done at the express wish of the Auckland Automobile Association, which maintained that the bulk of motor traffic proceeding citywards in this case turned into Park Road, and should be given preference, especially as Kijyber Pass was a steep read and involved a great deal of brake-work in stopping cars.