DANGER ON GRAFTON BRIDGE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22198, 27 August 1935, Page 13

DANGER ON GRAFTON BRIDGE

Sir, —Your correspondent, Mr. J. Thornes, should write about what lie knows. He knows nothing about the traffic at Grafton Bridge. The " keep to the right" by-law is definitely right and should be maintained. Mr. Thornes says the users of Grafton Bridge automatically go to the left. Some may, but others who know that there is commonsense behind the by-law arj faced with a choice of dangers. They have either to keep on the wrong footpath or risk crossing the bridge in face of a persistent and apparently endless stream of motor traffic. All except acrobats choose the (to them) lesser danger of the wrong path. The remedy is not to rescind the by-law 6ut to so regulate the traffic that pedestrians will have frequent opportunities to cross. If this should inconvenience motor traffic, it would only have the excellent result of forcing a part of it to choose (as it easily conldl another route Grafton.

Sir, —1 landed in Auckland some months ago, partially crippled. Hospital attention was necessary, and I walked from the tram over the bridge. Hobbling along, every nerve on edge, I was distressed at continually being jostled, though on my correct (as I thought) side of the path. When next a pedestrian confronted me, I paused and said courteously, "Would you mind walking to the left, please?" I was greeted with an ill-mannered tirade from the lady, who, backed up by her male escort, refused to move. Annoyed beyond measure at the whole circumstance, and feeling in no fit state to do battle on a public highway, 1 walked round the righteous and triumphant pair, but the memory still rankles. I hope some alteration will be made to prevent other innocents from being annoyed. Those who are old, lame, or both, surely have equal rights with the young and swift. Portia.