CROWDED FOOTPATHS

Taranaki Daily News, 30 November 1934, Page 4

CROWDED FOOTPATHS

RULE OF “KEEP TO THE LEFT.” POLICE INSPECTOR APPROVES. The suggested adoption cf a keep-to-the left rule for pedestrians at New Plymouth was approved by Inspector J. Powell, who is in charge of the Taranaki police district, to a Daily News reporter at New Plymouth yesterday. The system had been adopted some time and was working well in the cities, said the inspector. At Wellington particularly, where there were narrow fontpaths, it was difficult to break through the stream of pedestrians, so well defined were the currents.

It was definitely a police duty to keep the footpaths clear of standing pedestrians, said Inspector Powell. He commended the idea of painting a centre line but stressed the need for “Keep to the left signs” also. It was not to be expected that country people could be stopped from talking on the street, but people must not block the footpath. Country people were always amenable to discipline. Though he did not expect the same briskness would result from the scheme as in the cities he was of the opinion much good would be done. The public would fofm the habit rapidly, particularly, if signs were erected.