Move school access away from Dublin St bypass?
In Paris it’s called “Streets to Schools.”
The objective: to make the home-school path safer for children, to better share public space, to calm down daily life, and fight against air pollution.
Big aims towards helping make children, school street environments and urban driving all safer.
“Streets to Schools” explains:
“When traffic cannot be completely cut off, the street becomes a pedestrian area, which means that only certain vehicles can travel there at walking speed, with pedestrians having priority on the road.”
“The passage of emergency vehicles, transport of disabled people and delivery remains assured.”
What is an open pedestrian area?
-Only accessible to vehicles with a destination in the street (residents, deliveries, emergency services, craftsmen having access, for example, to enable household collection);
– Possible bus passage, provided that there is a stop in the street;
– Speed only “walking” for vehicles;
– No parking space;
– Delivery in the middle of the road;
– Possibility of indicating/reserving locations for deliveries.
In Martinborough, the Dublin street access to Martinborough School is in conflict with both general and heavy traffic as the street is designated as a Town Centre “bypass” for all heavy transport.
Already councillors have discussed the problems created by the bypass on the street’s geological (ground) structure, which one labelled as inappropriate (not fit) for its current purpose.
Residents have witnessed many underground water pipe fractures _ possibly a result of the traffic loading, significantly increased by up to 20 laden and unloaded log trade trucks using the bypass most weekdays.
A “Streets to School” option is available to the council and school which could significantly reduce the conflict of weekday pedestrian concentrations.
1. Change the main access to Martinborough School so children and parents arrive and leave into Grey Street on the southern school grounds boundary instead of busy Dublin Street;
2. Move the main school access from Dublin Street to Roberts Street, on the western boundary, where vehicle access and direct school entry already exist.
Auckland Transport has recently launched a “Safe School Streets” pilot programme.
It notes: “The changes are designed to increase safety outside schools, reduce the number of vehicles during peak times and encourage more students and their families to walk and cycle to-and-from school each day.”
https://at.govt.nz/projects-roadworks/safe-school-streets
Maru / Streets for People Wainuiomata School Connections
The goal of the Maru (Protection) / Streets for People – Wainuiomata School Connections project “is to make it safer and more enjoyable for residents of all ages to walk, skate, scooter or bike to school, work and town, and to spend time in public spaces. The majority of users and residents are in favour of the (new street) designs that seek to improve the safety and accessibility of people moving through the area by feet or small wheels.”
https://haveyoursay.huttcity.govt.nz/maru-streets-for-people-wainuiomata-schools-connections
In Australia a similar movement is emerging, “Safe Streets to School Australia.”
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