Coronavirus cul de sac...

[toodlepipsqueaks]

So we got a letter today saying that our council will be turning the road that gives access to our estate and several others into two cul de sacs by putting a block down the middle so it's no longer a through road. Apparently this is an "Emergency Covid 19 Active Travel Measure" part funded by the government to help with social distancing and encourage walking/cycling. Nice in theory but I've no idea how cutting a fairly short but important access road in two is going to help with that. Is anyone else's council actually doing something useful with the money or, like ours, using it as an excuse to shoehorn a change they've always wanted without any consultation? 🤗

[LegoMaus]

Our council asked people to nominate key problem areas where social distancing was impossible, then did bugger all about it.

[labyrinthloafer]

I'd personally be quite pleased as anything reducing traffic in your streets will make your area nicer!

We had a burst water main once and the whole area was bliss whilst the road was shut

[BillywilliamV]

Why is encouraging walking helping social distancing? Surely anyone is safer in their own car? Sounds like BS to me!

[labyrinthloafer]

No, they want to encourage walking whilst maintaing social distancing.

There is evidence both being unhealthy and high air pollution increase risk from covid so fewer journeys by car is desirable. But if the walking routes are crowded then it is hard to maintain SD.

This will be intended to send cars one way and pedestrians another. Be very grateful to live on the pedestrian route as your covid risk will be lower (plus all the other things!)

The drivers will be at increased risk from covid bad drivers have highest exposure to car fumes.

[labyrinthloafer]

Sorry, 'bad drivers' should read 'as drivers'

[ragged]

Don't consultations take many months? They can either do something effective now or never bother, I suppose.

[MereDintofPandiculation]

Why is encouraging walking helping social distancing? Surely anyone is safer in their own car? On an individual level you're safer in your own car. At a society level, and this will affect you as an individual, air pollution exacerbates the respiratory problems of Covid, so it's a good idea to enable people to walk and cycle as an alternative to public transport rather than to bring more cars on to the road.

[lljkk]

Millions of people don't live in a household with access to a car...
Folk do actually have to get out of the car to, you know, visit shops and services. At which point those drivers become pedestrians too. Where does one put the car while busy being a pedestrian? How easy does it seem to physically distance with cars occupying most the available space like this in this town?

There are cyclists to think about, too. The boom in bike purchases during lockdown show there's a huge demand for more cycling including active travel. The chief thing discouraging cycling was and is finding safe road space.