Traffic Calming Group
Traffic calming workshop 16 August 2009
We had a really productive and interesting workshop attended by 15 of the traffic calming group with Bevan Woodward and Ruth McClure joining us to share their experiences with SALT (Slower and Less Traffic) in Pt Chev.
Taking inspiration from the philosophy of David Engwicht , the workshop was opportunity to recap on what “Mental Speed Bumps” can achieve in taming traffic, discuss neighbourhood ideas and put in place action plans.
Here are some of the ideas that emerged from the workshop that will be developed further by the group.
Working school bus
- Make flags or fabulous hats to carry/wear with a bus picture made in yellow canvas to carry on sticks
- Make a complaint to the council about the phasing of the lights at the Grey Lynn shops intersection as there is not enough time for small children to cross and the wait between lights is too long
Street parties
- Take advantage of the street party ideas that were used by SALT (including applying for funding from the Western Bays Community Board)
- GL 2030 to have a street party pack including the group’s banner and bunting
- Street parties in the planning already – Commercial Road, Arnold Street and Firth Road
Beautification of Food town wall on Williamson Ave
- Ideas including taking inspiration from David’s supermarket wall in Wadonga, could be graffiti bomb, commission Kate Millington for glass mosaic, and/or street furniture
Intersection of Surrey Cres/Richmond Rd (where it is very dangerous to cross)
- Guerrilla roundabout installed on a Saturday morning with GL2030 banner, plants, props and red carpet for pedestrians to cross at on Richmond Rd
Guerrilla road signs
- Speed reductions symbols with a variety of different designs styles
Gateway for main entrances to Grey Lynn
- Show we have a distinct traffic “culture” plus specific signs/banners/flags for each of the local shopping centres and along streets
Traffic calming day/week to raise awareness
- Combined with street parties, guerrilla signs activity
Pledge
- Ask all people in Grey Lynn 2030 to take a pledge to drive less and more slowly and extend this to the wider community
Traffic calming Survey
- Undertake survey to determine specific concerns and improvements desired of the community
Children’s workshop
- Using David Engwicht’s Taming dragon wagons workshop
Problem streets
- A letter has been drafted that can be used as a template for circulation to neighbours interested in sharing traffic calming ideas (starting with Kelmarna Ave)
Adoption of berms/design of the berms
- Council has agreed that Westmere School can adopt 2/3sets of chicanes on Larchwood.
- A member of the Water group is going to approach the council to discuss the berm designs to improve water management and collection
Grey Lynn Farmers market – encouraging walking/cycling
- Help needed to make signs saying: “Lock your bike here” “Walk, skip or cycle to the market: Leave your car at home”. “Only 10 mins walk from here” etc . Can anyone volunteer?
So a whole heap of great stuff for us to get stuck into (all in various stages of development – more details to be added as we progress)
Please contact Pippa with any comments or ideas. Pippacoom@gmail.com
Street Talk just their Cup of Tea
Did you see the Auckland on Thursday 20 August 2009? Barbara Grace made the news with a tea party in the bus stop outside her house on Richmond Road. A fun way to reclaim the street and slow the traffic.
How about holding a street party in the spring ?
Massey Matters has put together a guide for organising a BBQ or party in your street. The Brits have been into this for years. Here a couple of excellent guides on how to do it. The British one has what every UK street party needs – how to make bunting
David Engwicht presentation to Grey Lynn 2030
Saturday 11 July
Mental Speed Bumps – the smarter way to tame traffic
David Engwicht, artist, write, street philosopher, story teller, was in Auckland in July 2009 at the invitation of the council’s urban design group inspiring people to re-think their presumptions about traffic calming and their relationship with vehicles.
David was given an enthusiastic reception by the 70 people who turned out on a Saturday afternoon at St Columba church community hall to hear his presentation about alternative ways to calm traffic. Grey Lynn 2030 was the only community group lucky enough to host David during his time in Auckland. After hearing David’s ideas many locals (and those who had travelled long distances to the meeting inspired by David’s interview with Gordon Harcourt in the morning on National Radio) made personal commitments to take actions that will result in traffic calming.
Here is an attempt to summarise David’s presentation.
David’s has discovered that “the speed of traffic on residential streets is governed, to a large extent, by the degree to which residents have psychologically retreated from their street”. So the less activity and uncertainty that occurs on the street the more likely that motorists will be speeding and present a danger to residents. This happens, for example, where residents build high walls at the front of their home, don’t use their front gardens – to relax, eat or play – and park their cars off the street thereby creating an environment that “invites” the motorist to go faster.
Communities can reverse this retreat with low cost solutions and without the need to wait for the installation of road signs or speed bumps. David suggests that, in the first instance, neighbourhoods should look to take personal responsibility for traffic calming rather than wait for the council to take action. For example, we can all be positive citizens who can rebuild lost community connections just by getting to know our neighbours and walking to local shops.
Where communities have put David’s ideas into practice they have found that the dynamics of the street change. A motorist is far more likely to drive slowly where they know the neighbourhood children and expect to see them playing and their parents socialising on the street.
He also asks residents to consider their own behaviour when they get in the car and become “motorists”. We are probably all guilty of driving like the stereotypical Aucklander whose time is suddenly more important behind the wheel and is not tolerant of cyclists and pedestrians. He suggests a friendly wave at the speeding or inconsiderate motorist rather than an angry fist.
David calls for an “outbreak of civility” as the first step to transforming Auckland!
Please direct any queries about this group to Pippa
Relevant Articles about Transport and Traffic in our area
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4852864a6497.html
