One of the shortcomings of transporation planning (usually) is that it is focused on normal traffic conditions: a typical weekday when there is nothing unusual happening, schools are in session and it is not a public holiday. This is not a bad approach from the point of view that it is a waste of resources to design roads, parking lots and other infrastructure to be big enough that traffic moves smoothly and everyone can park easily during the few days when traffic is really heavy, like in the shopping buildup to Christmas.
Unfortunately, it misses the fundamental point that a lot of problems related to getting around are a result of abnormal conditions, like when a traffic accident is blocking the road, or severe weather is slowing traffic. Some traffic authorities recognize and deal with this, like efforts in Toronto to reduce the impact of road incidents on provincial highways by identifying accidents quickly with real-time speed monitoring and CCTV cameras, and using electronic variable-message signs to warn drivers in advance of trouble spots. But rarely have I seen other transport modes given the same consideration when their normal routes are disrupted.
When I am in walking mode, what really makes my blood boil is the way road maintenance or construction inconveniences pedestrians. This is another "unusual" condition that is often ignored. Whether it's lack of regulation or lack of enforcement, cities don't always apply appropriate standards for making sure that pedestrians have safe passage during construction activity. I am thrilled that Telkom's fixed-line telecommunications competitor in South Africa, Neotel, is coming onto the scene; but they are digging up sidewalks in the CBD and leaving gaping holes, mounds of dirt and pipes lying everywhere.
On my route from Cape Town station to the office in Greenpoint, one section of sidewalk has been dug up for burying cables at least four times in the past year, and on at least two occasions the mounds of dirt have forced pedestrians to walk on the road over a period of several weeks. One day, all four corners of an intersection were dug up, leaving no refuge for pedestrians waiting to cross. And this is on a road chosen by the Western Cape Provincial Government as a walking bus route to improve security for people walking to and from the station, because it is one of the busier pedestrian routes in the CBD.
This is not the way to promote walking and cycling, either as travel modes in their own right, or for access to public transport. Sidewalks need to be clear of obstructions and hazards, curbside lanes need to be kept clear for cyclists, and drains need to be maintained so that they actually drain the rainwater. It's not rocket science, but it does require coordination between municipal departments - something that is in short supply in many cities.
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