Road Changes Are Branded Dangerous (from Hendon Times)

Road Changes Are Branded Dangerous (from Hendon Times): "Road changes are branded ‘dangerous’

by ALEX GALBINSKI A Transport for London (TfL) scheme to remove four bus lay-bys on the A1 in Hampstead Garden Suburb has been branded potentially dangerous by the organisation's own internal report.

TfL decided to fill in the bus bays in Falloden Way at a cost of �65,000 to improve journey times and accessibility', saying they were sub-standard' in width and height - despite strong objections from councillors and residents.

But a TfL-commissioned report by independent road safety auditors WSP Development and Transportation, which visited the sites during the day and evening of July 4, recommends the infills on two of the lay-bys be removed.
continued...

Auditors are concerned that when overtaking buses, other road users may not have time to get back into their appropriate lane before hitting the central island or crossing pedestrians.

It states: 'This is particularly the case if they drivers are in a queue of vehicles or if the bus pulls away from the stop. This was observed several times during the site visit and led to heavy braking or swerving manoeuvres to avoid the island.'

It also recommends the number of lanes at the third lay-by, opposite 82-84 Falloden Way, be reduced from two to one.

Earlier this year, TfL told the council it was policy to fill in bus stop lay-bys where speed limits are 30mph or less, except when there are material safety issues'.

Councillor Matthew Offord, Barnet's cabinet member for environment and transport, said: 'TfL ignored safety concerns, not only of the council, but also of the police, when it removed the lay-bys in Falloden Way. This is unacceptable. I have called for the bus lay-bys to be put back to ensure the safety of all road users: buses and motorists alike.'

A spokesman for TfL stressed that the report was a draft and therefore no decision had been made to modify the lay-bys in any way.

He said: 'Before any decision is made on modifications to the scheme, TfL would want to carry out a full set of after implementation' surveys after the school holidays, and compare them with surveys carried out in February and March.

'TfL remains committed to retaining the improved accessibility for bus passengers which the lay-by infills provide, while mitigating side-effects as much as possible.'"
Remember you can fight back against illegally issued parking tickets.
If you want to appealsuch a parking ticket but don't know how - then
visit http://www.appealnow.com where you can appeal online in 4½ minutes.

© 2006 Barrie Segal and AppealNow.com™ - All Rights reserved

Barrie Segal is the founder of AppealNow.com™ and is a regular radio broadcaster in the UK.