Campaigners recently took to the streets as ‘human bollards’ in Exeter. They took the action to demand that Devon County Council and the police enforce the restrictions at the bus gates at Ladysmith Road and Whipton Lane.
Supporters of the trial say it makes the streets cleaner and safer, but opponents believe it is making journeys longer and increases congestion and pollution on roads around the perimeter of the area.
The 'human-bollard’ action was supported by the national group Safe Streets Now - which campaigns against road deaths and injuries.
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Now in a leader column in our sister print title the Express and Echo, the editor writes that regardless of what anyone thinks about the trial, we can all help by following the rules of the scheme to help make it safe.
Read the full leader column below
We all know how the low-traffic neighbourhood (LTN) trial in the city has divided opinion, but the protests have normally been staged by those fighting to end it. This week we have seen those who support the bid to make some residential streets in Heavitree and Whipton safer for walking and cycling put themselves in the limelight.
It makes a change from councillors saying in meetings that they get correspondence from residents who back the scheme, but who do not want to come out publicly in support of it.
Monday (19th) saw the start of action from people backed by national group Safe Streets Now, which campaigns against road deaths and injuries. It saw them act as ‘human bollards’ to prevent vehicles which should not be passing through two bus gates from doing so.
They said they turned back 70 cars on the first morning alone, as only buses, emergency vehicles, some local authority vehicles and taxis are allowed through as part of the Heavitree & Whipton Active Streets Trial. As well as supporting the idea of reducing through traffic on residential roads, the protesters were calling for Devon County Council – which introduced the LTN trial – and the police to enforce the restrictions at the bus gates at Ladysmith Road and Whipton Lane.
They claim there have been a series of issues with drivers ignoring the bus gate rules, including a mum cycling with her baby being hit by a car. Ladysmith School has sent letters to parents urging them to drive more carefully near the school after a child was narrowly missed by a reversing car and, in a separate incident on the same day, another child was knocked off their bike.
Not everyone agrees with the trial, but we can all help by following the rules of the scheme to help make it safer.
