🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <34f3bb55.43805061@news.demon.co.uk>, Simon Gray <simon@star-
one.org.uk> writes
>~ There is already a stretch of pavement in Birmingham with a white line down 
>the
>~ middle and arrows telling you to walk on the left.

The "pavement" is actually private property. It belongs to the
Pallasades, but is maintained by the City Council.

>~ And a non-stop loudspeaker announcement telling you to do the same.
>~ 
>~ It's not yet illegal to ignore the arrows and announcement, but how long 
>before
>~ some nutcase councillor decides to pass a bylaw ?
>
>I know it well - the ramp from the pallasades down to new street.
>
>It is actually more sinister than you make out - the announcement is
>actually *not* constant; if you look carefully you will see at the
>bottom of it is a video camera, & the announcement only kicks in if
>their are lots of people disobeying the arrows.

My colleagues in the Transportation Department have asked me to point
out that the ramp gets _extremely_ busy, especially on Saturdays, before
Christmas and at sale time.

The system is in place to improve pedestrian flow and public safety,
particularly for vulnerable pedestrians - the elderly, the young and
people with a disability.

It has been negotiated by the City Council, Pallasades and the Police,
with nearby traders. The verbal message is relayed by the Pallasades'
staff on behalf of the City Council.

The alternative would be to have no system, and I might then be replying
to accusations that we had been negligent in not foreseeing an accident
and doing something to prevent it.

>I tend to walk with the flow anyway, but when the announcement starts
>I always make a point of walking on the wrong side.

I trust you will reconsider, in the light of the above.
-- 
Andy Mabbett, Development Manager, Birmingham ASSIST  
Birmingham City Council        -    www.birmingham.gov.uk
Phone:  (+) 44 121 303 3640    -    Fax: (+) 44 121 233 9702
Post:   3rd Floor, Central Library, Birmingham B3 3HQ