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Heels on Wheels
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Something strange happens when people go from pedestrian locomotion to wheeled mobility. They imagine they are the elite once they learn to control a machine (however badly) or perhaps pass a basic driving test. This seems to be true for cars, motorbikes, scooters, bicycles, or skateboards: suddenly, the rules have changed and normal relations with others can be ignored, The Highway Code can be forgotten as the open road beckons Mr Toad, and Number One speeds into action... In a crowded village, such arrogance is not acceptable. Disregard for others using the roads and pavements takes several forms, and may be illegal. For instance, speed limits of 30 mph are dangerously high in some parts where 20 mph would be wiser - but many drivers travel at a foolish rate through our local streets. Roads are NOT race-tracks for idiots, and those who take such risks deserve to be fined. As it is, we have unpleasant humps everywhere which affect every vehicle on our streets, JUST TO DETER THE REAL CULPRITS who go too fast for comfort!
In the same way, selfish people park in places reserved for invalids, or block the disabled access to shops or pathways. There are lots of FREE parking spaces available here, but it may mean a short stroll to the destination - so let?s just stop on this yellow line for a moment, even if it jams the traffic, or means that other people cannot see an oncoming car. "Obstructing the Highway?" is a Police penalty matter if enforcement is due, rather than a warden?s ticket for outstaying time in formal bays. The De-criminalisation (?) of Parking Bill has left us with a confused mess of legislation - but we all know that it is WRONG to dump your car where it will inconvenience others or prove dangerous to pedestrians. Parking properly is just as much a skill as handling a car well, and it shows that you have good self-control and respect for other road-users.
In fact, planning policies can be blamed for many of our modern parking problems. If we continue to build houses or offices with insufficient spaces for off-street parking, then we are making the situation worse if motoring figures increase (as is expected despite current economies) and yet more traffic congestion is inevitable. Balancing the virtues of public mobility and general road safety is not easy, especially if the Highways Department refuses to listen to complaints or suggestions by local residents... and we do need a sensible Programme for Progress if we are to Succeed in making London Colney a better place to live. So let's consider the feelings and needs of our neighbours when leaving a big van outside their living-room window, or squeezing the car onto a pathway next to an overgrown hedge, or dumping a lorry on a grass verge and scuffing the tree-trunks, to leave ugly ruts and crush any flowers under the wheels. If someone asks you politely to move on because of a clash of interests, try not to swear and intimidate them: just think if that's a reasonable request and apologise. Now there's progress, if you like, and we shall start to tackle the real causes of human conflict!
Ken Peak
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