Pedestrian ramp 'confusion'

CONUNDRUM: Councillor Rob Vinsen believes the pedestrian ramp in Taupo Quay is confusing. PHOTO/SUPPLIED 10022015WCSUPCROSS

A Wanganui District councillor who unsuccessfully campaigned for a proper pedestrian crossing in the upgraded Taupo Quay says the raised platform that has been put in is confusing pedestrians and motorists.

And councillor Rob Vinsen said with that confusion it was only a matter of time before an accident happened at the intersection of the Quay and Drews Ave.

"Unfortunately, it's most likely to be one of the more vulnerable, such as young children or the elderly," he said.

Mr Vinsen said last Saturday he stood at the tramshed for about a half an hour and said almost everyone crossing Taupo Quay on the vehicle ramp found "it led them into a garden".

"Both parents and the elderly seek the safety of white lines to confidently walk across the busy Taupo Quay, so much so that almost everybody crosses on the zig zag lines indicating the vehicle ramp on to the platform.

"They might feel safe but of course they're not, because it's not a pedestrian crossing and they'll have no legal rights if a vehicle fails to stop for them."

Mr Vinsen said that simply painting zebra crossing lines at this crossing was vital to keep the pedestrians safe.

He said a campaign from those associated with the St Anthony's School to get a zebra crossing painted outside their school in Alma Rd succeeded but said it was a safety improvement still unsupported by council roading engineers.

He said only a concerted effort by the public will get a proper pedestrian crossing on the raised platform in Taupo Quay. Last year Mr Vinsen failed in a bid to get a zebra crossing on the Quay.

He had tried to get council support to have a report on the legality of the platform before the work started as well as launching a petition.

Council roading engineers said at the time the platform was part of the road and not a pedestrian crossing and the redesign of the Quay was aimed at changing driver behaviour.

Senior roading engineer Rui Leitao said the design would slow traffic and large trucks crossing the platform would have to stop before they went ahead anyway.

Council's long-term traffic strategy is aimed at getting heavy traffic to bypass the area altogether.