Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
FAO: Zena Brabazon - Endymion Roundabout
Have written to Zena Brabazon about this already but wanted to share my outrage and possibly gain some advocacy on this issue.
I frequently run and walk by the Endymion road mini roundabout - as some of you may know vehicles tend to enter it at excessive speed.
I was therefore pleasantly surprised that the council had installed traffic islands which I noticed had achieved the desired traffic calming effect, and negotiating the roundabout is now very pedestrian- and cyclist friendly.
I walked by it today and was dismayed to see that the whole section had been re-surfaced and the added layer of tarmac has effectively levelled the islands with the main road (no more than 1.5" height - won't be felt by the average van) and the sidewalk, where it is 100% level. The result - the islands now have traffic calming properties of 0, and the roundabout is wide open to manouvres on to the pavement!
Given the speeds at which vehicles drive through this creates a lot risk for pedestrians, cyclists and bikers.
- for pedestrians, and especially individuals with impairments/disabilities, the lack of elevation may cause one may struggle to identify where the road ends and sidewalk begins
- for cyclist and motorbike riders it now creates ambiguity - some may not notice it at all in adverse or low visibility conditions, could run unexpectedly into the island and cause an accident. I have personally witnessed a fatal accident involving a motorcyclist in a similar situation (newly installed roundabout.)
Complete and utter shambles. The council and subcontractor need to be held to account.
UPDATE: 11 October 2018
Here is the full explanation from the officers in charge of the fiasco. Note the multiple contradictions such as references to crossing facilities, while discounting the traffic islands as such, and the interesting rationale for the raised junction table. I have set out a number of questions back to the council.
"The traffic islands at the junction have been designed and installed such that they can be overrun by traffic (particularly large vehicles) whenever necessary, however still providing the needed visual contrast to the asphalt junction table and thus help to slow down traffic going through the junction. Unfortunately due to the tightness of the junction, we are unable to install a pedestrian refuge islands with high heights and with ‘keep left’ bollards as desired as these will be subject to abuse, requiring regular maintenance and also jeopardise the safety of pedestrians using the crossing facilities at the junction.
The raised junction table was installed at almost the same level as the adjacent footway to ensure the required gradient for the raised table ramps were achieved whilst avoiding undue adjustments to the adjacent footways, which in some instance could result in the backfall of surface water on to adjacent private properties."
Tags for Forum Posts: traffic
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by John D on
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In UK English, a motorist is someone who drives a private motor car. A truck driver, lorry driver, van driver or taxi driver is not a motorist.
It may be different in NZ .
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I don't think so. Who is destroying the pavers ? Motorists or truck drivers ?
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Permalink Reply by Justin Guest on
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Looks like Haringey have given up. I cycled past this morning and saw the pavement reinstated and the bell removed... Looks like everyone will be cutting the corner of the pavement now there is no curbstone. Watch your toes everyone!
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Permalink Reply by Gordon T on
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Indeed, by 1500 today the first pair of lorry-wheel tyre marks could be seen on the nice new paving, a good couple of feet in from the (notional) kerbing.
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Ah, so they went for my option b.
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Permalink Reply by kotkas on
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Another non-update. I haven't received a response or acknowledgment of the issue from Zena, since writing to her originally, and a follow up a week later, so I am rebranding this thread to make it more SEO-friendly.
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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There are two other councillors. Sarah James and Gina Adamou. I think Zena is on holiday as I'm having trouble getting hold of her too.
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