Low-traffic zones cause long delays for disabled - The Times
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/2581a9f2-a5e3-11eb-9b76-9500a3917e5f?shareToken=2787f702098ea4d501a884b1363b11faDisability charities have condemned councils over low-traffic neighbourhoods, saying that they have overlooked the needs of the disabled and rebuffed their complaints.Disabled residents of boroughs that have introduced the schemes say their lives are blighted by increased journey times when they have no alternative but to use cars.One partially continent 12-year-old boy has seen his journey time to his special school increase from 20 minutes to an hour, meaning that he is regularly arriving wet. His mother, Gina Bar-On, said that the problem had left her son distressed and confused but Islington council is refusing to allow the school bus to drive through filters that block off residential roads.The council argues that preventing all motor vehicle trips through camera-controlled filters, except for emergency vehicles, makes “the environment feel much safer, and make it much more likely that local people will begin to travel more by active means”.Edward Cripwell, of Disability Action in Islington, said that his charity had been “inundated with complaints by disabled people throughout the borough”.“People say they have been locked down and locked in by the low-traffic neghbourhoods (LTNs). Nobody who has contacted the council has had a meaningful response, no hint that disabled peoples’ views are being considered and that anything will change.”He added that the council did not do the usual “comprehensive equality impact assessment, they did not consult with us formally, they presented us with this scheme as a fait accompli. It does not seem that the rights of disabled people have been taken into account as they should be, as disability is a protected characteristic under the Equality Act.” Scores of LTNs have been introduced over the last year with bollards, planting boxes or enforcement cameras allowing only pedestrians and cyclists to pass. Councils argue that the schemes stop “rat running” and encourage residents to stop using cars for short journeys.Opponents argue that drivers are diverted on to other roads, increasing congestion, pollution and journey times.
Mark Perry ● 2010d73 Comments ● 2005d