Letters to the Editor

Thanks, well done
I picked up this newspaper at a bus comfort stop somewhere between Whangarei and Auckland and so much enjoyed Worzel’s article and your editorial. Just wanted to say well done, thank you and keep up the good work. And Merry Christmas.

Janet Gray
Motueka
 

Traffic improvements?
When we want to improve traffic in Mangawhai we need first to know what we want to achieve. When we want to make it easy and fast for cars to pass Magical Mangawhai on the way north to Cape Reinga a roundabout in the Village and a one lane road through Wood Street could be an option.

When we want to reduce car traffic, minimise carbon fuel footprint and improve walkability we should install instead of a roundabout several zebra crossings: from the Four Square to town hall and to the petrol station.

In the Village people could safely cross, locals and visitors could meet as humans outside their metal cage. It would be a start for further improvements: zebra crossing at Insley Street near the school, from the art gallery to Bennetts, from the Domain to Wilson Street to connect via paper road a walkway to the Old Waipu Road.

How many would then use their feet and bicycle instead of the car because it is safe and enjoyable?

A no exit from both sides of Wood Street would create a walking connection between the shops of both sides. In the beginning this connection could be only around a metre wide, only to create a safe connection. The traffic would be minimised, and we could create more than 10 additional carparks.

All improvements on faster car traffic have shown that it is only a short-term solution. Very soon they will create more traffic, new bottlenecks and increased traffic congestion. In Los Angeles 70 per cent of the town is used for streets and parking, but the traffic congestion doesn’t stop. In Copenhagen walking, cycling and diverse public transport has priority.

It is up to us what we want.

Christian Simon
Mangawhai

Win a $100 dinner voucher
Have you been upset in any way by the traffic changes? Do you feel strongly about it one way or the other or is it a good reason to get in some walking exercise and leave the car at home? Write and tell us your constructive opinion or experience of the one-way street system in no more than 250 words and we will draw a winner for a $100 dinner voucher on January 23. A good way to start the New Year. Email letters to info@mangawhaifocus.co.nz