August 2023

34
Wanstead Village Directory
share & share alike
After reading Paul Canal’s article about local car use in last month’s
issue, Kris Sangani felt compelled to write a reply. Here, the Aldersbrook
resident says motorists, cyclists and pedestrians must learn to share
After reading the article by Paul Canal
in the July 2023 issue of the Wanstead
Village Directory, I felt I needed to
write a reply. In his article, Paul claims
‘idealists’ have declared a war on cars.
While some may wish to blame an alliance
of local government, cyclists and climate
‘do-gooders’, the real reason it takes longer
than ever to get from A to B is because
there are more cars than ever before.
Redbridge Council, TfL and Westminster –
through a newly anointed agency Active
Travel England – are trying to deal with the
fact we’re not able to build more roads or
allocate more parking spaces to accommodate
a growing population in Redbridge and
elsewhere in London. This isn’t an attack on
civil liberties; framing it as a war on motorists
has real-world consequences that could be
fatal for more vulnerable road users, such as
cyclists and pedestrians.
No roads are being narrowed; some are being
shared with other modes of transport. On
Aldersbrook Road, for example, there were
two lanes – one for each direction – 40 years
ago, and today, there are still two lanes. But
now, the council have managed to squeeze a
cycle lane on either side. Residents are happier
that motorists are not racing down the road
between 40 and 50 miles per hour as they did
when I was a child. The speed limit is now 20.
It’s easier to cross over to Wanstead Flats on
one side or Wanstead Park on the other.
Paul’s article also claimed the parklet on
Wanstead High Street costs the local economy
£120,000 a year. Where on earth did that
figure come from? A parklet is a pavement
extension designed to provide more space
and amenities for pedestrians who make up
the vast bulk of visitors to our High Street
Kris Sangani
and who spend the most in our local shops.
The simple fact is motorists, cyclists and
pedestrians must share the road. That often
means encouraging motorists to use other
forms of transport if they can do so. A cyclist
takes up less space on the road. Therefore,
each car journey substituted means more
room for disabled motorists who have fewer
opportunities to replace their journeys. It’s up
to all motorists to ration their car journeys.
My parents were blue badge holders in
Redbridge. In addition to free and priority
parking on streets with meters, there were
disabled parking bays, and you could often
park on single and double yellow lines for
up to three hours. The criteria for blue badge
holders has recently widened to include
people whose disability may be hidden.
Additionally, blue badge holders get a free
allocation of visitor permits if they live in a
controlled parking zone – there should be no
fear of isolation and loneliness.
Given all the challenges we face, let’s have a
sensible debate on road infrastructure.
To read Paul Canal’s article published last
month, visit wnstd.com/canalcar
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