Law to streamline trials of pick-up and drop-off zones around schools
The Government is permanently giving councils the power to test out changes to streets around schools and elsewhere, without going through a lengthy legal process. Councils will be able to try before they buy, when it comes to testing changes such as filtering or restricting traffic around schools at pick-up and drop-off times, or testing changes to local streets such as speed bumps, cycle and bus lanes, footpaths and pedestrian-only areas. Councils will still have to consult with the public before making any changes permanent. The law change was announced by Transport Minister David Parker after a pilot phase, followed by public consultation in 2022. Councils will also be able to make short, temporary changes to roads for just a few hours to allow community street events, where people can play or gather on streets. Waka Kotahi says two thirds of public submissions on the law change were in support. Transport emissions have doubled since todays 30-year-olds were born , and are one of New Zealands top sources of planet-heating pollution. Climate researchers say switching to electric cars can only solve a proportion of the problem, without better public transport and more active walking and cycling to take the pressure off congestion . Transport experts say real and perceived danger of roads around schools is a major factor in stopping more children walking or cycling, with many parents choosing to drive out of safety concerns. The Ministry of Transports chief science advisor, Simon Kingham, has noted pedestrians are unlikely to survive being hit by a car travelling 50km/hour however the statistics are flipped in the pedestrians favour when a car travels 30km/hour, so slowing traffic or having children dropped 100m away from the gate makes it safer for those on feet or bikes. Cycling to school rates have plummeted since the 1980s and 90s . But while schools such as Napier Girls High School and Golden Bay High School have reported improved safety for their students after trialling changes such as pedestrian-only areas and new raised crossings, motorists and local business owners are often opposed to and frustrated by the trials. Some of the projects councils have trialled under a test version of the law change have hit vehement opposition , for example an Onehunga trial of planter boxes that stopped cars cutting through a side street, helping children get to school safely but worsening congestion a main road nearby and frustrating many commuters. Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell is leading opposition to his local council proposing lower speed zones outside schools and in Tauranga CBD , with one business owner calling the changes ridiculous. Around New Zealand, trials of low-cost changes such as road paintings, seats and planter boxes have had mixed receptions. In Gore concrete planters were vandalised repeatedly, but in Thames a trial town square for community events went down well with many locals. Parts of a trial in Hamilton were abandoned after negative feedback from business owners although cyclists were in support of changes. In Golden Bay, the community board asked the council to remove a temporary road crossing for students in response to negative community feedback that the change was increasing drive times around 3pm prompting a surprised response from the schools board of trustees, who said the trial had been a success and was much safer for students . Sometimes, trial road layouts have been partly retained, but in a different form after the testing phase showed a proposal didnt work as planned for example moving a rubber road crossing for school children to a different part of the road because people werent using it.