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Forget it! Anyone who travels across the Spit Bridge has no doubt experienced the increased delays caused by the trial closure of the Pearl Bay Ave at Beauty Point. This joint agreement between the Mayors of Mosman, Manly, Warringah & Pittwater clearly doesn’t work, it’s time to reinstate this alternative route.
Reports of families now having to take two cars instead of one because of increased traffic times of up to 20 minutes means they can't do drop offs along the way, considerable increase in traffic generally and more clogging of this already clogged-up road. It makes no sense. It's not a 'rat-run', it's a legitimate route to local day-care centres and a more direct route to other areas of Sydney.
7 Comments
Nonie
18/2/2013 12:38:06 pm
Please submit response to mosman council as the trial closure can be cancelled at any time. The road closure has added over 30 mins to our morning commute
L Mitchell
5/3/2013 03:32:29 am
Ms Bingman, can I suggest you gather facts not heresay in this. The closure has NOT increased travel times by 30 minutes. Please support your claims with facts. This is sensational politicking and misinformation being promoted to your residents. This is a safety issue and an amenity issue - rat runners block all the local roads in the area - and it actually becomes quicker to stay on Spit Road! This has been proven. I suggest you read the facts and data before commenting. I have a report dated 2001 that reports on the increased travel times since 1986 and you would be aware of recent data published by RMS that shows a further increase in Dec 2012 -before the rat run was even closed! Your focus on minority interests in this debate, on a road that has nothing to do with Manly Council is found wanting. I will now seek to have a say in your Council affairs. Feel free to contact me to discuss facts.
Candy Bingham
5/3/2013 09:21:27 am
Many thanks for your comment. Clearly this is an issue that is very important to you. My information is based on discussions with locals on the Northern Beaches (not just Manly) who use this route to drop children off to local schools in on their way to work. They told me 20 minutes (not 30 minutes). I'll be interested to see what official reports come back after the trial now that school holidays are over and people are back into their routines.
L Mitchell
5/3/2013 12:27:20 pm
Thank you for your comments. I would be interested in what schools parents are dropping children at - it was well advised to the small minority impacted - the data shows less than 40 that actually have a destination in Beauty Point - dropping kids at Beauty Point public school they would need to allow extra time. This is the only school in the area. This is a significant minority compared to the number of cars that rat run and further, compared to the number of residents that are impacted by this traffic barrage. The number of cars that used this turnoff are also a significant minority compared to the overall traffic volume on Spit Rd corridor - so the closure is also not responsible for the broad claims of late that the northern beach travel times have increased - nor an argument why some would irresponsibly take two cars instead of one! (surely they see the irony in this approach !!). People don't like change and take time to adjust. I would also challenge other claims given the almost daily gridlocking of Beauty Point streets from approx 7.40 - 8.15/8.30. Manly and Warringah Councils have closed similar rat runs in the past in their districts. While it may be an alternative route, only by manual intervention and stealth, this doesn't make it right, safe or appropriate. The fact it is closed at all other times, and is closed during school holidays when all other traffic seems to be able to cope, begs the question. It takes me longer to get anywhere in Sydney too however I adjust my travel time and leave earlier - including allowing up to 20 minutes to get out of my own street and a few hundred metres up the road (due to rat run traffic blocking the streets). I don't insist Manly Council open up roads for my personal convenience and continuing to push for diversions that hide traffic in someone else's backyard will hardly support the collective northern districts receiving any long term infrastructure investment.
@StopTheRatRun
17/4/2013 04:30:52 pm
I am very sympathetic to Manly residence lengthily commutes but the issue is much bigger than the Pearl Bay Avenue rat run. If the 500 cars which used to use the rat run are really adding 20-30min to commutes the RMS (ex RTA) should be further improving capacity on our roads.. Have a look at the presentation released by @MosmanCouncil with the history & independent data. http://www.mosman.nsw.gov.au/file_download/2977/Power+point+Pearl+Bay+Closure+Trial+130322.pdf
David Papantoniou
20/4/2013 03:50:20 am
Heavy Rail was proposed for the Beaches and would ease traffic on the main roads for all of the residents of the beaches area.
We have children that live on our street. We dont like cars on our roads because they drive on it and sometimes make it hard to park. Leave a Reply. |
AuthorCandy Bingham, Manly Ward Councillor on Northern Beaches Council posts what's making news and issues relevant to Manly on this blog. Categories
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