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Salient: Victoria University Students' Paper. Vol. 29, No. 6. 1966.

Letters Released

Letters Released

Victoria's student executive has released the following letters for publication:

April 5. 1966.

The Traffic Superintendent, Wellington City Corporation.

Dear Sir,

On Friday last another student, Mr. M. H. Pierard, was hit by a vehicle on Kelburn Parade and sustained a broken limb. Partly as a result of this accident, I have been asked by the VUW Students' Association executive to write to the City Council requesting that a pedestrian crossing be installed in the area.

It would appear that no action will be taken on this matter until someone is actually killed. In the event of such a serious accident occurring it would seem that allegations of killing by neglect could Justifiably be levelled.

Arguments for the suposed impracticability of such a crossing have not been sustained when crossings have been painted on Kelburn Parade as a capping stunt.

We therefore appeal to you once more to give this matter earnest consideration before a tragedy occurs.

Michael King Hon. Secretary.

The following reply was received:

Traffic Department.

May 10, 1966.

Dear Sir,

With reference to your letter of April 5. I regret the delay in replying, but we were unable to find anything about a pedestrian who may have been hit by a vehicle on Kelburn Parade on the Friday you refer to.

It was assumed, of course, that it must have been a pedestrian to support your proposal that a pedestrian crossing place was necessary and that someone might be killed if one was not provided.

For your information, I must advise you that the accident referred to occurred at 2.15pm on Friday, April 1. 1966. Mr. M. H. Pierard was riding a motorcycle northwards and was about to make a right hand turn across the roadway in order to park on the motorcycle area, when he was struck by a taxicab which was following him. It is alleged that no signal of any intention to turn was given at the time.

I hardly think that this supports the argument for a pedestrian crossing place to be provided, but quite apart from that I would point out that the question of pedestrian crossings across Kelburn Parade has received very careful consideration on a number of occasions in the past and it is not felt that, having regard to the circumstances, particularly in the absence of any welldefined pedestrian route across the Parade, that a pedestrian crossing place was justified.

With regard to the intersection of Kelburn Parade and Salamanca Road, there is. of course, a proposal in hand to provide an overhead footbridge.

J. Anderson Traffic Superintendent.