Pedestrians good for the economy

On this recent issue of rebuilding Christchurch, Gerry Brownlee linked cars with downtown prosperity: ‘‘I think it’s a laudable idea that we become a pedestrian city, but you’ll get a pedestrian economy as a consequence’’.

This kind of baseless comment from a minister can not go unchallenged. A decade ago ECan sponsored the internationally acclaimed sustainable transport planner Rodney Tolley to speak in Christchurch.

A salient finding of Tolley’s research was that London pedestrians, both tourists and residents, spent on average £27 more a week than those travelling by any other mode.

Why? Because they don’t need to find a car park to shop and visit more shops in a given period of time.

Another survey, Streets as Living Spaces, looked at 20 cities in five countries and showed pedestrianisation goes hand in hand with urban renewal and conservation, and positively affects land and building prices.

All over the world and even in California cities are creating walkable downtowns. This walkable downtowns concept continues to be a core component of urban rejuvenation, and the research is completely contrary to the minister’s understanding of urban design.

Christopher Webster Cashmere

Save Linwood Village

We are pleased to see the CCC are reviewing the impractical central city transport system, after city business leaders and MP Gerry Brownlee highlighted failures.

A review must include the Worcester St section of the RapanuiShag Rock cycleway, as it is part of the failed central city traffic plan.

Traditional access at Worcester St to Cathedral Square, is now facing cut off at Fitzgerald Ave and other traffic restrictions. Linwood Village and Worcester St businesses will also suffer a ‘‘pedestrian’’ economic demise with traffic reduced to one third and displacing traffic onto other streets, clogging intersections, and adding to congestion and pollution.

Worcester St is a gateway for the east and must be kept open at Fitzgerald Ave for emergency and other vehicles.

Survival of the city and Linwood Village is at stake. A successful city revival, with maximum accessibility, cannot be achieved by limiting access for the majority using vehicles, including buses, in favour of the minority on bikes.

Michael Britnell

Linwood Village Revival Group