Forum Topic

werter Road

Werter RRoad, Lunch time, came out of Sainsbury's  a plain black Police car with siren going, couldn't get past the traffic to get into the High Street, so it got fed up and drove onto the pavement by the Taxi Rank to try and get out quicker. When will the Council realize the widening of the pavements was stupid. No Ambulance or Fire Engine could have got out either.  Blasted open Hammersmith Bridge,

Barbara Stevens ● 19d23 Comments

Yes, that's what I said on the other thread!  I said that many on here would not be happy with the way you are not allowed to cross roads wherever you like in America because that's called jaywalking.  Which is exactly why crossings have to be well thought out to suit PEDESTRIANS the most vulnerable road users.

Philippa Bond ● 14d

I totally agree with you, Martine.  You were trying to cross the road.By the way, jaywalking, as the definition you found, is an American term that does not really apply in the UK as we have the Green Code.

Ivonne Holliday ● 14d

I know Martine which was why I mentioned the law in America when I first mentioned jaywalking.  Pedestrians crossing the  road are probably far more aware of where they are than motorists many of whom are more likely to be just trying to get through Putney!  Everyone has to be careful and it just takes one unexpected action or lack of action for a disaster.  Road layouts can change and drivers often make sudden decisions to pull out of spaces to join traffic or turn around and to do so reverse fast without looking hard enough all around first because they are concentrating on looking for a space in the motor traffic.

Philippa Bond ● 14d

Jaywalking online definition : “Cross or walk in the street or road unlawfully or without regard for approaching traffic”. I do not think that when I described trying to cross the road at the PHS, Norroy and Disraeli Rd junctions that I was being unlawful, all I wanted was to cross the road when the green man light was showing it was safe for me to do so.  Also I had plenty of regard for approaching traffic, as I didn’t want to be hit by a vehicle. Some people do jaywalk, oblivious to the traffic, but most people are just trying to cross safely on PHS.

Martine Guy ● 14d

Jay walking isn't a law in the UK. Putney Putney.

Barbara Stevens ● 14d

Miss Bond, we are talking about Putney.

Barbara Stevens ● 14d

That's why the pedestrian crossing points need to be good, well-placed and enforced for pedestrian safety.  Only recently there have been comments here on how people do walk 'jaywalk' between traffic when crossing the roads and how the pedestrian crossings with count-downs don't give enough time to cross.  If you want better you need to do more than just complain on here but get your comments included in any reappraisals.  How many drivers drive across pedestrian crossings while pedestrians are still crossing?Pedestrians are the most vulnerable of road users and the new Highway Code gives info for all road users and gives pedestrians more precedence but can't give them superpowers and invulnerability.  When there is a road traffic accident the Highway Code and everyone's behaviour is taken into account but that can be too late for the most vulnerable and devastating for others.

Philippa Bond ● 14d

Although, given the complaints about traffic in Putney, jaywalking would seem inadvisable. The traffic situation means drivers might become aggressive to gain ground or, if they're stationary, the electric bikes, food delivery riders, etc zipping between the vehicles might get you ...

Michael Ixer ● 15d

Philippa, your constant hijacking of threads is both tedious and annoying.

Sue Hammond ● 15d

A lot.

Philippa Bond ● 15d

What has Jay walking and America got to do with Putney High St, no wonder nothing gets done.

Barbara Stevens ● 15d

Barbara  Who pays you to be so rude to everyone?

Philippa Bond ● 15d

Do you put things on here to completely annoy residents of Putney, who pays you.

Barbara Stevens ● 16d

Times change and it is worthwhile looking at what is happening and happens in other parts of this city and elsewhere to see what works, doesn't work and how it might improve.  It is called looking at a bigger picture of which Putney is just a small part. Most people don't just travel travel around London but also further afield.  I see there are discussions on tweaking the arrangements around Putney Bridge.In America people used to be fined for jay-walking and may still be in some states.  These are laws initiated by the motor car industry.  You could not choose just where you wanted to cross a road as a pedestrian - you had to use an official crossing.  I can't imagine that suiting a lot of people here!

Philippa Bond ● 16d

We were discussing PUTNEY HIGH Street, the traffic we put up as residents.

Barbara Stevens ● 16d

Exhibition Road is a major improvement over the previous four lanes of traffic trundling past the Science Museum and Imperial College - but I think they've added some concrete blocks to stop terrorists driving into pedestrians - but they're handy for tired children to sit on after trudging round museums ...

Michael Ixer ● 16d

Ed. There is no raised kerb between the road and pavement outside Sloane Square tube station - there is a change of colour and materials as far as I remember.  It has been  like that for  more than 20 years.  I complained at the time but it is still there so I guess people have got used to it.  I was told by the people who organise such things at the time that the idea was that motor vehicles and people would both take more care and responsibility.  Nowadays I'm not sure either do.  Motor vehicles travel too fast even when they don't have priority to do so and pedestrians walk along looking at their phones.There is also no kerb outside the Science Museum where cars also travel and a pedesrianised street with restaurants in the same area.  I'm pleased about the Science Museum one because with the number of people on the pavement moving towards each other  in each direction it was easy to fall off/be pushed off the pavement and twist an ankle or worse.  The pedestrianised street with restaurants is a great improvement.  Other areas would benefit.

Philippa Bond ● 16d

Yes alexander, it's all madness.

Barbara Stevens ● 16d

At 2 p.m. Friday my journey from top Chartfield Ave to Putney Bridge on 14 bus took 46 minutes. Absurd.

Alexander MacLeod ● 16d

Until the Police vehicle got past all the vehicles parked both sides of the road outside Sainsbury's, only then could it get up on to the pavement by where the 2 men sit on the floor. So the Police where not as quick as they needed to be. The whole of the High Street is a complete shambles. as for the stupid cycle lane which has it's own traffic light up by the White Lion, it's really stupid. Have they young men designing all this.

Barbara Stevens ● 18d

The problem is that they have adopten continental road layouts without adopting the continental enforcement.Where does the pavement end and the road begin in Werter Road or PHS?The continental crossing are OK in the continent because they enforce the rules!Not so the UK. Pavement and road are blurred and you have to have to as a pedestrian treat it as a road.Explaining to an 11 year old that vehicles may drive on what they think is the pavement and a safe space is now normal in 2025!

Ed Robinson ● 19d

The layout of Werter Road is really ridiculous.  There used to be enough room for two cars, one turning right and one turning left.  At the moment, they have introduced an incredibly wide cyclist lane which is barely used; neither do I think it need to be that wide.  Therefore, it has become a one car out in whichever direction....Add to this the standstill traffic on Putney High Street and you are asking for trouble.  You have just described it.  It is beyond ridiculous!

Ivonne Holliday ● 19d

Hope it wasn't anybody on the forum needed help.

Barbara Stevens ● 19d