Taking part in the democratic process
This week has been interesting in a few of ways. Firstly, we got a reminder about the 2021 census which we’re keen to do.
Government grabbing data to chase us on taxes…
No, way of establishing the make up of the country and working out where budgets should be provided.
Plus of course, it allows people following family trees in the future vital records of where people are when. It’s a way of leaving your stamp on the world.
We also got our voting cards for the upcoming local elections. Due to the pandemic, they are offering everyone the chance to vote via mail.
I’ve never taken part in an exit poll but surely there’s no chance of that happening if I post my vote?
We’ve also been asked about our thoughts regarding a proposed blocking of a neighbouring road to through traffic. Which is nice, but the letter arrived on Wednesday and they want the answer in the “Traffic strategy office” by Monday. Obviously true democracy is only available to those with the time to invest in it and not people running part of their metabolism and working from home.
The funniest thing about this, and as a liberal I feel there some be as much freedom of movement as possible to allow free flowing traffic and basically options if things foul up not to mention the barrier this would form to health care officials in reaching some of the residents of this road.
The fact is, the road in question is very close to the park and during the pandemic as at other times, the road is often blocked by people parking their cars their to enjoy the park. Which would not be stopped by blocking off one end, indeed it may encourage the behaviour. The argument to put them in is to reduce noise for the local residents: this is not true on that road which is a 20mph limit and modern cars obeying the noise pollution act (not to mention EVs) are really quiet anyway.
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This week has been interesting in a few of ways. Firstly, we got a reminder about the 2021 census which we’re keen to do.
Government grabbing data to chase us on taxes…
No, way of establishing the make up of the country and working out where budgets should be provided.
Plus of course, it allows people following family trees in the future vital records of where people are when. It’s a way of leaving your stamp on the world.
We also got our voting cards for the upcoming local elections. Due to the pandemic, they are offering everyone the chance to vote via mail.
I’ve never taken part in an exit poll but surely there’s no chance of that happening if I post my vote?
We’ve also been asked about our thoughts regarding a proposed blocking of a neighbouring road to through traffic. Which is nice, but the letter arrived on Wednesday and they want the answer in the “Traffic strategy office” by Monday. Obviously true democracy is only available to those with the time to invest in it and not people running part of their metabolism and working from home.
The funniest thing about this, and as a liberal I feel there some be as much freedom of movement as possible to allow free flowing traffic and basically options if things foul up not to mention the barrier this would form to health care officials in reaching some of the residents of this road.
The fact is, the road in question is very close to the park and during the pandemic as at other times, the road is often blocked by people parking their cars their to enjoy the park. Which would not be stopped by blocking off one end, indeed it may encourage the behaviour. The argument to put them in is to reduce noise for the local residents: this is not true on that road which is a 20mph limit and modern cars obeying the noise pollution act (not to mention EVs) are really quiet anyway.
Anyway, being consulted is nice. We are exercising our democratic prerogative and all three of us our voicing why this is bad. Me to allow ambulance traffic, my family for relief on the main road when things are difficult road-wise.
This is a bit of a sore point as sections of the cycle lanes have been blocked off by “wands” – vertical rods sticking out of the road to section off the cycle lane from non-cycling traffic.
As a cyclist, I think these have been put in the wrong place for many reasons but I hadn’t considered that some cyclists may be forced out of cycle lanes by them and that’s the trailer buggies for very small children. I witnessed a man with his two children have to fight with normal traffic instead of just hanging out of the cycle lane a little because of the wands. He looked horrified that he was put in that position – what I should have done was taken a photo but now I know who to write to, I’m doing that.
I have not mentioned the impact this has on roundabout usage for cyclists (which as someone who needs to turn right to get into our place) denying them the usual path round a roundabout. Our roundabout has several collisions anyway, I spotted the fact a driver pulling out hadn’t looked my way a few years ago which allowed me the chance to avoid an accident. If I’d been in the outer lane, a driver is not going to see a cyclist on the “natural flow” of the traffic far more often. This happens when we drive too, cars heading from the west to the east on this particular roundabout often don’t look left before joining the roundabout. Which is a pretty basic failure of driving competence.
nyway, being consulted is nice. We are exercising our democratic perogative and all three of us our voicing why this is bad. Me to allow ambulance traffic, my family for relief on the main road when things are difficult road-wise.
This is a bit of a sore point as sections of the cycle lanes have been blocked off by “wands” – vertical rods sticking out of the road to section off the cycle lane from non-cycling traffic.
As a cyclist, I think these have been put in the wrong place for many reasons but I hadn’t considered that some cyclists may be forced out of cycle lanes by them and that’s the trailer buggies for very small children. I witnessed a man with his two children have to fight with normal traffic instead of just hanging out of the cycle lane a little because of the wands. He looked horrified that he was put in that position – what I should have done was taken a photo but now I know who to write to, I’m doing that.
I have not mentioned the impact this has on roundabout usage for cyclists (which as someone who needs to turn right to get into our place) denying them the usual path round a roundabout. Our roundabout has several collisions anyway, I spotted the fact a driver pulling out hadn’t looked my way a few years ago which allowed me the chance to avoid an accident. If I’d been in the outer lane, a driver is not going to see a cyclist on the “natural flow” of the traffic far more often. This happens when we drive too, cars heading from the west to the east on this particular roundabout often don’t look left before joining the roundabout. Which is a pretty basic failure of driving competenance.
Hope your experiences are better, have a beautiful day.
Posted: February 27th, 2021 under 42.