Gisborne's Traffic-It's Terrific

With two of the city's major bridges out of action, traffic in Gladstone Road, and especially in the region of the Peel Street intersection, has been for some time bordering on the traffic jam stage at rush periods. Pictures on these pages, taken on a recent Friday at 5 p.m., did not catch the heaviest concentration seen in recent times, but they do show a number of other interesting points.

They show, for instance, that Gisborne has many of the factors which make for difficult driving. It has a big proportion of cyclists, it has jay-walking pedestrians, and it has angle-parking. Cars backing out of parking spots create a hazard not usually met with in other cities.

The pictures also suggest that Gisborne has capable but tolerant traffic officers, and careful drivers.

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Peel Street....has never been so busy

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Pedestrians hurry across Gladstone Road crossing with Peel St. traffic

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Friday afternoon sees continual stream of pedestrians crossing at intersections.

Ignoring traffic officer's directions, pedestrian, accompanied by toddler, jaywalks out into busy traffic stream. In the first picture she is waiting for a gap in line of through cars. In the second and third pictures she has gained narrow dividing line between through lane and right-turn lane, must wait there until officer halts Gladstone Road traffic. Her safety is in the hands of motorists, who find safe navigation of main street difficult enough without this complication.

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As west-bound traffic starts up, lady on crossing who has dropped bag should make a good recovery. But determined gentleman starting across from bank corner would be better to stay put. At best he can only make island crossing, must then wait there while four-lane traffic moves past.