I just got this response to my email asking for time extension etc for Accessible Streets.
What I read in this letter is that disabled pedestrians will be adversely impacted but we don't care. We put consultation documents out in accessible formats (a Government standard approach you will know), we are going to do a disability assessment later, and anyway 15km hour on a footpath is an improvement.
Call to Action on the Accessible Streets package
E-scooters, E-bikes and other motorised devices as well as bikes ridden by people of any age will be allowed to be used on footpaths if you don’t say ‘No’.
Living Streets Aotearoa and the Footpaths for Feet Coalition strongly criticise the government's Accessible Streets package, released today (Monday 9/3/2020).
This was such an opportunity for a great rebalancing of the transport system to be achieved, in which modes that move at different speeds would be separated. instead, with one exception this package is even more anti-pedestrian than we feared it might be.
It's open slather on pedestrians! They should really have called it the Inaccessible Streets package as far as pedestrians are concerned.
Please read this attached submission from Australia's Victoria Walks
Living Streets Aotearoa is the New Zealand organisation for people on foot, promoting walking-friendly communities. We are a nationwide organisation with local branches and affiliates throughout New Zealand.
We want more people walking and enjoying public spaces be they young or old, fast or slow, whether walking, sitting, commuting, shopping, between appointments, or out on the streets for exercise, for leisure or for pleasure.
