Closing roads to traffic for a few hours so children can play

[TwickenhamCyclist]

What do you all think of this idea?
http://playingout.net/ "closing" roads for a few hours a day so children can play outside - i put this in campaign as well

 

[Gandalf]

There was a piece about this on Radio 4 yesterday

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b012wxy8/PM_03_08_2011/

It starts at just over 26 minutes in.

 

[numbnuts]

I'm against this roads are for traffic, parks are for playing

 

[gaz]

I might try it on my road, a busy A road with nearly 500 aches of open park and woodland next to it.

 

[Gandalf]

Roads are public spaces. They are for everybody, not just a selfish minority.

 

[sabian92]

As nice of an idea as it is - it will never happen. People who are pissed off about it will just use the roads anyway and run over some kids not expecting to see a car. It also would teach a kid that roads are traffic free - which couldn't be further from the truth.

 

[Markymark]

As a dad this makes no sense. I teach my child to respect the roads and to be careful. This would undo that. It will also add extra traffic to surrounding roads and have the possibility of people not realising or deliberately ignoring.

There are plenty if open parks around, all this does is stop lazy parents taking their children to the park.

 

[snorri]

Bring it on!
I find it quite sad that young children are now denied the opportunity to play near their homes where they can be overseen by their parents and adult neighbours. We have handed over too many square miles of the country for the use of "traffic", it's time to reverse the trend.

 

[2Loose]

As children we used to play 'kerbsie' and other games in the road. Ok there was a lot less traffic then, but we were still taught to respect the dangers and act accordingly, sweeping the ball onto the pavement when a car appeared etc. Cars also understood that kids may play in the road and drove carefully when a youngster was around. When the nearest park was across two far busier roads and a mile away, then this was an acceptable solution in quieter roads.

I like the idea of reclaiming roads as public property in certain areas. Also, I think as with the trials where roadmarkings being removed has actually improved safety by making road users think for themselves, I think this would help car drivers realise that it is not just cars that should be on the road and teaching them a long lost respect for non-drivers.

 

[Melonfish]

a large portion of my street and specifically the section outside the front of my house is all offroad anyway, its grassed over so the kids can play.
there's a few area's like that round here.

tbh tho i've played in streets as a kid and when a car comes someone shouts "CAR!" and you all move off
then you go back on and continue playing.

i like the idea but once again its assuming kids aren't smart enough to look after themselves, too much bubblewrap.
pete

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

The street I grew up in has a play street running off it. And a pub. It was made into a safe playing area because we were playing in it anyway. The only fatality I know of there was the landlord, whose liver gave up on him.

http://maps.google.com/?ll=51.47555...=Z9hbknHEYAAZghzcVjuMBQ&cbp=12,14.31,,0,12.65

 

[crazy580]

School playgrounds should be kept open during school holidays.

 

[jonny jeez]

The intention is pure but the logic is flawed.

Better to invest in long term space that kids can use every day, than cause misery to motorists in the persuit of short term alternative.

Why not give up your gardens instead.

Plus, I agree that the message to kids will be a very confusing one (as previously mentioned)

 

[jonny jeez]

School playgrounds should be kept open during school holidays.

wont work. too much opportunity for vandalism, graffiti and arson, the school would need top pay for full time security.

empty (but open) schools attract all sorts of attention from dissatisfied pupils

 

[Angelfishsolo]

A great idea if there is nowhere nearby that children can play. If as Gaz suggests there is a 500 aches of woodland next to the road then it is rather extracting the urine.