Road Safety Fears Because 30mph Sign on Dundee Road is Invisible

Can you spot the 30 mph extension warning?
Click on image to enlarge

Constituents have complained that a road traffic sign by the Broughty Ferry Yacht Club is virtually invisible. This is particularly crucial because it is the only sign which alerts drivers of the extension to the 30mph limit from that point as far as Margaret Crescent where the 40 mph speed limit begins. 

I can attest to it being difficult to read until almost standing in front of it. This readability challenge is exacerbated by the unusual shape and colouring of the sign. It is therefore easy to miss. Perhaps as a result of this some drivers seem to be driving in an aggressive manner when they encounter a driver sticking to the extended 30 mph speed limit. 

Can you read this Road Sign up close?
Click on image to enlarge

One resident complained to me that as she drove to wards Dundee, a driver in a following car tailgated her and then pulled out and passed her car just as they drove past Ravenscraig narrowly missing a car coming in the opposite direction.

I have written to the head of Transportation, Neil Gellatly to ask him to replace this sign with one that is readable from a distance and commands the attention of drivers. 

Road Traffic Accident Close to Forthill Primary School

On Wednesday afternoon a man was knocked down at the end of Marlee Road in Broughty Ferry. An ambulance was called and took the person involved  to Ninewells hospital. This occurred close to the leaving time for pupils at the nearby Forthill Primary School. 

I hope the individual involved was not seriously injured in this accident and that that they make a speedy recovery.

According to a resident, who lives near the street end in the vicinity of Marlee Court, the road was, as usual, congested with cars coming and going as parents and carers were picking up their children from Forthill Primary School.

Since more traffic controls were put in place directly outside Forthill Primary School, some of the traffic has been been displaced into surrounding streets such as Marlee Road. Children can walk or be accompanied on a pathway that leads from the road end  through the play park to Forthill Primary School.

Residents have complained that twice a day their otherwise quiet street is overwhelmed with traffic. Their inconvenience would be reduced if some of the car drivers were more considerate with their parking and avoided blocking residents wanting to drive on or off their their own driveways. 

They are worried  that the level of congestion poses dangers to pupils at the school and their own children as well as other road users. They are convinced that, ''this was 'an accident waiting to happen'.

Since I was informed about this accident, I have been in touch with Police Scotland, and the Community Safety Team to ask that they step up their presence in the area. I have also written to Neil Gellatly the Head of Transportation at the City Council to ask him to assess what can be be put in place to prevent a similar  incident occurring and to minimise parking disruption for the residents. I have also contacted the Headteacher.

Dundee Cycling Report Card - Some Good Progress But We Must Try Harder

Click on image to enlarge

A recent national report on Cycling in Scotland assessed the polices of each of the 32 local councils in Scotland. This assessment awarded the City Council an average score of two and a half stars from five. The summary report card is pictured. 

The Council's performance is rated as slightly stronger on 'Planning' and 'Monitoring' and relatively weaker on 'Action'. In fact the two star rating for 'Action' is the Council's lowest score.

The 1% modal share for cycling shows by implication that there is an enormous gulf between this performance and the target from the Scottish Government of 10% of short journeys by bike by 2020 to help meet carbon reduction targets.

Also significant and particularly disappointing are the very low scores of children cycling to school and those undertaking a Bikeabilty Scotland course, which is the replacement for the Cycling Proficiency Test that I tokk when I was at school. I don't think we can anticipate a significant future lift in cycling in our city if only two or three of our Primary Schools undertake this award.

More encouraging is the score for 'Households with Access to A Bicycle' at 23%. This shows that there are plenty of households with a bike who, with the right infrastructure and support, might be encouraged to get back on the saddle and ride their bikes rather than take short journeys in their cars. That would be good for the environment and personal health.

I will be raising the issues raised in this report with the Head of Transportation and the Director of Education.

 Read or Download the National Assessment Of Local Authority Cycling Policy

Douglas Terrace Potholes and Pavements Need Attention

Click on image to enlarge

On Friday, work to upgrade the coastal pathway between Grassy Beach and Douglas Terrace should be completed.

When Kilmac, the contractors, have removed their portacabins and cleaned up the site, I think it will be time for the Council to take action to fill in the potholes in the road surface and attend to some of the broken surfaces on the pavements.

I have written to the Transportation Department and Convener of City Development to raise this with them.

I have already raised the need for the Environment Department to restore the triangle of open space at the end of Douglas Terrace. The flower bed needs to be weeded and replanted, the grass cut and the ruts filled in.

Road Safety Fears from Camphill Road Residents

Camphill Road looking East along
one of the narrower stretches.

Many residents in Camphill Road have contacted me to pass on their concerns about road safety in their street. 

Their concerns focus particularly on the narrower section of their road between the top of Whinny Brae and the junction with Queen Street at the traffic lights. 

They think that the corners in this stretch of the road leave drivers with blind spots. These hazards mean that motorists, pedestrians and cyclists are in danger of colliding at the corners where sight lines are restricted by the turns in the road and parked cars down one side of the road. In the picture (click on the picture to enlarge) notice that the single free lane is bounded on the left with a narrow pavement.

Observations of close run collisions at this point make some residents fearful that this is a serious accident waiting to happen. Their solution is to make Camphill Road east from its junction with Panmure Street one way. This would also reduce the opportunity for Camphill Road to be used as a rat run.

I have written to the Head of Transportation at the City Council to request that the traffic flows on this section of Camphill Road are monitored and options for improving road safety are assessed. The residents I have met are however adamant that they are not requesting the Council to paint more double yellow lines as many homes in the narrower part of the road have no off street parking.

Reassurance That Camber on Station Ramp Will be Improved

When the new entrance to the 'down' platform at Broughty Ferry Station (for trains running towards Dundee) opened last month, I noticed that the camber on the ramp between the pavement and the new passageway to the platform looked to be difficult to negotiate, especially for people with mobility difficulties. Link to earlier page on my blog.

When I referred this to the Head of Transportation at the City Council, they arranged for an inspection of the ramp which confirmed my observations. 
I have received the following reply from the Council:
"Thank you for contacting me relating to Broughty Ferry station access and I can confirm that the Council have been in contact with the Contractor who is undertaking the works within the station.  They have confirmed that the tarmac 'ramp' into the station from Gray Street is only a temporary fix and they are going correct this with a more permanent solution which will ensure ease of access for all."
I trust that this means 'job done'!