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West End Extra - LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published: 10 July 2009

TfL should reward those of us who leave our cars at home

• YOU report on the pedestrian light on Marylebone Road at the junction of Enford Street and Marylebone Road (‘Accident waiting to happen’ where school children cross, July 2.
I would like to ask Transport for London to reward those of us who leave our cars at home and help relieve traffic by walking to school, with safe passage for our children, and to treat walking as a mode of transport worthy of the same respect as others.
Considering its health benefits in reducing emissions and improving fitness, it should be regarded with greater respect than any other form of transport..
Please would anyone who supports this idea sign the online petition, which will be presented to the Mayor of London on July 22.
See www.ipetitions. com/petition/marylebone crossing/index.html
During the present green pedestrian sequence, no able-bodied person can cross from North to South without having to stop on the traffic island for up to two minutes.
The southern half of the crossing turns red just as the average person arrives at the centre island. This is unsatisfactory from a health point of view as the many children walking to Saint Mary’s School, Abercorn School, Christchurch Bentinck, Saint Edwards RC Primary and Hampden Gurney School are forced to stand and inhale the fumes. My daughter suffers from asthma and is noticeably distressed after the experience.
At 8.50am the island becomes extremely crowded with adults rushing to work pushing children closer and closer to the traffic which includes the heaviest and most polluting vehicles on our roads. Many adults and children run across the red pedestrian light to avoid standing in such a dangerous and unhealthy place for so long which is a terrifying risk I see taken every day.
The problem would be solved by the green pedestrian light on the north side of the crossing being beginning earlier.
The only effect will be to delay by a few seconds traffic turning left from Harewood Avenue onto Marylebone Road, not the eastbound through-traffic from the A40 flyover.
A campaign was begun about this crossing some years ago, but it was decided that nothing would be done until there was a pedestrian fatality at the junction. A member of the Church Army was killed at the junction approximately two months ago.
Clearly now is the time to act decisively.
I would like to object in the strongest term to the mayor’s proposal to favour the traffic in the setting of lights generally, and this set of lights in particular.
OLIVIA WILLIAMS
Address supplied

Send your letters to: The Letters Editor, West End Extra, 40 Camden Road, London, NW1 9DR or email to letters@westendextra.co.uk. The deadline for letters is midday Wednesday. The editor regrets that anonymous letters cannot be published, although names and addresses can be withheld.
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