Town traffic system enough to drive your round the bend
I sincerely hope that Bandon shows more forethought than our near neighbour, Clonakilty.
The essential of any such system is that it improves the flow of traffic.
In Clon, this is not the case nor would it be anywhere else, where east-bound traffic has to turn right across west-bound no less than three times: at Miles, to take the by-pass; at the Catholic church, to take the inner ring, and at the roundabout at the eastern end by Supervalu, to exit.
Nobody seems to know the correct etiquette at the church.
Some say that traffic exiting the town westward has the right-of-way, others that those turning right to the inner ring have the right.
One gets the daft situation that drivers sit there playing 'after you, Claude,' causing hold-ups. This does not make sense. Add to this the town centre crossroads, a meeting of five roads. McCurtain Hill is two-way. Other than that, one of the other four is an exit (to the west).
All others are entries four entries and two exits. Daft!
If one is travelling from west to east and has business at McCurtain Hill and wants to proceed further east, one must go back west, adding to the pressure on Pearse Street.
This does not make sense.
When I raised this point at the introduction of the system, I was told it was only a trial.
That was January 2000!
Motorists have many responsibilities which fall into two categories: safety and economy.
They have safety pounded at them every day but, economy pollution of the environment and increase in the balance of payments (who remembers the 50mph speed limit to reduce our dependence on imported oil?) is largely ignored. A vehicle idling at a junction wastes fuel and adds to greenhouse gases.
Energy-wise, a Junior Cert physics student could tell you, the most expensive piece of driving is getting a vehicle moving from inertia.
Stop-start driving through Clonakilty from east to west is worth a study for next year's Young Scientist of the Year it is their future and their elders seem to be ignoring it.
I hope that Bandon is more sensible.
Cal Hyland
4 Closheen Lane
Rosscarbery
Co Cork.
