BIRD'S EYE VIEW
Page 66
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By The Hawk
Back to the Bus I'm told there's a variety of
interesting reasons why Leeds City Transport is experiencing a welcome reversal of the current trend in passenger traffic—at the transport committee's December meeting Aid. John Rafferty announced a 11-m.-passenger increase in the April to November period last year. Main credit for the upswing is given to the housing committee, whose slum clearance drive has made into bus users many citizens who formerly lived near their work. The effects of this rehousing are not all "jam ", however, as low-density housing on suburban estates doesn't make for low-cost bus operation; but the effects of this are being toned down by the fact that land shortage is dictating a policy of building multi-storey flats.
Some of the return to public transport is ascribed to frustrated car parkers but some of their difficulties may be resolved if commuters can be converted to the park-'nride scheme which planning and transport officials are going to discuss soon.
Question of Comfort A recent test by The Yorkshire Evening Post suggests that overall comfort may also be a factor. Four of the newspaper's staff set off on a five-mile journey to work from the same point during the morning peak, one on a moped, a cyclist, a motorist and a bus passenger. They finished in that order, the bus passenger arriving at his desk two minutes after the motorist despite not having been able to board the first bus that came along; he said that he was the only one of the four who had read his morning paper on the journey, and had been warm and comfortable. The test was not repeated in the opposite direction—when a climb of 500 ft. would probably have put the bus passenger in the first three.
Overall, Leeds Transport's outlook seems bright, if only because the City Council has just decided to spend £50m. on re-housing in the next five years and the whole programme promises to clear the Leeds slums entirely within eight years.
Saved from Lakonia I am happy to report that Mr. J. S. Wright, who represents Wolverhampton subarea of the Road Haulage Association on the West Midlands area committee, and Mrs. Wright are now safe and sound at their home in Codsall. They were rescued front the " Lakonia " and returned to this country on board the "Arcadia ".
o12 When Safety Pays Are safe driving incentive schemes a good idea? Do they work? The answer to both these questions Would appear to be " Yes " judging from the experience of the Tayside Floorcloth Co. Ltd., of Newburgh, Fife. This company runs a scheme whereby each driver receives a gratuity of £1, payable annually, for every month of accident-free driving. Drivers who go a full year without mishap get a bonus of £4 arid also receive a signed certificate from the company. Since 1959, when the scheme was started, the firm's drivers have, under this plan, had more than £500 distributed amongst them' each year—and the accident rate has dropped from 50 to 20 per annum!
When Mr. D. C. Forrester, managing director, congratulated the 1963 award winners recently he lamented the fact that the Inland Revenue authorities insisted on the deduction of income tax from the cash awards. Representations had been made to Mr. Marples in the matter—but to no avail.
Silver Tributes Nice to see Leeds traffic court so crowded on Thursday of last week, the object of the gathering being to congratulate Maj. F. S. Eastwood on his 25 years as Licensing Authority and chairman of the Traffic Commissioners. Despite the ill health which has been dogging him lately, Maj. Eastwood attended and heard Mr. W. R. Hargrave, the advocate who had welcomed the Major at his first sifting, in York 25 years ago, say that he was granting himself "a short-term licence to operate on a very special occasion, by paying a tribute to you. . . ."
Maj. Eastwood was obviously very moved by the long and generous tribute paid to him, and by the gathering of transport men to give it support. May his health soon be restored.
Flashing Bobbies Many ideas are now being
put forward concerned with safety on our roads. One of the most novel to come to my notice has been that affecting that most valiant road user the P.C. on point duty. As can readily be imagined point duty after dark oh British roads can be a very hazardous business--whitc armlets or no white armlets!
In order to make his particular lot that much less precarious Rolls-Royce Ltd., of Derby, in conjunction with the Derby Borough Mice, have developed an idea whereby these policemen are fitted with flashing blue lights. The light screws into the P.C.'s helmet and is connected to a wire running from the 6V battery. The power pack is carried on the back.
Inspector William Fletcher, of Derby Traffic Department, reported after the first demonstration that the equipment, which weighs less than 2 lb., was most effective and could be seen from a distance of about 300 yards. There are to be further experiments and demonstrations.