Petros Psoma’s proposal to the Municipal Council on the traffic changes in Patras:
“New traffic regulations for the center of Patras are coming up for vote today, which will radically change the operation of the city. Unfortunately, they will be done, in part, blindly because they have only been designed on paper and with assumptions of the past, some of which have changed. Mainly, however, they will become with the city unprepared.
The spiral is in favor of continuity in management. We are in favor of the legal observance of what was decided and agreed upon. And we primarily listen to the experts, especially in specialized matters that require a scientific approach. But we must highlight the question that concerns the citizens, which does not seem to be listened to and shared by the Municipal Authority: “Is Patras ready for such a change?”
Transportation experts and studies have spoken, citizens are voicing their concerns and they remain unanswered. No concern, no consultation, no discussion. And so we proceed to Maizonos pedestrianization and – finally, because we are now forced – to Kanakaris reaction and all the other accompanying changes.
The main argument is that “in all European countries the center is pedestrianized”. Is this a generalization that kicks in Patras? In essence, the question becomes: “Have we prepared Patras for these changes?”
Wherever in Europe and Greece there are such pedestrian centers, at the same time there are:
– Parking, around the center serving permanent residents and visitors
– Transportation that ensures the immediate and continuous flow of people to the center, usually on a fixed trajectory
– Main roads, around the pedestrian center, which serve all the above functions and make the city’s operating rules possible
– Policing by the Municipality itself, which is essentially concerned with the image and functioning of the city
– Exact timetables for catering businesses, hotels, shops, super markets
– Garbage collection in “dead hours”, mainly by modern means of transport (e.g. electric for low disturbance)
– Submersible or “invisible” waste bins
– And of course order is observed
The transportation experts who recommend this change take some things for granted. Where in the other cities there are. What do we have in Patras today? With tolerance and by extension responsibility of the municipal authority we have (in parentheses the solution that has NOT been given):
– Chaos, legalized anarchy and disorderly behavior (solution: good example from the Municipality itself)
– Double-parking (solution: municipal police)
– Double-headlights (solution: programming)
– Power at any time (solution: rules and following them)
– Bikes parked everywhere (solution: policing)
– Disrespect at crossings and ramps for the disabled (solution: driving behavior that is instilled in citizens by local authorities)
– Zero control over traffic and city operation (solution: rules, context, municipal police)
– No new car parking spaces for residents (solution: new regional and central car parks)
– Table seats even where they should not (solution: Normative)
– No encouragement of the use of alternative MMM and zero discouragement of the use of the car in the city (solution: planning, consultation, information, information and awareness actions, initiatives)
– No contact with City Bus (solution: cooperation)
– Neither tram, nor any attempt to acquire (solution: implementation of the sustainable study that exists in the drawers of the Municipality of Patreon)
– Cycle path – parody (solution: design and creation of a network of cycle paths)
So, is Patra ready for such a change? Unfortunately, no. Does it need a culture and mindset change? He needs. And to whom have we assigned it? In an indifferent and helpless municipal authority.
Unfortunately, you have failed, gentlemen of the Municipal Authority, you who have been managing this city for 10 years now. You have failed to prepare the ground for this great change, and we have said the causes before: indifference, tolerance of lawlessness, political incompetence. You only show (theoretical) interest in the national and global, not the city. No examples from other cities. You are prognosticators, helpless, opinionated and indifferent. That’s why the whole city is clamoring that what comes with the traffic changes is an… even bigger mess
The Patrinians are worried, they talk about coming hell, only the punishment will not be for you, it will be for all of us. With your projects and days a city is driven to dead ends. Generally. In this case, in traffic. And consequently in the way the city operates. We vote traffic regulations as necessary, but… God help.
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