In 2012 Pittwater Council Staff under delegated authority approved a Section 96 Modification Application to change the design of the proposed car park in Bungan Lane at Mona Vale. Concerns have been raised as a result of this with claims the exit to Bungan Lane is now dangerous for both motorists and pedestrians.
EXTRA WIDTH OF ENTER and EXIT DRIVEWAYS
The original car park design approved in 2002 had both the single lane ingress and exit driveways located together at the northern end of the building. As part of the redesign in 2012 Pittwater Council staff approved changes and this resulted in the previous single lane entry now becoming a dual lane entry 8.5 metres in width at the northern end and the single lane exit also becoming a dual lane for exit 8.5 metres in width at the southern end of the building.
Concerns are dual lane driveways both at 8.5 metres width put pedestrians at greater risk and injury with vehiles crossing the public footpath in Bungan Lane.
SIGHT LINES FOR DRIVERS TO PEDESTRIANS
The Australian Standard 2890.1 (2004) requires sight triangles of dimension 2.5m x 2m to be provided at the car park exit and must be kept clear of obstructions to ensure adequate sight lines are provided for drivers to pedestrians on the public footpath. These sight triangles have not been provided and will require significant removal of built form at the exit with 800mm of the building corner removed on the northern side and 2 metres removed from the southern side.
Pittwater Council staff were reminded of this Australian Standard requirement in a letter from the RMS dated 15 March 2012 prior to approval of the modified design, but obviously disregarded the advice. This is a major concern as there have already been many near misses with pedestrians almost being hit by vehicles exiting the car park as they walk across the very wide 8.5 metre driveway.
One incident has already resulted in fisty cuffs between a female driver and female pedestrian. Drivers exiting the car park cannot see pedestrians walking along Bungan Lane approaching until the front of their vehicle has already crossed the footpath. This is far worse when a parent is pushing a pram, which is up to 1.5 metres further forward than the parent’s vision. The original design from 2002 showed sight lines that did comply with the Australian Standard marked on the plan but the modified plan in 2012 does not show these and does not comply. Accidents will result.
Currently only one lane of the driveway operates for vehicles exiting from the Aurora and Gateway Buildings with 232 vehicles. What will happen when the Council car park actually opens with another 218 cars are added then totalling 450 vehicles using this exit. The Traffic Report indicates there will be one vehicle every 15 seconds using the exit.
DUAL LANE EXIT NOW OPPOSITE THE DELMEGE BUILDING EXIT
The relocation of the exit driveway also results in it now being directly opposite the Delmege Building car park exit with another 200 vehicles exiting at the same location. In both instances drivers are looking left and right with inadequate sight lines to pedestrians, they are also looking for approaching vehicles in Bungan Lane and too much is happening at one time. Little attention is being given to cars exiting from the car park directly opposite and already head on collisions have nearly occurred.
See link http://pittwateralliance.weebly.com/danger-at-car-park-exit
A further issue is that of vehicles queuing to the intersection of Mona Vale Road with numerous observations with 15 or more vehicles can be queued back at any one time from the intersection of Bungan Lane and Mona Vale Road. This line of vehicles goes well past the dual lane exit of the new Council car park and whilst currently only operating at half the number of vehicles that will exit when open, even now drivers cannot exit the car park because of this queue of vehicles along Bungan Lane. What then results is an additional queue, which extends back into the new car park as well. Had the driveway remained at the northern end as was approved in 2002 this problem would not exist and vehicles could have exited to Bungan Lane without any problems.
EXTRA WIDTH OF ENTER and EXIT DRIVEWAYS
The original car park design approved in 2002 had both the single lane ingress and exit driveways located together at the northern end of the building. As part of the redesign in 2012 Pittwater Council staff approved changes and this resulted in the previous single lane entry now becoming a dual lane entry 8.5 metres in width at the northern end and the single lane exit also becoming a dual lane for exit 8.5 metres in width at the southern end of the building.
Concerns are dual lane driveways both at 8.5 metres width put pedestrians at greater risk and injury with vehiles crossing the public footpath in Bungan Lane.
SIGHT LINES FOR DRIVERS TO PEDESTRIANS
The Australian Standard 2890.1 (2004) requires sight triangles of dimension 2.5m x 2m to be provided at the car park exit and must be kept clear of obstructions to ensure adequate sight lines are provided for drivers to pedestrians on the public footpath. These sight triangles have not been provided and will require significant removal of built form at the exit with 800mm of the building corner removed on the northern side and 2 metres removed from the southern side.
Pittwater Council staff were reminded of this Australian Standard requirement in a letter from the RMS dated 15 March 2012 prior to approval of the modified design, but obviously disregarded the advice. This is a major concern as there have already been many near misses with pedestrians almost being hit by vehicles exiting the car park as they walk across the very wide 8.5 metre driveway.
One incident has already resulted in fisty cuffs between a female driver and female pedestrian. Drivers exiting the car park cannot see pedestrians walking along Bungan Lane approaching until the front of their vehicle has already crossed the footpath. This is far worse when a parent is pushing a pram, which is up to 1.5 metres further forward than the parent’s vision. The original design from 2002 showed sight lines that did comply with the Australian Standard marked on the plan but the modified plan in 2012 does not show these and does not comply. Accidents will result.
Currently only one lane of the driveway operates for vehicles exiting from the Aurora and Gateway Buildings with 232 vehicles. What will happen when the Council car park actually opens with another 218 cars are added then totalling 450 vehicles using this exit. The Traffic Report indicates there will be one vehicle every 15 seconds using the exit.
DUAL LANE EXIT NOW OPPOSITE THE DELMEGE BUILDING EXIT
The relocation of the exit driveway also results in it now being directly opposite the Delmege Building car park exit with another 200 vehicles exiting at the same location. In both instances drivers are looking left and right with inadequate sight lines to pedestrians, they are also looking for approaching vehicles in Bungan Lane and too much is happening at one time. Little attention is being given to cars exiting from the car park directly opposite and already head on collisions have nearly occurred.
See link http://pittwateralliance.weebly.com/danger-at-car-park-exit
A further issue is that of vehicles queuing to the intersection of Mona Vale Road with numerous observations with 15 or more vehicles can be queued back at any one time from the intersection of Bungan Lane and Mona Vale Road. This line of vehicles goes well past the dual lane exit of the new Council car park and whilst currently only operating at half the number of vehicles that will exit when open, even now drivers cannot exit the car park because of this queue of vehicles along Bungan Lane. What then results is an additional queue, which extends back into the new car park as well. Had the driveway remained at the northern end as was approved in 2002 this problem would not exist and vehicles could have exited to Bungan Lane without any problems.