A Reader wrote to us:
I am asking you, on behalf of the majority of residents and myself, to publicize the issue and problem on the housing estate and in its immediate vicinity in Bolesławiec.
The housing estate is relatively new. It includes, among others, the following streets:
– Jana Karskiego,
– Żołnierzy Wyklętych,
– Henryka Sienkiewicza,
– Orląt Lwowskich.
Although the first apartment block was built in the 2000s, since 2018 several blocks, a dozen or so single-family homes and several new streets have been built here.
How do drivers behave, according to the Reader?
They noted:
Most of the housing estate is located in a residential zone. There are signs marking the beginning of the residential zone, but signs marking its end have not yet been installed everywhere.
The so-called right-hand rule applies at most intersections, but drivers obviously do not respect road traffic regulations at all. They do not observe the 20 km/h speed limit in the residential zone, completely disregard the fact that pedestrians have priority there, and park wherever and however they please. At intersections, on pavements, along pavements and on lawns; they block waste collection shelters, as well as stairs and ramps for prams with children and wheelchair users.
They added: – They block passages, entrances and exits.
The result? The Reader says: – They routinely make it difficult to collect municipal waste, meaning that Miejski Zakład Gospodarki Komunalnej is sometimes unable to collect the waste or has trouble reaching the waste collection shelter.
A problem not only for MZGK, but also for emergency services
The informant reports:
Fire engines of the Państwowa Straż Pożarna also have trouble reaching the scene, and once they arrive, getting out is almost a miracle. As a result, responding to another emergency, if needed, or to a subsequent call elsewhere could end tragically.
How has an attempt been made to counteract this?
A resident of Bolesławiec:
Requests and information were posted asking people to park only in designated places and not to block entrances to stairwells, garage gates or waste collection shelters, but 90% of drivers do not respect this.
Many children live on the housing estate. In reality, they run away as soon as another car approaches, even though drivers should remember that pedestrians have absolute priority there.
Drivers routinely travel at much higher speeds than permitted, paying no attention to pedestrians or other road users.
They emphasize:
I understand that these days developers build one thing on top of another, and the infrastructure does not meet residents’ needs. I also understand that practically every household has at least one car, and often there are two or three vehicles.
Underground garages cannot accommodate so many vehicles, and ultimately everyone parks wherever and however they want, disregarding regulations, other road users and pedestrians, because they simply have to park.
How do the services respond, according to the Reader?
The informant reports:
The municipal police wash their hands of the matter every time, claiming that they have only one patrol, which just happens to be handling another intervention whenever assistance is requested on this housing estate. They are busy or simply have no available crew. Alternatively, they claim that the road is partly private and that they cannot intervene or issue a fine there.
However, the Bolesławiec resident believes:
(...) The municipal police or the Police are obliged to intervene even when a road is private, provided it is generally accessible, road traffic regulations apply to it, and entry to such roads is marked with sign D-40, residential zone.
What do the residents say?
Our informant:
Residents feel rejected and helpless because of the lack of action by law enforcement authorities, and stunned by the municipal police’s approach. They ask themselves: If a tragedy occurs and a driver hits a child in the residential zone, or another incident or accident occurs because someone parks in a prohibited place and obstructs other drivers and pedestrians, will nobody come then either because the road is partly private?!
They conclude:
Please publicize this issue, because people are genuinely afraid to walk through this housing estate alone, not to mention that children often play outside the blocks by themselves.
What do you think? Join the discussion.