We are now using the latest “improvements” of our Gaborone roads; Molapo Crossing and the “highway” through Mogoditshane. A P400m disaster and worse an aesthetical eyesore for our City!
What kind of traffic culture are we creating by mimicking ancient solutions from USA and RSA (4-way robotized stops)? When modern science has since made them redundant and they have long stopped being constructed in the “developed world”. And the traffic culture we have goes like this:
The other day Mr Malope from his farm outside Molepolole was on his way to the car dealer in Mogoditshane. Couldn’t find his way to the right in Mogo and ended up with his old, battered Stout at New Molapo. Thought he could go to the left as he had learned from the old circle but, NO! A high speed kombi took the small rest of his front bumper and wrinkled his old wing! His right front wheel got a bit more slanted, too.
Believe it or not ÔÇô these kind of “happenings” are not necessary! If traffic planning is done according to modern thinking and experience, that is.
But as the heading shows, that is not the situation. Planning a priori is planning without analysis and knowledge of the state of art. In fact, the old circles from 1980-ies had only to be slightly converted for a few Pula to modern roundabouts (that came in 1992 ÔÇô before that it was rather crude circles).
If you don’t believe me, check on the Internet. For instance: www.save41.org/roundabouts or www.transoftsolutions.com and many more under “roundabouts”.
I wonder if the so called professionals at Roads have computers and internet? It is embarrassing to witness what is going on in Gaborone. Old circles, easily converted for a few Pula to modern and very efficient roundabouts are “deconstructed” and replaced for millions of Pula to four-way-stops! Just thinking of the waste of fuel for idling and accelerating between the red lights (and an idling engine is giving 4 times more pollution than an engine in motion at 40km/h ÔÇôthat’s a fact the traffic boys should know).
And then, in times of “global recession (=US banks demanding tax money) we are using borrowed money, about P400 m for the road from outside Mogoditshane and including Molapo Crossing. How could the road professionals fool the decision makers on this? Trickery of great magnitude, in my book!
Now we see the terrible result ÔÇô Mogoditshane cut in the middle of something like a Suez Canal. Almost impossible to communicate between northern and southern parts or off and on the “highway” ÔÇô ask Mr Malope!
And this raises an important question, often and mostly neglected in parliamentary democracies. The public service professionals are never taken to account! And the decision makers are unaware of possible alternatives. Finger pointing starts, if ever! Habitual mistake, it is called- – but the civil service is deliberately conning, believe me! There is money in it, we know, now. Some university pundits say that “planning” as it is done in democracies of today is nothing but totalitarian and has nothing to do with true democracy. After a lifetime as a planner I tend to agree. Results and not alternatives, are presented to laymen decision-makers who are easily “conned” and professional life goes on with engineers lucrative connections in the construction industry. Isn’t that what is evident at Roads Department, today?
So, what can be done to save Gaborone from the embarrassing “traffic planning” results?
Firstly, we must understand that the traffic to and from the central parts of the city is saturated! Things must be decentralized. Private market has done what had to be done with new commercial centres in the periphery. Nothing has been done, on the contrary, within the planning departments. And traffic to and from the City centre is OBESE. Already in 1936, my favourite planning icon – Lewis Mumford ÔÇô stated: Putting new lanes to major roads is like loosening the belt to cure obesity! And we, 70 yrs later here in Gaborone are proving he is right!
Is it worth it having the same office hours all over town? Do all schools have to start at 7.30 and end at the same time?
And where is the much needed high quality public transport that I have recommended years ago? The one we need when the peak oil is not available to acceptable cost for normal people (to deliver and take children from school). THESE are questions that must be answered within a short time, otherwise we are doomed.
And now, the traffic planners have had a more or less “secret” seminar/conference with the “money lending” organisations, again. Again, not involving private market planners and others that have ideas about the future of Gaborone!
And write-ups from the event are not available! What is happening at Roads Department, DTRP and City Council?
Much more could be said about “Planning a priori” but that leads to philosophy and “logical positivism” versus thinking that goes beyond established “science” ÔÇô something we dearly need. A planning colleague told me that traffic circles are “colonial”. Maybe so, but beware of “colonial positivism”.
