Chapter 18 - Land Transport • Pedestrian access routes connecting residential areas, schools, shopping centres, recreation reserves, and public transport collection points and terminals where appropriate; and • Pedestrian footpaths in urban areas: • Adjacent to but separated from vehicle carriage- ways and private property by appropriate safety structures including fences, where appropriate; • Constructed with permanent hard surfaces, such as asphalt or concrete; • Constructed to minimise any surface water flow that would be an impediment or hazard to pedestrians; • Pram and wheelchair crossings located at convenient positions in relation to intersections; • Longitudinal profile and surface finish not unduly disrupted by vehicle crossings; and • Gradients not exceeding 1 in 6 except in extra- ordinary circumstances where steps should be provided. Policy 1.10 Where proposed allotments have access from a public road require that access to be suitable for the safe and efficient carriage of vehicles, cyclists, and pedestrians. The Council has a responsibility to manage the adverse effects of activities including effects on the land transport infrastructure. Council seeks to ensure that activities are appropriate to the speed and function of adjoining roads. This may mean that in some locations, for reasons of transport safety and efficiency, activities that have specific effects on the transport infrastructure will need to be modified or even prevented from occurring. It is a normal expectation, in today’s society, that households will use motor vehicles. The Council considers that it is reasonable to expect that new allotments will be provided with vehicle access from public roads, except allotments adjoining the coastal marine area. That access should be provided between the road kerb line and the property boundary and should be constructed in a way that does not disrupt the safety or convenience of pedestrian use of footpaths. The Council is committed to minimising accidents at rail crossings and road intersections. The design of all future road intersections will therefore be required to incorporate safe sight distances appropriate to the local environment and location within the roading hierarchy. Road marking and traffic signs are an important component of the transport infrastructure. The Plan provides for essential traffic safety and directional signs and road names. Public roads provide a certain amount of kerb-side vehicle parking. It is important to maintain vehicle carriageways for the free movement of vehicles and cyclists and to ensure that parked vehicles do not compromise pedestrian safety. Where activities give rise to demand for vehicle parking they will be 18 - 7