(29 Aug 2020, 8:10 pm)Storx wrote I thought the money was for cycling schemes rather than social distancing stuff but I could be wrong.
Ah don't worry I wasn't doing that personally very very few people are social distancing lately tbh it's more just normal now since face masks have become mandatory. All the big 4 supermarkets have pretty much scrapped any form of social distancing now.
Tbh Newcastle, North Tyneside and Gateshead have been a joke long before this though. Haddricks Mill, Heworth, Four Lane Ends, Blue House Roundabout, Kenton Bar, Sandy Lane, Speed Bump at The Cannon, John Dobson Street, Haymarket changes, Cowgate, Norham Road, Whickham 20mph Zone, Benton ASDA lights. Just a short list of complete cock ups between the 3 of them which haven't improved anything, went months over or made things worse for everyone including buses. No doubt there's more you could add I've missed.
You're probably right, although I wouldn't be surprised if there was funding for increasing the footpaths as well.
To be honest, there's not really much supermarkets can do, one way systems didn't work, they can't have staff standing around making sure everyone is keeping their distance, and at the end of the day it's going to be sticking around for a while so there's no use wrapping yourself up in cotton wool. Cases are going back up, but deaths aren't, even taking into account the lag. Plus, with reports now starting to come out that tests are 'too sensitive', can we even trust those figures?
To go off on a little tangent, we've been in the high single, low double digit number of deaths for over a month now. If we look three weeks ago, around 1000 people on average were testing positive. On the 19th March, around the same number of people tested positive, but three weeks later around 1000 people were dying a day. But those positive test figures are by no means the same, back then only 5000 people were being tested daily, but three weeks ago that was 150,000.
Personally, right now, I am more scared of getting in the car with my mother driving than I am of COVID. If the figures go up by a meaningful amount, I might change my stance, but right now, it doesn't worry me. As Boris said, just use your common sense. I socially distance anyway as people round here are absolute tramps!
Back somewhat on topic, as I've mentioned before we work with some of the councils to carry out research and the consultations they have are a load of crap. They're guided in such a way that the councils get the answer they want, regardless of what people actually answer. For some focus groups I've been doing for another client, just from looking at the discussion guide I can already tell what the conclusion of the report will be.
(29 Aug 2020, 8:37 pm)Adrian wrote The only reason one way systems don't work is because people are too ignorant or think they know better than to use them. Its as if some people are capable of following basic instruction. Its not hard to follow arrows and show patience towards others.
I disagree there, one way systems cause a backlog of people stuck in an aisle with nowhere to go. Especially when inconsiderate people leave their trolley in the middle of the aisle, so even if there was 2 metres, you couldn't get past anyway. Quickly walking past someone is safer than being stuck in the aisle behind someone.
If people aren't going to follow them, what's the point in implementing them. I think the one way system at my local ALDI lasted about a week before it was removed.