As a result of the Disability Discrimination Act, bus stops throughout Switzerland are being structurally adapted. In total, millions of Swiss francs will probably be spent on this – if there is enough money available. However, this ‘equality’ measure is now hindering the flow of traffic because, as part of this construction work, bus bays have been/are being removed in many places and buses now stop in the middle of the road. This raises the suspicion that an originally well-intentioned proposal is being exploited to implement further harassment measures that can be sold under the appealing term of ‘traffic calming measures’. In this respect, the state, its planners and other subordinates are extremely resourceful and willing to implement such measures, which is something that is rather lacking when it comes to other pressing necessities. Many residents along such routes, and numerous motorists who use this route to commute to work, are less than enthusiastic about this intervention in road traffic. They vent their anger in conversations.
A one-way street of thinking
In my immediate vicinity alone, I can’t even count on two hands the number of examples where traffic calming measures have been taken to extremes. The picture accompanying the article shows a bus route that leads to a rural area. Over a distance of less than three kilometres, road traffic is brought to a standstill several times at short intervals, at practically every bus stop.
In the immediate vicinity of where I live, I can tell you about two bus stops that were equipped with a pedestrian underpass at the request of the local population. But what happens? Many of the passengers, when they switch to the role of pedestrians, jump out behind the bus onto the road. On one bus route with a dense timetable and high traffic volume, the bus stop has now also been adapted in accordance with the Disability Discrimination Act. At the same time, the bus bay has been removed, which cannot be attributed to the spatial conditions. Stops are becoming more frequent, and CO2 emissions are rising as a result of motorised vehicles stopping and accelerating again more often.
In this context, I would like to mention that I have not seen pedestrian crossings painted on the road at the exit of roundabouts in any other country. Just think about it: human beings (lives) are being used as a traffic calming measure! What is prevailing here can only be described as a one-way street of thinking – ideology is equated with intelligence, thereby promoting boundless stupidity.
Relational nonsense is allowed when others pay for it
In terms of public transport, it started much earlier. There was a time when bus operators were required to install lifts for disabled people in their buses. Cost factor: 20,000 to 30,000 Swiss francs per bus. The operator of a public bus line in a tourist community in Graubünden once calculated for me: ‘We used this lift only once in a year.’ So it’s fair to say that this was a waste of money.
Far cheaper and yet just as effective is the fact that bus manufacturers began early on to adapt their designs to the need for improved accessibility. Buses can be lowered on the side where passengers board. But that is apparently not enough for legislators and interested parties.
Is humanity only used verbally anymore?
I remember a time when passengers didn’t stand at bus stops like frozen pillars with their mobile phones in front of their faces. If someone who had difficulty walking or was even in a wheelchair wanted to get on the bus, people immediately offered to help them. Most of the time, you would get a smile and a ‘thank you’ in return, with no ulterior motives. The same thing happened when a woman wanted to get on with her pram. It should be noted here that we have shot ourselves in the foot with our modern way of thinking. Anyone who has the misfortune of offering help to a woman in a mentally distressed state could easily be suspected of making cheap advances or even risk being accused of sexual harassment. One would have to be able to assess the other person, which is becoming increasingly difficult in the complexity of degenerate thought patterns. So ‘better to look away!’ is a protective mechanism. This is how we are digging the grave of human interaction and helpful cooperation – in more and more areas of life!
At the same time, however, terms such as ‘empathy’ and ‘humanity’ are being used inflationarily. Apparently, however, only in verbal form, for the purpose of positive self-presentation, which seeks to convey the image of a conscious and good person.
