Cohousing-L Mailing List: Fencing car parking areas for child safety ???

[Peter Scott (ps]

There really is startingly little to be said in the archive about fences. 
(Perhaps one could take that to mean cohousers either use or dont use fences, 
but that we dont have much issue with them? Or maybe Americans use another 
name?)

http://nzpp.virtualave.net/coho/search.pl?string=fenc

The particular issue raised here is the fencing of parking areas to prevent, in 
particular, wandering toddlers getting squished.

Our community has a  proposed fence that would effectively seperate the parked 
cars and the community. Our car parks are spread along a driveway that runs 
down our west boundary -- along the long axis of the community. ( for a site 
plan see http://www.ecohousing.pl.net/design/plans/site.html )

Therefore the fence would come deep into the neighbourhood. It would be a long 
fence with several gates.

Couriers (deliveries) also use this part of the drive, and despite warnings 
even residents can be seen zooming along this driveway.

IMO our community is fairly divided on the matter. Some want the fence in 
deference to the needs of young families, because these are seen as, although a 
minority, a special needs group. The thought of even one roaming toddler coming 
to grief makes the fence justified. Making the day to day lives of parents 
easier will attract more parents and families, something which is seen as 
desireable.

Others, feel that a fence will intrude into daily life, be unaesthetic, impede 
access for those with impared mobility, and fail to give youngsters experience 
with car safety. This group would rather adopt a combination of measures such 
as speed bumps, signage, child boundary rules.

Have any other communities crossed this river?

--
Regards,

Peter Scott
Auckland New Zealand
PO Box 70049 Ranui
Tel 09 832 4004
Mob 025 624 0154

Earthsong Eco-Neighbourhood
http://www.ecohousing.pl.net


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