A picture of an electric car wire stretched across a pavement has sparked a fierce debate online about public spaces being utilised for personal use. The photo posted on Twitter shows the cable lying across the pavement between a house and the charging point of a car. A cover is placed on top of the wire as a safety measure.
Above the image the user wrote: "I’m not sure why we allow this in Wandsworth - it’s not what we want pavements to be used for. It’s the public space being dominated for personal use." She suggested the owner would be better off using a dedicated charging point.
The post gained more than 490 likes and 250 comments as Twitter users debated the image. Reaction to the post appears to be mixed, with some describing it as a trip hazard, while others assert the method is better than using petrol. What are your thoughts? Tell us in the comments here.
Read more: Newspaper accuses Wales of spoiling countryside with wind farms to spite the English
One Twitter user wrote: "Don’t think I agree… (1) electric is a step forward even if it doesn’t solve all problems - until better charging solutions are built, this is better than diesel and (2) when I park my bike on the pavement, I’m using public space for my personal use."
Robert Johnson agreed: "One of the better ones I've seen. The reality is with the uptake of electric cars this will need a proper council-led solution." Another said: "Happens where I live too. But tbf the owner has put out a covering, plus the state of pavements here generally has more trip hazards than a few cables."
Similarly, another user wrote: "At least they put a mat out. Until it is easier for people to charge their cars at home who have no driveway — seems fair. What's the issue?" Natasha Loder said: "For the short term it’s useful to encourage electric car ownership which has benefits for lungs. But it is a trip hazard so not a good long term solution."
Lindsay Stirton wrote: "My only problem is that the mat is not wide enough to cover the cable for the whole width of the pavement. The house occupier – car owner tried to do the right thing, i.e. make his use of the pavement not an inconvenience or hazard to others."
Meanwhile Anna Cassar said: "This is also in my street...I did trip on it to begin with, and I have good eyesight and walking gait. Now I make sure to look out for it." Mark McBride-Wright replied: "It’s something the council needs to get ahead of and start investing in more electric charge points on the street. I saw a lamppost...have a charge point integrated into it. Thought that was a clever idea to stop cables across the street."
Natasha Steer added: "It’s worth noting in this discussion that it is generally cheaper to charge at home than at points in other public spaces. Electric companies provide cheap overnight tariffs as well. So there’s also little financial incentive to charge elsewhere."
READ NEXT:
- People stunned as Welsh river turns bright orange
- The multi-million-pound work that will transform Porthcawl’s seafront this summer with new restaurants, shops and play area
- Farmer blasts 'idiots' after seeing lamb 'savaged' in attack
- If you have these in your house you could have a major problem
- Train passengers between Cardiff and Newport face disruption for over a week due to fire on railway track
Find out about traffic and travel issues where you live:
