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Here's what I consider a poorly thought-out modal filtering scheme, in Hammersmith and Fulham (although in principle I support the attempt, I think it will cause knock-on problems):
https://lbhf.citizenspace.com/tts/harwoodarea/
The impetus behind it is completely understandable--you can easily see by looking at a map how it would be used as a rat-run, probably (I don't know the area well) used by drivers avoiding Wandsworth Bridge Road. 400 vehicles an hour on a residential street is extreme--the peak must be in rush hour traffic, but it may be more constant throughout the day for all I know.
So, it's good the council wants to do something about it, but as ever you have to filter a traffic cell completely, not go about it by partial measures. There's evidently no political will to filter the whole cell (which is very large and features numerous large trip generators like hotels, a lot of bad development around Chelsea Harbour with lots of car parking garages, etc.), so that there will continue to be a lot of through motor traffic via Chelsea Harbour and, as the article mentions, Bagley's Lane. In the area, you see the typical signs of various isolated filters being installed in partial response to existing rat-runs, e.g. in Bagley's Lane outside the Queen Elizabeth. I'm sure that one would have brought some relief when it was installed, but today, with sat nav systems available, I'm sure more drivers than before are finding their rat-running way via streets like Broughton Road or Broughton Road Approach towards Pearscroft Road and Bagley's Lane, and numerous other possibilities, as nothing is filtered completely.
I read about it in this article:
I can't find anything about the 'SW6 traffic campaign' and so don't know what their aims are.
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Feel like 'zero emission street' is some buzzy marketing concept. Will be interesting to see what effect this will have on the road itself and the surrounding roads also.
https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/dec/17/london-to-get-uks-first-zero-emission-street
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A somewhat disappointing article in the guardian today - especially in its use of the term "traffic":
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/11/how-london-got-rid-of-private-cars-and-grew-more-congested-than-everMakes me think - what books or substantial definitive sources are available for an average person to understand "traffic" (meaning people movement) in an urban context, its complex linkages to trip generation, trip making, mode choice, road danger, public realm, and more modern terms like traffic evaporation. If you've got any suggestions for a reading list let me know
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I've been writing one for a while ... but yes, it's not easy, especially if you want to avoid constant number-crunching, and to explain it from scratch. ETA probably sometime in the next millennium. :)
But the main reason why there continue to be problems (London is known to have been congested in Roman times, it's not new) is because it has become increasingly over-centralised, e.g. with all those new tower blocks. There are other trends, e.g. the stay-at-home trend, but they're not enough to offset the process of over-centralisation and, of course, the tremendous increase in population. With an increase in population, in theory local areas should be revived because of higher density and people should be able to live closer to where they work, study, shop, etc. However, that always runs up against bad planning, bad transport planning, and bad development, all of which London has in jolly abundance.
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Oh, and on this ...
For McNamara, there is a clear class dimension to the debate: “The myth of the anti-car lobby is that it’s someone in a Rolls-Royce flicking cigar ash out of the window at the cyclists. It’s the working class that are driving the commercial vehicles in central London, and they are being forced out by the wealthy inner-London elite, who can afford to live in Islington and want to ride their bike to St Pancras.
... see:
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Hah that's an entertaining cartoon. Good luck with the book Oliver! Let us know if you need it peer reviewed!
You raise some interesting points - and I don't think there are (m)any quick solutions. For me, it'll be interesting to follow how the city of london continue to put in place better measures for walking and cyling and restricting motorised journeys, and to see how or if "liveable" neighbourhoods spread across London - assuming they are delivered as low (motorised) traffic neighbourhoods. But still a long way to go, and centralisation is unlikely to be unpicked anytime soon.
I'm going to get hold of Carlton Reid's Roads were not built for cars, and maybe I'll learn something
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Interesting figures regarding segregated cycle lanes in London since 2016
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Long overdue and somewhat out of its time, but still good:
Edit: Actually, I should have put that in the 20mph thread.
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Hah that's an entertaining cartoon. Good luck with the book Oliver! Let us know if you need it peer reviewed!
Cheers. It's still some time away, but I'll bear that in mind!
You raise some interesting points - and I don't think there are (m)any quick solutions. For me, it'll be interesting to follow how the city of london continue to put in place better measures for walking and cyling and restricting motorised journeys, and to see how or if "liveable" neighbourhoods spread across London - assuming they are delivered as low (motorised) traffic neighbourhoods. But still a long way to go, and centralisation is unlikely to be unpicked anytime soon.
For certain. The mindset of 'more centralisation means a stronger economy' (when really all it creates is more imbalances, just now as we're living through a process that's quite similar to the 'first industrial revolution' (centralising production processes, creating very/even more uneven land values, without an increase in productivity) is very hard to shift.
I'm going to get hold of Carlton Reid's Roads were not built for cars, and maybe I'll learn something
I'm sure you will. It doesn't say very much about the topic at hand, but it's an excellent book all the same. (I pointed out the cartoon to Carlton when the book was already written.)
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After halting the Rotherhithe / Canary Wharf bridge idea, they are now investigating a ferry: https://tfl-newsroom.prgloo.com/news/tfl-press-release-tfl-embarks-on-design-work-for-green-turn-up-and-go-ferry-service-between-rotherhithe-and-canary-wharf
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Through my letterbox this morning:
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The back
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Surprised not to see any mention here of the 'temporary' changes going on.
E.g. park lane cycle lane, closing exits before oval on the A3 to remove left-hook risk, etc.
Wonder how much of the changes we will get to keep long term.
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Had a go on the Park Lane track, it's going to be two way but seems a far superior route than the Broadwalk and mostly on proper tarmac, so @Howard should be pleased!
It basically completes a loop all the way around the park with a total of three traffic lights I think, If Regent's park isn't doing it for you and you're looking for laps then get down there while it's still tourist free...
The light segregation on Goods way is welcome as the Westbound route was a favourite car park for contractors working in the development, though the Camden Council branded van will be put out by their master's handiwork...
Islington have managed to paint "oxo" repeatedly in a vain hope that will make the awful route up Thornhill better.
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@Backstop Any ideas on how to encourage Islington Council to install modal filters and other interventions are welcome - I'm contacting councillors and officers, am hopefuly, but not for anything in the short term. oxo.
@inappropriate_bike, there's a few folks tracking changes - probably more non-London interventions, but here is a list of sources:
Google Sheets
A google sheet has been set up by advocacy groups which lists interventions being made -- sometimes with an local authority link, or a twitter post:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hSEchdxQ7X2bdPD8NBJva0-fLRSjAOCedMXtAhBJk3o/edit#gid=0
There is a column for whether a Traffic Order has been used, but we cannot rely on this information.Cycling UK
Cycling UK has created a map attempting to capture changes made across the UK:
https://www.cyclinguk.org/covid-19-safe-space-social-distancingSustrans
Sustrans has set up their “Space To Move” initiative, and allowing members of the public to capture views on interventions once implemented, to support ongoing discussions with local authorities:
https://www.sustrans.org.uk/space-to-move/Tactical Space, from The Future Fox
https://tactical.space/Cycle streets
An image library is being added to with photos of various infrastructure, including covid-19 measures:
https://www.cyclestreets.net/photomap/road/#4/56.02/-25.75 -
Islington council talk a good game but actually doing anything seems beyond them.
I've spoken to the councillors on their rounds ore election and written to them and largely received platitudes and promises.
At there recent council meeting they spoke of low traffic neighbourhoods, quite what that means is undecided.
If ever there was a time to action something on Theobald's road this should be it. But again the inertia seems so strong I won't hold my breath.
It strongly appears the political base they covet are car owners and no parking space shall perish.
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Any truth to this? Seems pretty big.
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@Chak My understanding is that it is happening but lets wait and see for the quality.
@Backstop more good words here: https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/coronavirus-islington-set-for-low-traffic-neighbourhoods-1-6667067
Thats probably what youre talking about - a fee too many coulds and maybes! But it seems like now is the time to push for this. Im happy to hear plans for low traffic neighbourhoods, rather than liveable neighbourhoods - I've always found that last term a little too intangible.
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Centralised discussion space for TfL plans and cycling in London
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@skydancer
Swiss Cottage is in Camden and the actual borough are quite keen to do something about it. It was only because it was bolted onto the doomed CS11 project that it didn't go ahead. No idea about current timescales though.