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The furore in the cabbies' case was mainly aimed at the introduction of these schemes without consultation. Obviously, they'll also be unhappy about what exactly has been done, but this was ostensibly about procedure. Highway authorities have every right to introduce traffic orders, and wide leeway as to what they can contain, but it has to be said, and I say this as a supporter of modal filtering, that many of the schemes are terrible and not on the right principles. The Greenwich one is a rare example of a well-conceived scheme, but most contain the usual problems with filtering--filtering on the edges of cells, making cells too large, leaving loops, failing to filter cells properly, etc. Also, some of the measures aimed at widening footways essentially created conditions comparable to ones you find at roadworks, which are known to be more hazardous than ordinary conditions, and generally prevented people from crossing the street.
Anyway, I didn't expect this case to go the cabbies' way, and I was surprised when the first judgement did, but it's certainly not the last word on this.
Oliver Schick-
Thanks Oliver, I appreciate the info. I don't really know about it other than my observations from local schemes so every little bit helps.
There was a modal filtering point introduced to South Row in Blackheath village last year. The end of the street blocked off to cars was/is an accident hotspot. Several fatalities and quite a few more serious accidents involving pedestrians and cyclists. As a local I thought it looked like a sensible change. The backlash it generated was huge. Initially the council stuck to their guns but got sick of having to replace the planters every day as angry locals dragged them out of the way. Would be interested to understand why the locals seemed so opposed that particular scheme.
Edit: Maybe it was more of a case of being poorly implemented https://853.london/2020/06/19/south-row-blackheath-walking-and-cycling-scheme-suspended-after-drivers-ignore-signs/
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most contain the usual problems with filtering--filtering on the edges of cells, making cells too large
Interesting you mention this, the proposed Bruce Grove LTN has filters on the edge of cells and some large cells.
What is the downside of filtering on the edge of cells? It seems much more intuitive than filters in the middle of cells.
Stonehedge
aggi
I just don't get the Streestspace furore. At least in my immediate local area. We've had quite a few road changes off the back of it in Greenwich. I spent a bit of time talking to people protesting against it but after a while it became obvious, at least with the schemes very local to me, that most of the objections were based on absolutely nothing.
For example, they have blocked off about four roads leading to Royal Hill to reduce rat running. In the immediate aftermath local residents were screaming about lost trade to local businesses, difficulties of access for the disabled etc. This is bollocks. You can still drive to literally everywhere, you just can't drive down certain roads to get to where you want to go. There are still accessible parking spaces in front of all the shops. Everybody can still go where they want to go. They just might have a detour of a few hundred meters to do it. The biggest difference I can see is that there is no longer a steady stream of vans and cars driving above the speed limit on relatively narrow residential streets and bombing through recreation spaces.
Interestingly the local businesses in these areas seem to be in support of the changes as they realise that not much has really changed in terms of footfall and accessibility to their shops. It only seems to be wealthy locals who can no longer drive the 500m directly to little timmy's primary school without joining a main road who seem to be losing their shit.