| Topic: | Re:Terrific new proposal for the High Street | |
| Posted by: | David Irwin | |
| Date/Time: | 01/02/13 16:34:00 |
| Yes, this is David Irwin, the author of the proposal. I have read the thread and would like to point out that the purpose of the scheme is NOT to reduce the volume of traffic but to improve the environment for pedestrians by adjusting the proportion of available space between all users. This is made clear in section 5 on my proposal. Further, the proposal does not seek to improve air quality, although it would be nice if it did. This will require additional measures which are not included in the proposal. As to the concerns expressed by cyclists I do admit that the proposal has nothing to offer. However, if you consider that the High Street functions as a local shopping centre (not just a through route for vehicles) and that 57% of people who shop arrive by foot, there is merit in terms of numbers in utilising the very little space for the benefit of pedestrians rather than cyclists. Moreover, the additional space for pedestrians can also be utilised for moveable planters, bringing some greenery to the High Street. Were this space to be allocated as cycle lanes this would not be possible. Passage of emergency vehicles is not as frequent as some might suggest and I believe that it is perfectly feasible for traffic to move into the margins on either side to allow them to pass. I very doubt that this will involve pedestrians getting run over since vehicle drivers will execute this manoeuvre with care, and in any event the extremely loud sirens of emergency vehicles will alert all concerned. I imagine that some people will resist my suggestion, for whatever reason, but would ask them to consider then what can be done ? The majority (69%) of pedestrian questioned during our survey revealed that they were not satisfied with the environment of the High Street and a significant proportion of them mentioned a traffic related reason. Innovative solutions have been tried elsewhere and it is disheartening to read some of the negative comments posted to this site. The proposal could be tested at very little cost by merely painting white lines on the road and installing planters at intervals. The latter could be funded by sponsors, such as local businesses who stand to gain. If it doesn’t work OK – it was worth a try. If it does work the remainder of the proposal could be implemented over time when funds become available. |