Phil Jones, Managing Director, Phil Jones Associates: Local Transport Note on Shared Streets (LTN 1/11): a critical review

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RUDI – 3rd Annual Sharing the Streets ConferenceBetter Streets – What Really Works?

So..what do we know about Shared Space?

Phil Jones

I think about Shared Space?


What is Shared Space?

LTN 1/11

Sharing: The ability and willingness of pedestrians, facilitated by the sympathetic behaviour of motorists and others, to move freely around the street and use parts of it that, in a more conventional layout, would be considered largely dedicated to vehicular use.

In the UK, it is usually applied to links and minor junctions with the aim of allowing pedestrians to move more freely within the space.

Er…is that it?


With less or no traffic management, or clear indication of priority, motorists are encouraged to recognise the space as being different from a typical road and to react by driving more slowly and responding directly to the behaviour of other users (including other motorists) rather than predominantly to the traffic management features.

What is Shared Space?

Manual for Streets 2


Increasingly shared

Decreasingly segregated

Guardrails Conventional

kerbs, different materials

Level Surface, Minimal/No delineation

Low kerbs,

common material

Increasingly cooperative

When does a spaceWhen does a space

become shared?become shared?


Business as usual


Re-balancing – “fair shares”


Shared Space - Link


Shared Space -

Junction


When does a spaceWhen does a space

become shared?become shared?


LTN 1/11


What are the benefits?

There is sufficient evidence to suggest that well-designed schemes in appropriate settings can bring benefits in terms of visual amenity, economic performance and perceptions of personal safety.

MVA – Appraisal of Shared Space, for DfT (2009)


DfT - Mixed Priority Route

Demonstration Project – 2003 to 2008

• 10 Demonstration sites across England

• Busy high streets with problems

• Tackled through urban-design led,

consultative approach

• Several schemes include ‘Shared Space’

elements

• Significant safety, environmental and economic benefits


Newlands Avenue, Hull



Speed, before and after


• Maximum traffic speeds reduced significantly, but

• Peak journey times reduced or stayed constant

• Accidents reduced

• Air quality improved

• Economic performance improved

Newland Avenue - Outcomes


Julian Road, Bath – Before9 Accidents in 3 years


Julian Road, Bath – AfterNo Accidents in 3 years


“This Local Transport Note (LTN) is mainly

concerned with the use of shared space on

links.”

So let’s talk about links...


What do we know about...Links?

Reducing the degree of segregation between users

produces slower traffic, more pedestrians using whole of

the space – MVA Research.

But...

Getting drivers to cede to pedestrians on links is difficult


At low vehicle flows, it doesn’t matter...Milsom Street, Bath

Clip by John Emslie


At high vehicle flows, it’s not so easy...

Blackpool Promenade


At high vehicle flows, it’s not so easy...

Blackpool Promenade


And if the scheme looks pretty conventional...

City Beach, Southend



Perhaps a few signs

will help...

Er, maybe...


MVA research for DfT - % vehicles giving way


High Street, Shrewsbury






Bury St Edmunds







Hennef, Germany


Bern, Switzerland


And if no (or as well as?) median...

LTN 1/11

crossings!


Rotorua, New Zealand


Ashford


Felixstowe


And what do we know about...Junctions?

• Queues and delays can reduce when controls are removed/reduced

• Drivers are more willing to cede priority at junctions

But:

• Junctions without any traffic rules are very difficult to model.


Seven Dials, London


Drachten, Netherlands


Poynton, Cheshire


Poynton




Waterloo Road, Blackpool



Bexleyheath



Conclusions

�Shared Space schemes in the UK are generally working well, and

�Can be applied to both links and busy junctions

�Which have different characteristics and requirements

�In many cases, some form of median or crossing will be needed if we want drivers to cede priority

�More research needed on linkage between behaviour and environment

[email protected]

Twitter.com/Phil_PJA

0121 222 5422

Phil Jones, Managing Director, Phil Jones Associates: Local Transport Note on Shared Streets (LTN 1/11): a critical review

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