some vague thoughts on improving roads
While competing with dangerous roads (and poorly planned urban roads) in Cheshire yesterday I finally listed out 11 of the ideas I think would improve this country's transport infrastructure. Most would not have affected yesterday's walk. Note that I have done no research around this recently, so there are no references, and very little in the way of detail. These are just broad ideas.
1. FUNDING ALTERNATIVES TO PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLES
1a. More and better footways. I would also add better management - often footways end then swap sides without warning, frequently where there is poor or no visibility of oncoming traffic. Likewise, while roadworks are often well signed, and often days in advance, blockages of footways frequently pop up without warning, and sometimes without any alternative route offered where that would be necessary.
1c. Improve and extend public transport by rail, tram, underground, bus/guided bus and water. And, crucially, try to ensure its accessibility to those with disabilities.
1d. More pedestrianisation, including 'people-friendly' streets that are closed to traffic at certain times of day. Give people safe places to walk and meet. I did briefly search for something about shared/community streets where traffic might be allowed in low volumes at low speeds alongside other uses, since I have a vague memory of reading about such a thing. I could not find anything, but consider that an option too.
2. SHIFTING TRAFFIC OFF ROADS
2a. More freight on rail and water. Enough said. While I know that road transport provides greater control over times of despatch/receipt of goods to businesses, and greater flexibility about where they can be, it amazes that a whole network of rails has been removed from Trafford Park here in Manchester.
2b. More homeworking where possible. Slightly tangentially I also believe we need shorter working weeks, but even with all the measures I suggest, that may mean more traffic. If more people work four (or even three) days a week, some businesses may need to employ more people, who then need to get to and from work. And with longer weekends more people may spend more time travelling. I mention this partly to show that transport is a complex system with multiple relationships to other complex systems, all of which will affect each other to a greater or lesser extent. More obviously connected (see also point 3c below) a greater flexibility about start and finish times may help ease rush hour congestion.
3. TACKLING ANTISOCIAL/DANGEROUS ROAD BEHAVIOUR
3a. More effort to prevent parking on pavements. Personally I favour an outright ban, and in places the use of systems like the proposed 'catclaw' (spikes that are only exposed when a weight like a car presses down on the material surrounding them). But I recognise that given the lack of parking space for many houses and apartments, including new-builds, the swollen size of cars now, and the overcrowding, expense, and frequent absence of public transport options that may not always be possible.
3b. Lower speed limits everywhere except motorways. I would propose 20 mph (since this country apparently insists on using old-fashioned measurements) in most places, and 30 mph in a handful of other places where pedestrians are excluded. I find it ridiculous that narrow, winding country roads with poor visibility have 40 or 50 mph speed limits.
3c. This will not be popular, but I would like to see regular (perhaps five-yearly), mandatory retests for all drivers. If you fail or do not take the test then you lose your licence until you do pass. Both driver training and the test should place a much greater emphasis on respect for other road users and their safety. There are obvious administrative and cost burdens attached to this, but while our roads remain so busy it is necessary. Even as a pedestrian following the rules of the road I have nearly been taken out on several occasions by dangerous drivers, especially at rush hours or when traffic is otherwise busy. See also my point at 2b above regarding flexible start and finish times for work to ease rush hour congestion.
3d. This will also be unpopular, but I strongly believe cars today are too large, and too detached from the world outside. Without making them noisy and cold I'd like to see both their size and that sense of detachment from the world outside reduced. A reduction in size is obviously easier to achieve than the more nebulous reduction in sense of detachment, but may go partway to achieving that goal. Though when I say 'easier', I'm aware that easy is a relative term here.
3e. Halt road widening and straightening, and where it has been done (and in other places, where necessary) introduce visual obstacles such as trees to encourage drivers to slow down. Widening and straightening, due to induced demand, often does not help ease congestion in the way it is hoped. The new space fills up, and you have the same bottleneck as before. Only now there are more cars going faster than before.
I am sure there are other, better, and more radical ideas out there. Two things I have avoided here are mention of higher taxes, and heavier penalties for drivers. I think they are of limited use, and risk alienating people. Which is especially problematic since my suggestions already increase the chance of drivers being penalised. Better, I think, to improve the physical environment, and to address people's attitudes.
1. FUNDING ALTERNATIVES TO PRIVATE MOTOR VEHICLES
1a. More and better footways. I would also add better management - often footways end then swap sides without warning, frequently where there is poor or no visibility of oncoming traffic. Likewise, while roadworks are often well signed, and often days in advance, blockages of footways frequently pop up without warning, and sometimes without any alternative route offered where that would be necessary.
1b. Many more, much longer, joined-up, better, and properly segregated cycleways and bridleways. Speaks for itself - make cycling safe. I mention bridleways specifically since while they may be less numerous and evenly spread, horse riders deserve safe passage as much as pedestrians and cyclists.
1c. Improve and extend public transport by rail, tram, underground, bus/guided bus and water. And, crucially, try to ensure its accessibility to those with disabilities.
1d. More pedestrianisation, including 'people-friendly' streets that are closed to traffic at certain times of day. Give people safe places to walk and meet. I did briefly search for something about shared/community streets where traffic might be allowed in low volumes at low speeds alongside other uses, since I have a vague memory of reading about such a thing. I could not find anything, but consider that an option too.
2. SHIFTING TRAFFIC OFF ROADS
2a. More freight on rail and water. Enough said. While I know that road transport provides greater control over times of despatch/receipt of goods to businesses, and greater flexibility about where they can be, it amazes that a whole network of rails has been removed from Trafford Park here in Manchester.
2b. More homeworking where possible. Slightly tangentially I also believe we need shorter working weeks, but even with all the measures I suggest, that may mean more traffic. If more people work four (or even three) days a week, some businesses may need to employ more people, who then need to get to and from work. And with longer weekends more people may spend more time travelling. I mention this partly to show that transport is a complex system with multiple relationships to other complex systems, all of which will affect each other to a greater or lesser extent. More obviously connected (see also point 3c below) a greater flexibility about start and finish times may help ease rush hour congestion.
3. TACKLING ANTISOCIAL/DANGEROUS ROAD BEHAVIOUR
3a. More effort to prevent parking on pavements. Personally I favour an outright ban, and in places the use of systems like the proposed 'catclaw' (spikes that are only exposed when a weight like a car presses down on the material surrounding them). But I recognise that given the lack of parking space for many houses and apartments, including new-builds, the swollen size of cars now, and the overcrowding, expense, and frequent absence of public transport options that may not always be possible.
3b. Lower speed limits everywhere except motorways. I would propose 20 mph (since this country apparently insists on using old-fashioned measurements) in most places, and 30 mph in a handful of other places where pedestrians are excluded. I find it ridiculous that narrow, winding country roads with poor visibility have 40 or 50 mph speed limits.
3c. This will not be popular, but I would like to see regular (perhaps five-yearly), mandatory retests for all drivers. If you fail or do not take the test then you lose your licence until you do pass. Both driver training and the test should place a much greater emphasis on respect for other road users and their safety. There are obvious administrative and cost burdens attached to this, but while our roads remain so busy it is necessary. Even as a pedestrian following the rules of the road I have nearly been taken out on several occasions by dangerous drivers, especially at rush hours or when traffic is otherwise busy. See also my point at 2b above regarding flexible start and finish times for work to ease rush hour congestion.
3d. This will also be unpopular, but I strongly believe cars today are too large, and too detached from the world outside. Without making them noisy and cold I'd like to see both their size and that sense of detachment from the world outside reduced. A reduction in size is obviously easier to achieve than the more nebulous reduction in sense of detachment, but may go partway to achieving that goal. Though when I say 'easier', I'm aware that easy is a relative term here.
3e. Halt road widening and straightening, and where it has been done (and in other places, where necessary) introduce visual obstacles such as trees to encourage drivers to slow down. Widening and straightening, due to induced demand, often does not help ease congestion in the way it is hoped. The new space fills up, and you have the same bottleneck as before. Only now there are more cars going faster than before.
I am sure there are other, better, and more radical ideas out there. Two things I have avoided here are mention of higher taxes, and heavier penalties for drivers. I think they are of limited use, and risk alienating people. Which is especially problematic since my suggestions already increase the chance of drivers being penalised. Better, I think, to improve the physical environment, and to address people's attitudes.
If investment and the relative importance afforded to the various modes from most important to least can be thought of at present as roads, rail and public transport, and cyclists and pedestrians, then the summary of my ideas would be to reverse that. And at the same time to introduce through physical infrastructure, education and training, and some 'penalties' (the idea of a regular retest), a greater awareness and culture of safety and respect for others.
Please do let me have your feedback.
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