This paper discusses the environmental impact of motor vehicles and the issues/conflicts that can arise in attempting to reduce that impact. It is based on work carried out in connection with a traffic study of the Bayswater area of West London. The primary objective of that study was to develop traffic management schemes to reduce the levels of through traffic and generally upgrade the quality of the environment by reducing the impact of motor vehicles on it. Local residents, businesses, and interest groups were consulted at the outset of the study to assist in identifying the key issues to be addressed and were further consulted on the draft traffic management schemes proposed by the consultants. The paper is mainly concerned with the issues identified, with particular emphasis on the resident's perception of the issues, and the problems and further issues that were generated by the schemes put forward. It is seen that residents appeared most concerned with specific types of traffic rather than overall traffic levels. The proposals put forward to meet the objectives of the study, including road closures, traffic calming devices, and environmental treatments, highlighted a number of issues and potential conflicts that can arise in this situation. Problems in this case particularly concerned the impact of displaced traffic on adjacent roads, and the trade-off between environmental improvement and the resident's desire for ease of access and for convenient and plentiful parking.
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