This paper examines the traffic flows within a provincial town in Northern Ireland with a population of approximately 20,000 people. The aim of the paper is to ascertain: (i) the increase in traffic flow caused by the `school run'; (ii) the main modes of travel to school; and (iii) the reasons for the choice of mode. Comparisons are made between traffic flows during the school term and the holiday period. This was carried out after the New Year vacation when the children were returning to school. The staggered return of the two major secondary schools in question enabled the researchers to study the effect of a stepped increase as these were all observed over the survey period. Additional information was collected using questionnaires, travel surveys and traffic flow surveys. Finally the paper concludes by outlining a number of traffic management suggestions which could possibly reduce the congestion and help remove the pedestrian/traffic conflict.
Abstract