Traffic Management was first introduced widely in the United Kingdom in the 1960's, as a means of improving the flow of motor vehicles. Often this resulted in considerable damage to the environment and created problems for other road users, especially the more vulnerable such as pedestrians and cyclists. Despite some efforts to redress the situation by means of selective traffic management to assist specific road users, the management and control of most general purpose urban roads is still designed around the needs of motor vehicles. Other road users are then allocated any facilities that may remain. These problems are clearly seen in many parts of London where there are few purpose built roads for motor traffic. Case studies are given for two roads in West London; A4 Cromwell Road, a radial route into Central London carrying very high flows of traffic from the M4, and A315 Kensington High Street, a less heavily used radial route through a very busy shopping centre. In both locations, the existing road layouts, evolved for moving vehicles, do not operate smoothly or safely because of the conflicts with pedestrians, stationary vehicles and turning vehicles. The proposed major revisions to traffic will reduce friction (and hence safety) by allocating the available space more effectively between the competing road users, enabling Urban Traffic Control to be used more effectively. The optimum balance achieved will be very different in each case, reflecting the differing balance of road user requirements. Restricting the changes to traffic management and control measures will:- (i) Be practical and cost effective; (ii) Provide accident remedial treatment on substantial lengths of road; (iii) Make full use of Urban Traffic Control; and (iv) Assist public transport operation.
Abstract