SPACE SHARING. A STUDY OF BUS AND PEDESTRIAN SHARED SHOPPING STREETS IN EIGHT BRITISH TOWNS

The aim of this study was to develop a model capable of estimating, for any given street, acceptable thresholds (in terms of pedestrian perception and behaviour) of vehicles and pedestrian mixing, taking account of pedestrian and vehicle numbers together with the physical characteristics of the street. The first stage of the study, concentrating on bus and pedestrian streets, is reported here. Model construction was based on data collected from a series of case studies of bus and pedestrian streets. These were carried out between October 1987 and August 1989 in Birmingham, Croydon,Halifax, Middleton (Greater Manchester), Newcastle, Paisley, Sheffield and Slough. It is concluded that vehicle numbers and vehicle speeds are two of the most important factors affecting the successful operation of bus and pedestrian streets. Where vehicles numbers are unavoidably high, street design should include generous pedestrian crossing facilities. Where vehicles commonly travel faster than about 15 kilometers per hour, speed reducing measures such as chicanes, surface changes and ramps should be introduced. People's concern about exhaust fumes suggests that operators should pay attention to vehicle maintenance, while moves towards light rail or other electric vehicles would be appropriate. Perceptions of a lack of room in bus and pedestrian streets indicate that space freed by the removal of ordinary traffic should, in part, be reallocated to pedestrians. (TRRL)