More hot air from northampton council hall
Discussion
A new approach to traffic management which would rely on psychology rather than speed humps and human instinct in place of speed cameras is the subject of a meeting taking place next week (TUE 22).
Northamptonshire County Council's environment & transport scrutiny committee has set up a sub-committee to look critically at this new approach, which has been called visual traffic calming.
The sub-committee was formed last year to examine new ways of managing traffic and reducing road casualties which focus on the physical and visual driving environment and how motorists react to their surroundings. Tuesday's meeting is the final in a series of meetings to examine the issue.
Councillor Ben Smith, chair of the sub-committee, said: "Highway design traditionally relies on signs, barriers, pavements and speed limits to control traffic. We're looking into whether those conventional methods could be replaced by designs that tap into the psychology of drivers.
"We're exploring how drivers react to their surroundings and whether changes in the physical environment would result in different behaviour by all road users."
Examples include textured road surfaces shared by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorists, the removal of street furniture and signs, the removal of white lines, or the creation of Home Zones that emphasise priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
Cllr Smith added: "The methods used might be quite different in urban and rural areas. We have examined urban examples such as Kensington High Street where enormous amounts of roadside clutter has been removed and rural examples such as the 'self-explaining roads' in villages in rural North Norfolk.
"We think these approaches do have some potential in this county. But users and stakeholders have told us that if schemes are to work, they must be based on the best available research, and be very well planned and built. Also, it is essential that local people support the schemes and are involved in their planning".
At its meeting next week, the sub-committee will receive a presentation from an expert from the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). This independent think-tank has conducted research into various traffic calming measures, including those with a psychological-visual basis.
The sub-committee will also investigate the idea of setting up a pilot scheme using the approaches outlined.
The meeting takes place at 1pm on Tuesday 22 February at the Volunteering Centre, St Giles Street, Northampton.
Members of the public who would like to attend the meeting or more information should contact Philip Gray at Northamptonshire County Council on 01604 237829 or email pgray@northamptonshire.gov.uk
Replies: Add/Read Comments
Needless to say the ncc web-site is under construction, and unable to accept postings on featured articles, as I wanted to remind them it was high time they lurched from one ideology to another,
Since last year, that they instigated a half cocked idea (20MPH limits) at Georges Ave, and their fondness for belt-brace traffic calming in cameras and lights on roundabouts
Northamptonshire County Council's environment & transport scrutiny committee has set up a sub-committee to look critically at this new approach, which has been called visual traffic calming.
The sub-committee was formed last year to examine new ways of managing traffic and reducing road casualties which focus on the physical and visual driving environment and how motorists react to their surroundings. Tuesday's meeting is the final in a series of meetings to examine the issue.
Councillor Ben Smith, chair of the sub-committee, said: "Highway design traditionally relies on signs, barriers, pavements and speed limits to control traffic. We're looking into whether those conventional methods could be replaced by designs that tap into the psychology of drivers.
"We're exploring how drivers react to their surroundings and whether changes in the physical environment would result in different behaviour by all road users."
Examples include textured road surfaces shared by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorists, the removal of street furniture and signs, the removal of white lines, or the creation of Home Zones that emphasise priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
Cllr Smith added: "The methods used might be quite different in urban and rural areas. We have examined urban examples such as Kensington High Street where enormous amounts of roadside clutter has been removed and rural examples such as the 'self-explaining roads' in villages in rural North Norfolk.
"We think these approaches do have some potential in this county. But users and stakeholders have told us that if schemes are to work, they must be based on the best available research, and be very well planned and built. Also, it is essential that local people support the schemes and are involved in their planning".
At its meeting next week, the sub-committee will receive a presentation from an expert from the Transport Research Laboratory (TRL). This independent think-tank has conducted research into various traffic calming measures, including those with a psychological-visual basis.
The sub-committee will also investigate the idea of setting up a pilot scheme using the approaches outlined.
The meeting takes place at 1pm on Tuesday 22 February at the Volunteering Centre, St Giles Street, Northampton.
Members of the public who would like to attend the meeting or more information should contact Philip Gray at Northamptonshire County Council on 01604 237829 or email pgray@northamptonshire.gov.uk
Replies: Add/Read Comments
Needless to say the ncc web-site is under construction, and unable to accept postings on featured articles, as I wanted to remind them it was high time they lurched from one ideology to another,
Since last year, that they instigated a half cocked idea (20MPH limits) at Georges Ave, and their fondness for belt-brace traffic calming in cameras and lights on roundabouts
the article reports the council's interpretation of the original concept which is to take place in the capital presently. My beef is with NCC and their aproach to traffic control in general, which to me seems to simply lurch from one quick fix to another.
Any visitor to Northamptonshire, using our roads, cannot fail but to notice, the many ways of dictating traffic flow, around the county. and this while a seemingly worthy idea, just seems to have been read in the 'Times' by some informed member of the council, and subsequently offered as a cure-all for
Northampton, I'd be interested to see the removal of either some speed camera's and/or signals as a reflection of this, the latest succes story
Phew thats better
Any visitor to Northamptonshire, using our roads, cannot fail but to notice, the many ways of dictating traffic flow, around the county. and this while a seemingly worthy idea, just seems to have been read in the 'Times' by some informed member of the council, and subsequently offered as a cure-all for
Northampton, I'd be interested to see the removal of either some speed camera's and/or signals as a reflection of this, the latest succes story
Phew thats better
I drove in to Northampton on Saturday using the Weedon road coming in from J16. Been a while Iv'e gone that way. Was most impressed at the number of lights signs and other things stuck in the ground next to the new crossing at Quinton House School.
Glad I no longer live in Northamptonshire as the I'd do me nut at the thought of my council tax being wasted on that little lot.
Glad I no longer live in Northamptonshire as the I'd do me nut at the thought of my council tax being wasted on that little lot.
liszt said:
I drove in to Northampton on Saturday using the Weedon road coming in from J16. Been a while Iv'e gone that way. Was most impressed at the number of lights signs and other things stuck in the ground next to the new crossing at Quinton House School.
Glad I no longer live in Northamptonshire as the I'd do me nut at the thought of my council tax being wasted on that little lot.
I have to drive through that everyday (see my thread: www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=159511&f=10&h=0 )
3 sets of lights within 300m, each with left and right filter lanes with their own sets of lights, plus a separate bus lane with its own lights! Driving through there can be a tad confusing on a dark night when it’s pissing down with rain. Maybe this is what NCC is talking about – they make road layouts so confusing that you have to slow down to figure out which lane you’re supposed to be in and which set of lights applies to it!
Textured road surfaces... Why not just take the roads away and we can all drive on dirt tracks, I'd calm the traffic and cost little to maintain.
Of course people will complain when everyone buys 4x4s to stop their suspention getting destroyed and people will get killed because its hard to stop on a loose surface but it must be safe because noone is speeding
Of course people will complain when everyone buys 4x4s to stop their suspention getting destroyed and people will get killed because its hard to stop on a loose surface but it must be safe because noone is speeding
rich 36 said:
Examples include textured road surfaces shared by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorists, the removal of street furniture and signs, the removal of white lines, or the creation of Home Zones that emphasise priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
"priority to pedestrians and cyclists?!? On a road?!?
Hmm, so that will mean that some smart-arse kids or drunks can wander in front of your car and you have to give way to them. If they then choose to stop in the road, or play football in the road, it is still their right of way.
WTF?!?!?
bearded cycling vegan numpty said:
Examples include textured road surfaces shared by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorists, the removal of street furniture and signs, the removal of white lines, or the creation of Home Zones that emphasise priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
rich 36 said:
Examples include textured road surfaces shared by pedestrians, cyclists, horse riders and motorists, the removal of street furniture and signs, the removal of white lines, or the creation of Home Zones that emphasise priority to pedestrians and cyclists.
I like the Home Zones idea, assuming it's applied to truly residential areas rather than through routes.
For example: I live in a cul-de-sac that's about 100 metres long, there's 14 houses, the majority of which have children under 5 y/o. Doesn't stop a couple of the neighbours from steaming in and out (quite legally of course) at 30mph, even though they've been asked by several people to drive more carefully. So far, the only casualty is one of the cats...
I'm pretty sure that a majority of the neighbours would be in favour of making the road a pedestrian-priority area.
TSS said:
I drove in to Northampton on Saturday using the Weedon road coming in from J16. Been a while Iv'e gone that way. Was most impressed at the number of lights signs and other things stuck in the ground next to the new crossing at Quinton House School.
Here's an example from a little further north.
Loads of pedestrian controls. I have never seen a pedestrian there though - except for me taking the photos or if there is some special event (with no traffic light controlled traffic flows) taking place.
One of the most dangerous "frequent" pieces of road design is ped. crossings just after a roundabout...on most current r-bouts, you can't see across...so you spot the crossing, and the lights, with <20yds to go.
WTF? And if someone is following too close behind you, they slam the anchors on, and all of a sudden, the roundabout (designed to ease the flow of traffic) comes to a halt with cars stuck on it!
Morons
WTF? And if someone is following too close behind you, they slam the anchors on, and all of a sudden, the roundabout (designed to ease the flow of traffic) comes to a halt with cars stuck on it!
Morons
Kids/pre-teenagers find pressing crossing buttons. a whole world of fun just waiting to be entered,see the angry motorists having to wait now,
I can see them now dawdling sulkily across un an un-marked road with that 'dare you run me down' expression on their pasty faces, and all helpfully subsidised by some panel of cranks, at county hall again..
I can see them now dawdling sulkily across un an un-marked road with that 'dare you run me down' expression on their pasty faces, and all helpfully subsidised by some panel of cranks, at county hall again..
Northampton also has the best smoothest cycle ways on Brackmills and Moulton Park industrial estates. I think I'll drive on those now, they're better than the road surface, and it will give the Scamera teams a real safety issue. And talking of Moulton Park, I'm so pleased they've blocked off the bus lay bye between the Lumbertubs pub and the Fire station, the buses now having to stop in the road now........
It seems to me as a motorist in 'scameraville'
that my prescence is not needed, or indeed.
but since my work mostly requires me to be on one of the industrial parks for my work, I shall have to drive, since the tram-way idea simply did'ent catch on
[developers office given in St Giles terrace] un-accountably locked, no answer on phone either]
I went to look at plans held at NBC's offices, which showed proposed line north, running below river bridge at Mill Lane despite present bridge being submerged at last flood, kept a copy of plan for souvenier.
that my prescence is not needed, or indeed.
but since my work mostly requires me to be on one of the industrial parks for my work, I shall have to drive, since the tram-way idea simply did'ent catch on
[developers office given in St Giles terrace] un-accountably locked, no answer on phone either]
I went to look at plans held at NBC's offices, which showed proposed line north, running below river bridge at Mill Lane despite present bridge being submerged at last flood, kept a copy of plan for souvenier.
NCC said:
"We think these approaches do have some potential in this county. But users and stakeholders have told us that if schemes are to work, they must be based on the best available research, and be very well planned and built. Also, it is essential that local people support the schemes and are involved in their planning".
Two points:
1) "Users and stakeholders" actually said something like, "you've got to work very hard to convince us that this sort of thing is any good at all"
2) Compare "...very well planned..." with "...local people.... involved in their planning". Is there a mismatch here?
2) Compare "...very well planned..." with "...local people.... involved in their planning". Is there a mismatch here?
I do'nt remember anybody, approaching me, clipboard in hand, asking what i thought about this,
does this happen just to other people, and if so how are they polled, its not a public meeting down the community hall, nor is it a doorstep questionaire.
The, "We know better than you"
having read about it in the 'grauniad' brigade, at work again methinks....
I do'nt remember anybody, approaching me, clipboard in hand, asking what i thought about this,
does this happen just to other people, and if so how are they polled, its not a public meeting down the community hall, nor is it a doorstep questionaire.
The, "We know better than you"
having read about it in the 'grauniad' brigade, at work again methinks....
Living in Lille, France, I was impressed, at least with the regularity/punctuallity, of their buses, and trams, apparent lack of signals, and nil camera's.
At a time in the 90's, when Northampton and GB in general, had apparently fallen head over heels, with its love of the bloody things
At a time in the 90's, when Northampton and GB in general, had apparently fallen head over heels, with its love of the bloody things
rich 36 said:
Living in Lille, France, I was impressed, at least with the regularity/punctuallity, of their buses, and trams, apparent lack of signals, and nil camera's.
Yes...I'd love some of those things the French do well....to be introduced over here...
I especially like the 'on the spot' speeding fines or risk the car being impounded...
Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff