Workshop 2: Changing existing streetscapes to encourage active travel and so meet National Performance Framework (NPF) objectives

21st August 2009 Edinburgh

This workshop was facilitated by Tom Rye from TRI and Keith Gowenlock from WSP and aimed to identify the links between Active Travel (AT), the built environment and NPF objectives, how existing streetscapes encourage/discourage AT and the barriers to changing existing streetscapes to facilitate AT, and how these can be overcome. The workshop consisted of presentations from Tom Rye, Keith Gowenlock and Andy Cameron (WSP), a site visit to a nearby street and discussion facilitated through the use of electronic voting software.

Tom Rye presented an overview of what is meant by AT, the current situation regarding walking and cycling in the UK and Europe, what kind of environment encourages AT and how the NPF and its strategic objectives link to this topic. This gave rise to some discussion regarding cultural differences, as allocation of road space is often based on historical policy decisions which may be affected by cultural differences. It was felt that it is often forgotten, whilst discussing best practice examples in other European countries, that schemes such as widespread cycle networks were controversial at their time of inception and that such countries still face opposition from pro-car lobbies in promoting AT. The UK therefore need not see its situation or culture as so different to other countries that have successfully integrated AT into the urban environment. It was also suggested that as well as a cultural difference at a political level, there may differences in expectations or realisation of need among UK cyclists and pedestrians. A practitioner shared with the group that his experience was that councils had difficulty in spending money allocated for infrastructure changes arising from school travel plans as feedback from these plans requested little or no changes. Pedestrians and cyclists are therefore not always aware of the dangers of their current environment and as such infrastructure changes may sometimes have to be “forced” on areas. 

Andy Cameron gave a presentation on changing existing streetscapes in which he argued the importance of designing communities within the AT concept. He gave the example of an out of town residential area with spacious pathways for pedestrians and cyclists to use but no shops or places to actively travel to and the perception of lack of safety at night. This was compared to Dunkeld High Street as an example of an integrated street. There was some discussion regarding the advantages and disadvantages of integrated streets. It was felt that often when the streetscape was improved for AT, legislation dictated an increase in signage and lighting which was unnecessary but born out of an unfounded fear of councils being sued if there was any resulting increase in accidents.

Keith Gowenlock gave a brief presentation on the cost of retrofit schemes, emerging Scotland and UK policy and aspects of design. Participants were asked to use the voting software to indicate what they believed to be the key barriers to implementation of changing streetscapes in favour of AT. They selected the availability of funding, raising awareness/image of AT and risk aversion as the most important barriers.

Following a site visit to a local street (Bruntsfield Place) participants used the voting software to rate the quality of design of a given junction from the perspective of: pedestrians with limited mobility, cyclists, car drivers and PT operators. Overall, the junction was viewed as least favourable for cyclists due to lack of understanding as to how a cyclist is supposed to act at the junction; and most favourable for PT operators. Discussion ensued on how to improve the site for AT whilst keeping a favourable situation for bus operators.

The workshop concluded with a summing up of the key barriers to changing existing streetscapes in favour of AT and suggestions on how to overcome them:

Lack of available funding:
-    Funding for AT should come from a number of sources such as health, regeneration, transport, climate change.
-    Funding for transport should be ring fenced.
-    Continue to expand CWSS/SCSP.
-    Step back from major projects and integrate AT into smaller ones – the cost/benefit ratio of AT schemes is very competitive.
-    Re-use/adapt existing space such as unused pavements.
-    Consider the full life cost/maintenance/use of materials of a project.

Lack of awareness/negative image of the public:
-    Sell AT on a personal level – what kind of environment do you want to leave for your grandchildren?
-    Better understanding/research into the motivations and perceptions of the non-walking public.
-    Improve signage to show distance in time (not miles).
-    Get media on board.
-    Strategic communications campaign.

Lack of awareness/importance of key players:
-    Sell AT to politicians.
-    Change/update key policy documents.
-    Government to give guidance to include AT measures in single outcome agreements of every authority so they can be unified.
-    Benchmarking to compare with others.
-    Consultation should be clear, thorough and act on results.
-    More research focused on delivering things on the ground
-    Creation of multi-disciplinary working groups/project teams to bridge the gap between theory and those working on the ground.
-    Bring AT to the attention of planners and other officials at every meeting and opportunity.
-    Provide off the shelf, affordable training for existing engineers
-    Get engineers to actually walk and cycle in the environment they are designing.
-    Give media training to key experts.
-    Have a better understanding of risk aversion, get practitioners – especially designers - to look at existing streets more holistically.

Download workshop presentations:

• CLICK HERE to download: "Changing Existing Streetscapes (1)"
  - Andrew Cameron, WSP Development & Transportation
• CLICK HERE to download: "Changing Existing Streetscapes (2)"
  - Keith Gowenlock, WSP Development & Transportation
• CLICK HERE to download: "Changing Existing Streetscapes (3)"
  - WSP Development & Transportation