Following our blog on crossing points on Lanark Road we've examined how the 'Spaces for People' or 'Travelling Safely' has affected junctions on the street.
Some in our community believe visibility around junctions may have deteriorated for pedestrians and drivers. This had led to some calling for the scheme to be removed. Below we provide our assessment and consider what was it like previously?
It's important to remember that the funding conditions meant changes were temporary. For example, there wasn't scope to add tactile paving or dropped kerbs.
Junction angles could be narrowed only using bollards, paint or both. A permanent design could build out pavements instead, add dropped kerbs, tactile paving or raise the pavement up to continue across junctions giving pedestrians priority.
There are about 15 junctions between Gillespie Crossroads and the Inglis Green Road junction.
Lets work our way down Lanark Road and do some before and afters.
Common Themes
- Some wide junctions, difficult for pedestrians to cross, have been narrowed by bollards or paint to slow drivers approach.
- Parking near corners is now restricted, improving sight lines.
- Similarly at bus stops, new parking restrictions keep bus stops clear of parked cars. This makes it easier for buses to approach at the correct angle, and improves boarding safety for passengers, especially disabled people.
- No tactile paving and only some dropped kerbs. No changes.
- Vehicles have priority at junctions, even quieter ones.
- Protected cycle lane allows drivers to creep further forward into the road safely.
- Advisory lanes crossing junctions leaves people on bikes vulnerable.
Findings
There are a variety of junctions along the length of Lanark Road. Vehicles have priority at all the junctions currently. Conditions varied before the changes - only some had dropped kerbs making it an inconsistent experience for pedestrians and none had any tactile paving making them hazardous for people with visual impairments.
Many of the junctions had wide angles allowing drivers to make turns at speed. Three are especially wide, making crossing daunting for anyone moving slowly across them. The scheme has attempted to narrow these ones to improve safety for pedestrians.
Previously the unrestricted parking affected almost all of the junctions - parked cars frequently blocked sight lines for drivers trying to join the main road and reduced pedestrians visibility. For anyone moving slowly this was a disconcerting experience. By
restricting parking, the scheme has greatly increased the visibility around the junctions for all road users - this is most welcome.
For people on bikes, parked cars used to force them into fast traffic, often at pinch points near the junctions. The protected sections of cycle lane improve this situation but at most of the junctions, the lane is still advisory. Paint offers no protection which discourages young people and inexperienced cyclists. Drivers are still prioritised at the junctions so people on bikes must be very careful when passing the junction entrances.
A good permanent design could address many of these issues and SW20 would like pedestrians and cyclists to be given priority at junctions, as illustrated below:
Schemes such as these work well in Glasgow and prioritise pedestrians and bikes:
- Pavement continues across junction at same level making it much easier for pedestrians, especially elderly people, disabled people and parents pushing buggies. It removes the need for dropped kerbs.
- Tactile paving would still be installed to warm people with visual impairments they are about to cross a junction.
- A kerb would separate the pavement and cycle lane allowing people with visual impairments to navigate properly.
- A kerb would separate the cycle lane and the road allowing a safe space for cyclists.
- Drivers must 'give way' before the pavement and cycle lane and could not proceed across them until safe to do so.
- Junctions angles are narrowed forcing drivers to slow to an appropriate speed before making their turns.
Conclusion:
The 'Spaces for People' changes have significantly improved safety for pedestrians, people on bikes and drivers at most junctions, especially through better visibility by removing all the unrestricted car parking. Reversing the changes would disadvantage the most vulnerable pedestrians, disabled people, and young families and prioritise drivers, inverting the travel hierarchy.
It's important to remember that the funding conditions meant changes were temporary. For example, there wasn't scope to add tactile paving or dropped kerbs. A permanent design would allow for pavements to be built out across junctions, prioritising pedestrians and people on bikes, slowing traffic, using more accessible features like dropped kerbs (for prams, wheelchairs or scooters) where necessary and tactile paving (for those with visual impairments). Good permanent designs would receive support from across the community and would benefit everyone.
Junctions Before and After
Spylaw Park Before
- Wide junction to cross.
- Unrestricted parking around corners.
- Wide angles permit higher speeds.
- Has dropped kerbs / no tactile paving.
Spylaw Park After
- Junction narrowed, but could be built out
- Parking prohibited on corners.
- Angles narrowed to slow drivers.
- Visibility improved.
- Has dropped kerbs / no tactile paving
Spylaw Bank Road Before
- Wide junction to cross.
- Unrestricted parking around corners.
- Wide angles permit higher speeds.
- Has dropped kerbs / no tactile paving.
Spylaw Bank Road After
- Junction narrowed.
- Parking prohibited on corners.
- Angles narrowed to slow drivers.
- Visibility improved.
- Has dropped kerbs / no tactile paving.
Hailes Gardens Before
- Blind corner.
- Two lanes traffic, 40mph
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Unrestricted parking.
- Painted thing to allow cars to creep out of junction a little bit.
Hailes Gardens After
- Blind corner.
- One lane of traffic, 30mph
- Parking restricted.
- Junction narrowed.
- Angles reduced to slow speeds.
- Floating parking bay might impede view of traffic coming around bend.
- Protected cycle lane allows drivers to creep further forward into road.
Hailes Park Before
- Two lanes fast moving traffic.
- Has dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Unrestricted parking allows sight lines to be blocked by parked cars
- Parked cars force cyclists out into fast traffic.
Hailes Park After
- One lane fast moving traffic.
- Parking restricted.
- Floating parking bay may impede view of traffic.
- Protected cycle lane allows drivers to creep further forward into road & protects cyclists.
Hailes Grove Before
- Two lanes fast moving traffic.
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Unrestricted parking allows sight lines & crossing point to be blocked by parked cars
- Parked cars force cyclists out into fast traffic at pinch point.
Hailes Grove After
- One lane fast moving traffic.
- Parking restricted.
- Visibility improved.
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Protected cycle lane allows drivers to creep further forward into road & protects cyclists.
- Bollards/cycle lane protect cyclist at pinch point
- No bollards in run up to bus stop meaning advisory lane offers cyclists no protection here.
- Restricted parking allows bus to pull into bus stop unimpeded at he correct angle, parallel to the pavement which is safer for people, especially with mobility needs for boarding.
- No junction narrowing.
Hailes Avenue Before
- Two lanes fast moving traffic.
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Unrestricted parking allows sight lines to be blocked by parked cars
- Parked cars force cyclists out into fast traffic
Hailes Avenue After
- One lane with traffic forced to slow by floating parking bay.
- Parking restricted.
- Visibility improved.
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Protected cycle lane allows drivers to creep further forward into road & protects cyclists.
- Floating parking bay offering great protection to cyclists from fast moving traffic.
- No junction narrowing.
Kingsknowe Road South Before
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Massive wide junction to cross.
- Drivers can take this turn at 30mph.
- Two lane fast flowing traffic.
- Unrestricted parking on main road.
- Really wide angles.
- Poor visibility if pulling out.
- Railings impede pedestrians.
- Very narrow pavement.
- #20 bus route
Kingsknowe Road South After
- Bollard placement has narrowed angle a bit
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Railings impede pedestrians.
- Very narrow pavement.
- Drivers can still turn too fast.
- Protected cycle lane allows drivers to creep further forward into road for better visibility.
- Still a dangerous junction for cyclists & pedestrians due to it's width and speed of drivers turning.
- Restricted parking on main road now,
Dovecot Park Before
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Wide junction angles.
- Two lane fast flowing traffic.
- Unrestricted parking.
- Poor visibility
- Parked cars block approach to bus stop.
- Bus will be at awkward angle making it difficult for passengers with mobility issues to be boarded safely.
Dovecot Park After
- No dropped kerbs/tactile paving.
- Restricted parking.
- Improved visibility.
- Bus can now approach stop at correct angle making it safer for passengers.
- Advisory cycle lane offers cyclists no protection.
- Floating parking bay slows traffic.
- Wide angle allows turns at speed.
- Floating parking protects cyclists as they approach junction.
- Cycle lane allows drivers to creep out into road for improved visibility.
Kingsknowe Park Before
- Wide junction angles.
- Two lane fast flowing traffic.
- Unrestricted parking.
- Poor visibility
- Dropped kerb to allow cars access to park.
- No tactile paving.
- Dropped/crushed kerb in wrong place outside flats.
- Cars parked in bus stop opposite
Kingsknowe Park After
- Restricted parking.
- Improved visibility at junction & crossing.
- Cycle lane allows drivers to creep out into road for improved visibility.
- Bollards & floating parking protect cyclists
- Floating parking helps slow traffic coming down the road, although this may move to the other side.
- No tactile paving and not very good dropped kerbs.
Kingsknowe Drive Before
- Wide junction angles.
- Two lane fast flowing traffic.
- Unrestricted parking.
- Poor visibility
- Dropped kerbs
- No tactile paving.
- Cyclists forced out past parked cars into fast moving traffic.
Kingsknowe Drive After
- Restricted parking.
- Improved visibility at junction.
- Cycle lane allows drivers to creep out into road for improved visibility.
- Protected cycle lane approaching junction aids cyclists.
- Bollards narrow junction a little to reduce turn speeds.
- Dropped kerbs.
- No tactile paving.
Dovecot Grove Before
- Wide junction angles.
- Two lane fast flowing traffic.
- Unrestricted parking.
- Poor visibility
- Has dropped kerbs
- No tactile paving.
- Cyclists forced out past parked cars into fast moving traffic at pinch point.
- Wide junction to cross.
Dovecot Grove After
- Restricted parking.
- Improved visibility at junction.
- Floating parking slows traffic approaching crossing point.
- Cycle lane allows drivers to creep out into road for improved visibility.
- Advisory cycle lane approaching junction leaves cyclists vulnerable.
- Dropped kerbs.
- No tactile paving.
- Junction angles still very wide and permits drivers to corner at speed.
Arnott Gardens Before
- Wide junction angles.
- Two lane fast flowing traffic.
- Unrestricted parking.
- Poor visibility
- Has dropped kerbs
- No tactile paving.
Arnott Gardens After
- Wide junction angles.
- One lane fast flowing traffic.
- Parking restricted.
- Improved visibility
- Has dropped kerbs
- No tactile paving.
- Bollards protect cycle lane approaching the junction and after it.
- Cycle lane allows drivers to creep out into road for improved visibility.
Redhall View Before
- Wide junction angles.
- Two lane fast flowing traffic.
- Restricted parking.
- Visibility ok
- Has dropped kerbs
- No tactile paving.
- Wide junction to cross.
Redhall View After
- Wide junction angles.
- One lane fast flowing traffic.
- Parking restricted.
- Improved visibility
- Has dropped kerbs
- Bollards protect cycle lane approaching the junction and after it.
- Cycle lane allows drivers to creep out into road for improved visibility.
- Floating parking helps calm traffic.
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