Transport for London’s first Walking Action Plan, supported by Public Health England (PHE) and launched last month maps out a vision to make London the most walkable city in the world, with a million extra walking trips each day by 2024.
Pedestrians using signalised crossings at five locations in London are soon set to be given priority over motor vehicles. As part of this five further locations are set to use the green man authority signalling technique – where a green signal is displayed continuously for those on foot, until traffic is detected - by next spring, which is mentioned in Transport for London’s walking action plan that launched on Thursday. Green man authority has only previously been used in the capital on bus only streets in Hounslow and Morden.
The locations are on Railway Approach next to London Bridge Street, beside The Shard; on Queen Victoria Street by Distaff Lane, to the north of the Millennium Bridge; and at a trio of sites around Endeavour Square in Stratford.
Transport for London says it will also identify more signalised crossings where pedestrian wait times can be reduced. Last year it reduced wait times at 200 crossings, where the vast majority are now said to run a cycle time of less than one minute. This means that a pedestrian arriving at a crossing just as a red signal appears only has to wait for around 40 seconds before being permitted to cross.
Lilli Matson, Director of Transport Strategy said: “London’s first walking action plan along with our commitment to deliver healthy streets will encourage even more Londoners of all ages and backgrounds to make walking their first choice for short trips.”
News of the change of priority at five signalised crossings in London was welcomed by Susan Claris FCIHT, Associate Director, Arup who describes herself as the passionate pedestrian.
She said: “It is fantastic that London now has a walking action plan with 21 actions designed to make London the world’s most walkable city. Improving crossings by using the green man authority is an important step forward – shifting priority to those on foot. Vehicle traffic has dominated our towns and cities for too long and it is time to refocus on active travel and shine a light on walking, recognising the many benefits that this brings to people and to the city.”
♦ Lower speed limits are set to be introduced on key central London streets under a new ‘Vision Zero’ road safety action plan launched by the Mayor Sadiq Khan, Transport for London and the Metropolitan Police Service this week.
The plans will see 20mph become the new general speed limit on all TfL roads within the Congestion Charging Zone by 2020 – as well as other high risk locations – in an effort to protect vulnerable road users.
The Vision Zero approach aims to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on London's roads by 2041, and will also see the transformation of dangerous junctions, tough safety standards for the design of heavy goods vehicles and a comprehensive bus safety programme, which includes speed limiting technology.
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