Harringay, Haringey - So Good they Spelt it Twice!
Disappearing Traffic
Thanks to Grant for pointing me towards a seam of research about 'Disappearing Traffic'. This research which has been gathering pace since 1994 strongly suggests that when major town centre schemes drastically reduce the capacity of roads to carry traffic, at least 25% of that traffic disappears completely. This is thought to be mainly due to behaviour change.
The authors of a follow-up paper to the original study (copy attached) presented at the Institution of Civil Engineers conclude:
There are reports of short-term ‘traffic chaos’: where congestion was previously bad, it often stays bad; and there can be increasing problems on particular local streets. However, wide- spread, long-term disruption is hardly ever reported.
To date, the research work has only identified two schemes that have been withdrawn.
The survey of professional opinion confirms this experience. Over 90% of respondents knew of a roadspace reallocation scheme which had ‘apparently’ or ‘definitely’ been implemented ‘without causing any significant problems for general traffic’. However, less than a quarter had heard of a scheme that had apparently led to long-term traffic problems, and only 7% were definite that there were such cases.
This morning two people have reported something like this phenomenon in Harringay. A swallow does not a summer make and it's far too early for us to even start pointing to any outcome of the Wightman Road closure, but it's interesting food for thought.
Tags for Forum Posts: traffic, wightman bridge, wightman bridge closure
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Disappearing_traffic.pdf, 678 KB
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by PhoebeMac on
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It was really noticeable this morning around 8:45 that northbound Green Lanes was very clear. Southbound was bumper to bumper though all the way up to Turnpike Lane and beyond.
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Google Maps has a function in the traffic settings where current traffic can be compared to 'typical' traffic. Congestion seems slightly better in some places and slightly worse in others, but (so far) not the gridlock disaster predicted by some.
To be fair the southbound morning traffic normally is bumper to bumper approaching Turnpike Lane!
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Thanks for this Hugh. For those not inclined to read lengthy academic pdfs, the wikipedia page is here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearing_traffic
A slightly longer piece on the same subject by a local(ish) academic is here:
http://rachelaldred.org/writing/thoughts/disappearing-traffic/
Specific to cycle provision, but similar results have been noted by the Mayor of London with schemes that have reallocated road space to cycling: 'Vauxhall, has already shown huge increases in cycling, and - now the builders are out - none of the traffic disaster effects predicted by so many. In Walthamstow, opponents forecast gridlock on the main roads around the Village, and annihilation for the shops inside it. That hasn’t happened either. Bus journey times along Hoe Street are the same as they were. New shops have sprung up. One of the main opponents of the Walthamstow scheme has applied to open a pavement café.' (full report here: https://www.london.gov.uk/sites/default/files/human_streets_0.pdf)
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Permalink Reply by Peter Chalk on
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#makeitpermanent I am definitely walking and cycling more. Feeling healthier. Hearing birds sing!
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Permalink Reply by John McMullan on
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What is it with the birdsong? Were they really drowned out by the traffic before?
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Coincidentally, this is the begining of the bird mating season so yes birds are more vocal right now. Lovely.............
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Green Lanes was definitely much better this morning at 7.30am than it was yesterday. Long may it continue!
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I mentioned on another thread, I can't remember where, that I'd be surprised if the traffic on Green Lanes increased by more than about 20% or so whilst the bridge works are going on ( as opposed to the 75% or so to pick up the traffic from Wightman)
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Permalink Reply by Hugh on
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Yes I think that was some of the driving logic behind not keeping part of Wightman open. If it was kept partly open traffic would more likely still be attracted to the area to make use of that part. IN addition to clogging the Ladder it would very probably have clogged Green Lanes. As it is the Wightman traffic is more widely dispersed across other roads in the area.
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...and this is in the context of a long-term decline in traffic numbers on Green Lanes (~16% reduction since 2000 according to DfT traffic counts)
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The top and bottom of the ladder saw a 33% increase in population between the 2001 and 2011 censuses...
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