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| Will bumpouts increase traffic on side streets? |
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I'm posting this study on Mark Elwood's behalf .. at a recent meeting at High Park Library, some residents worried that the proposed bumpouts would force traffic from Roncesvalles onto residential side streets.
Mark Ellwood made the point that even though it seems self-evident that the fallout will inevitably include more traffic on side streets, in fact the research suggests that it ain't necessarily so. Mark promised to get back to us with a study he'd read about a phenomenon known as "disappearing traffic". Here's the link .. and an explainer from Mark:
The British study is called Disappearing Traffic? The story so far.
http://www.cts.ucl.ac.uk/tsu/disapp.pdf
The research examined over 70 case studies of roadspace reallocation from eleven countries, and the collation of opinions from over 200 transport professionals worldwide. It concluded:
"Overall, all follow-up work has broadly confirmed the findings of the original study. When pedestrianisation schemes or wider pavements or cycle lanes or bus (and other priority vehicle) lanes or road closures are introduced, pre-scheme predictions of what will happen are usually excessively pessimistic. In practice, it is rare that schemes result in a significant deterioration of traffic conditions. Traffic levels can reduce by significant amounts, with the average being that perhaps 11% of the traffic on the treated road or area cannot be found in the area afterwards. However, all schemes are different, and each will need to be considered according to its own circumstances."
The paper also suggested some recommendations for managing how the changes are perceived by the public:
a) Get schemes right at the beginning, and ensure that all the details are implemented correctly.
b) Monitor all issues of controversy, so that critics can be met with facts and ensure that facts are readily available as soon as possible.
c) Use the press and the public consultation work to emphasise that there are likely to be initial problems.
d) Implement controversial schemes in stages, try to influence any potential side-effects so that they are positive rather than negative, and ensure that the benefits from each stage are obvious.
Mark Ellwood
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| Re: Will bumpouts increase traffic on side streets? |
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If traffic really disappears, do retail customers disappear too? The result of the bump out has to be one of three things 1. more congestion on the street or 2. more traffic on residential side streets or 3. less people visiting the area. Is being able to step from curb to streetcar really that important? |
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| Re: Will bumpouts increase traffic on side streets? |
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In fact, there's no evidence that any of those three conclusions are true. As for building the curb closer to the streetcar, this will become even more important as the TTC moves to its new low-floor streetcars. The TTC wants to make service more accessible for the elderly and people in wheelchairs.
Also, the bumpouts are about much more than simply boarding the streetcar. They are a chance to expand pedestrian space .. and to make that space more attractive, by adding street furniture and trees. So rather than reducing the number of retail customers, it's likely to draw people who might otherwise go elsewhere to shop. |
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| Re: Will bumpouts increase traffic on side streets? |
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The study you posted indicated that traffic decreases by 11% which would mean 11% less people coming into the area. Roncesvales counts on outside traffic due to our restricted residential area (train tracks, lake and Dundas street). I do not think it is worth the risk for retailers to lose 11% of their business. If the city wants to accomodate handicapped people, the simplest solution is buses not spending millions on new streetcars, new tracks and new sidewalks. There is no reason we cannot have proper trees and benches with our current sidewalk width. Please, I beg people to think of the small retail shops, huge costs and the problems that we already have with parking.
BTW if we are ripping everythig up are we planning on burying the hydro poles? |
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| Re: Will bumpouts increase traffic on side streets? |
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The traffic decreases of 11% are more than likely made up of people who use the Street currently as a through fair to get somewhere else. In other words, the people who never had any intentions of shopping on the street in the first place, and only drive through to get somewhere else. With all the benefits of wider sidewalks, (larger patio's, more tree's, etc.), this can only increase the business for retailers. If you think about it, the very first people who will stop using Roncesvalles are the people who only benefit from it as a route of transportation. I think the loss of those people, and the affect of their acknowledgement of the improvements as a contribution to the 'word of mouth' about the area, will be a minor loss, considering those who come specifically to enjoy the street and all its business will shoulder the lions share of responsability for passing that word along.
This plan, in my oppinion, is great, and can only help the small business in the long term. So long as they can deal with the slow down 'during construction' , its the 'price of fame'. However, the residential community west of Roncesvalles should definately consider that it is very likely they will experience more traffic. If sunnyside doesn't have speed bumps, (and I can't believe I'm saying this since I hate speed bumps), then they should get the ball rolling on requesting them from the city, if they are to maintain their current peacefull traffic conditions. Commuters are probably like animals, so beat them to the punch so they don't become 'habituated to that street" as an alternative.
Also, burying the hydro lines would be fantastic, but I think it requires cooperation from Ontario Hydro. I don't think the city or community residences can coerce them to invest the funds. Think of it this way... At least we're not contributing to a justification for them to raise hydro rates.
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