Outline Introduction The starting point Basic principles - - PDF document

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Outline Introduction The starting point Basic principles - - PDF document

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Changing needs in Urban Traffic Rob Methorst Chair COST 358 Pedestrians Quality Needs Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation 27th of October 2011 27th of October 2011 Outline Introduction The starting point

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27th of October 2011 27th of October 2011

Changing needs in Urban Traffic

Rob Methorst

Chair COST 358 Pedestrians’ Quality Needs

Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation Rijkswaterstaat Changing needs in Urban Traffic

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27th of October 2011

Outline

  • Introduction
  • The starting point
  • Basic principles
  • Analysis

– Facts – Changes – Context

  • Solutions
  • Key messages
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Rijkswaterstaat

Introduction

  • Vitality of the city depends on the pedestrian
  • Car-dependency becomes a burden
  • Sustainability of current urban systems questionable
  • Need for Plan B

Changing needs in Urban Traffic

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27th of October 2011 Rijkswaterstaat Changing needs in Urban Traffic

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27th of October 2011

Starting point [1]

  • Walking is basic, natural mode

– Everyone is a pedestrian – Even today substantial shares, in time spent, nr. of trips, distances covered

  • Relatively little research on walking
  • COST 358 Pedestrians’ Quality Needs
  • OECD/ITF Working Group Pedestrian Safety, Urban Space and Health
  • Walking is the glue of the transport system (Sauter, Risser)
  • Urban traffic:

It’s not rocket science, it’s much more complicated!

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Starting point [2]

Governmental tasks regarding Walking: ‘Taking care of the pedestrians is managing everyday life’s commonplace events, is having an interest for and being sensitive to the unseen. No glory nor glamour. It is all about discretion, and is nevertheless our life’s foundation’ [Wiedmer-Dozzio – City of Genève CH]

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Basic principles [1]

  • 2. Design for All / Universal design / Inclusive Design

– Usable by as many people as possible regardless of age, ability or situation. – A broad-spectrum solution that helps everyone, not just people with disabilities. – Recognise the importance of the look and appeal to a wide range of potential users. Children, elderly, handicapped Undergo extreme risks Highly capable, risk taking, agressive drivers Set high risks Number of people Task competence Normal task competence, normal risks

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Basic principles [2]

  • 1. Start with the pedestrian

− Key element in the system − Needs, Abilities and Opportunities as starting point societal developments Behaviour Needs (N) Opportunities (O) Abilities (A) OS MP BC

E n v i r

  • n

m e n t E n v i r

  • n

m e n t

Social environ- ment Trans- portation Physical environ- ment Road user Rijkswaterstaat Changing needs in Urban Traffic

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Basic principles [3]

  • 3. Comprehensive analysis

− Quest for true figures; question official statistics − Cover all elements, relations and intervention options

  • 4. Cascade principle

– On all levels, the context sets the stage for activities, so intervene on the highest possible level.

The Fundament focus on: Policy Preconditions Lifestyle - Strategic level focus on: Travel Preconditions Tactical level focus on: Latent problem causes Operational level Focus on: traffic behaviour

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Analysis – Facts [1]

  • Needs relate to Ability groups and Opportunities

i.e. children, elderly, limited mobility, shoppers, …

  • Planes of behaviour:

Lifestyle > Strategic > Tactical > Operational

  • Comprehensive analysis:

Need to uncover (partially) hidden matters

  • Population segmentation re. abilities and
  • pportunities

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Analysis – Facts [2]

  • Mobility

– Walking: Access and Sub-access mode (mono – multi modal walking) – Inequality: 50% of people do not have choice to go by car – Elderly: essential trips = services/health, social, exercise; proximity

requirement

  • Sojourning – an objective in itself
  • Safety and security – biased image:

– dominant accident type: falls (4–9 x more victims than traffic accident) – Elderly: at risk, not risky; extremely risk sensitive

  • Satisfaction – gap in knowledge
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Analysis – Expected changes [1]

Major trends are:

  • Ageing of the population:

– More people with limited mobility – Work force: insufficient capacity services and support – Fragility severity of injuries increase; longer recovery periods – More people with free time difficult for authorities… – Higher expectations regarding free time and recreation

  • Increasing car dependency:

– Inequality of access

  • Increasing car and HGV traffic:

– Increased crossing risk

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Analysis – Expected changes [2]

Major trends are (continued):

  • Climate change:

– Suppressed mobility, risk of falls, risk in emergencies

  • Increasing raw materials prices:

– Affordability of transport

  • Call for healthier lifestyles

– Affordability of health care

  • Government will lose power and influence:

– Related to ageing of population and decreasing workforce – Less tax income, more expenditure (cf. road maintenance, health care) – Lower investment budgets

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Analysis – Context and preconditions [1]

  • Public opinion:

– walking is a choice; not a problem, as there are good alternatives

  • Knowledge:

– Walking receives little scientific attention; this is shifting, however. – Low data availability (no potency in arguments); data often severely biased – Absent or inadequate on work floor level

  • Willingness to intervene and improve:

– No strong Walking Advocacy as negotiator – Stakeholders without power have most to lose – Little economic drive: no financial interest; low cost facilities

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Analysis – Context and preconditions [2]

  • Walking is a solution to many urgent problems

– Lack of space, Health, Environment, Raw materials shortage, Security,…

  • Substantial system benefits of walking:

– need to be highlighted and made compelling – cf. WHO HEAT Tool for assessing financial benefits

  • The benefits (individuals, private bodies)

do not go to the payer (government)

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Solutions [1]

  • Apply Cascade principle
  • 1. Pre-conditional measures

– Organise building of awareness of (economic and social) benefits

  • f walking and sojourning

– Data collection and data management – Monitoring and evaluation of policy implementation – Knowledge management and research planning; education of practitioners – Issue National guidelines, Policy papers and ‘carrots’

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Solutions [2]

  • 2. Strategic activity level measures

– Enforcement of proximity of services in Land Use – Improved connectivity, accessibility, conspicuousness and information – Promotion of awareness of attractiveness and true opportunities – Road classification: separation traffic flow – sojourning – Organisation of falls prevention training

  • 3. Tactical activity level measures

– Route guidance – Supply (attractive) shortcuts – Improve network safety

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Solutions [3]

  • 4. Operational activity level measures

– Forgiving pavements and roadsides – Safe crossing facilities – Improved convenience, conspicuousness and comfort of walking facilities – Systematic maintenance, removing obstacles and cleaning;

  • rganise winter maintenance

– Control of absence of obstacles in pedestrian space – Permit policy for works in progress: free and safe walking – Monitor and evaluate usability of public space

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Recommendations

Target on independent mobility of the elderly; tackle car dependency Invest in positive awareness building: we can solve the matter Evolving communities necessitate comprehensive studies:

  • Rule: Garbage in – garbage out
  • Quest for the unseen
  • Undetected problems are expensive

Apply the Cascade principle: ad-hoc approaches waste money

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Thank you!

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Colophon

Author:

Rob Methorst – Chair COST 358 Pedestrians’ Quality Needs

Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment Rijkswaterstaat Centre for Transport and Navigation PO Box 5044 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands

E-mail:

rob.methorst@rws.nl

Telephone:

+ 31 88 7982 453

Websites:

www.walkeurope.org