In the second in our series on driving schemes, we look at roads where pedestrians have vehicles share the same space. Could it work in your town?
What's the big idea?
Shared Space is a concept pioneered by the Dutch traffic management expert Hans Monderman (now deceased). Monderman's idea was that the excess of visual stimuli that drivers have to contend with was hindering, not helping, safe driving. Without all the signage telling you what to do where, drivers have to read the road ahead and become more responsive.
Shared Space was first trialled in the Dutch village of Makkingen in 1998. A larger scheme was installed in the town of Drachten in 2003. Traffic lights and signage were removed. A major junction, which once had lights on each exit, and pedestrian crossings over each branch, was cleared of all its markings. And pavements were lowered to the same level as the road surface. Drivers entering the junction must negotiate with one another, and pedestrians, in order to clear the junction.
Surprisingly the scheme has been an almost unqualified success. Drachten now has a better traffic flow, and accidents have fallen from eight per year to a statistical zero.
The success of the Drachten scheme has led to similar developments elsewhere in the world, including Australia and Germany.
In Britain the first small-scale Shared Space scheme opened in Brighton in 2007. New Road is a popular entertainment destination lined with bars and theatres, opposite the city's historic Royal Pavilion.
Brighton and Hove City Council resurfaced the entire street (pavement and roadway) with block paving, so that pedestrians and vehicles were on the same level. Only a slight gradation of stone, and the position of street furniture, gives a visual clue as to where pavement ends and street begins.
The Brighton scheme has resulted in significantly lower volumes of motorised traffic (93 per cent down), travelling at lower speeds - an average 10 mph - and a corresponding rise in cycle traffic (a 93 per cent increase). Pedestrian traffic has increased by 162 per cent.
Similar schemes have also been introduced in central London (Kensington High Street and Seven Dials, Covent Garden) and a more comprehensive scheme is being built in Ravenswood near Ipswich.
Arguments for
Better traffic flow. The removal of traffic lights allows traffic to flow more freely. That means less pollution and shorter journey times. It also saves councils money on the maintenance of expensive traffic control systems.
Reduced accidents. When cars approach junctions, they do so at lower speeds. Drivers, disorientated by the lack of signage, have to concentrate more carefully on the roads. Better concentration equals better safety.
Aesthetics. City centres have become cluttered with ugly signs, red routes, yellow lines, pedestrian crossings and traffic light pillars. Shared Space removes most of these unnecessary visual distractions, allowing for pleasant landscaping. In Drachten, for instance, the roundabout has been replaced with decorative fountains.
Not nannying. Drivers are sick and tired of taxes, regulations and signs telling them what to do. Shared Space is an antidote to the nanny state approach to driving. It recognises drivers' intelligence and allows them, not the traffic lights, to make the decision of when to enter the junction.
Arguments against
Stealth pedestrianisation. Brighton cabbies will tell you that increased pedestrian use on New Road is nothing to do with the Shared Space concept. They argue that most private drivers don't realise that they can drive down the road, because it looks so much like a pedestrian zone. Certainly taxis and commercial vehicles greatly outnumber private cars.
Disabled pedestrians. Groups campaigning on behalf of the deaf, blind and other pedestrians with disabilities have criticised shared space schemes. Assistance dogs are trained to recognise raised kerbs and barriers. Pelican crossings are easily identifiable to blind people because of bumps in the paved surface. Removing these visual and tactile aids are a step backwards in provision for people with disabilities.
Idiots. Shared Space schemes rely on the intelligence and goodwill of the law-abiding majority. But there is no compensating for idiots. There is a small percentage of drivers who view the absence of signage as an invitation to drive as recklessly as they like.
Increased familiarity. Critics argue that Shared Space schemes only work because of their novelty. Drivers used to familiar signage are caught unawares and have to use their wits. But if Shared Space schemes became the norm, drivers would get used to them and pay less attention.
Related links
Smart idea? Have your say...
Is Shared Space common sense, or a recipe for disaster? Would you feel safe crossing the road in Drachten? As a driver, have you encountered Shared Space schemes? Share your thoughts with us below.
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wow, some really negative responses here, to what is a very successful scheme across much of europe. 1. It does work, there are numerous schemes where a harmony between vehicles and pedestrians has been reached resulting in a more vibrant public space. 2. [preparing to be slated on this one] Should the vast majority of people have to forgo the opportunity to enjoy some of the most exciting public spaces for the needs of the disabled minority. I fully understand the needs of those who require the assistance of guide dogs and variation of the street surface to get around. However, would it not be better to develop some kind of technology to assist these people than just rejecting the idea of the shared surface?
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we have a shared space in Ashford, kent and it is downright stupidity!!!!! it is SOOO dangerous. I think whoever thought of this, needs to rethink it! I beleive there is a petition in Ashford to get this sorted out, its bad for children, adults and disabled people. Lets just say... NOOOOO!!!!
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I am Registered Blind and these Shared Pavement schemes are an accident waiting to happen for those with sensory impairments. It's bad enough that some drivers park their cars on pavements with no thought for pedestrians. With the prospect of traffic being all around you whilst actually having to walk "on the road" it is impossible to define where the sounds of the engines are coming from. I would feel completely unsafe if there was a shared pavement arrangement in my area. Once again the disabled are forgotten.
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Funnily enough I was on tghis very road just the other day and, as is typical with taxi's, they roar down here like they're at Brans Hatch or something with absolutely NO regard for pedestrians. I think I have very nearly been run over every time I have walked down this street when I have been in Brighton. I hate to think how dangerous it is for the elderly, blind or disabled! The cars have ALL the other roads why not just ban them from this bit?!
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In response to andyrixon a few posts above, where are the disabled supposed to find the money to buy the technology you speak of?! Even the simplest of independent living aids cost multiple amounts more than the 'normal' version available to the non-disabled. For example a talking microwave oven costs hundreds of pounds, yet for less that thirty pounds you can buy one for "Sightlings" ;-). The disabled do not get these items for free, we have to buy them. Also, if you suddenly woke up to discover you have lost your sight, as what happened to me five years ago, would you still think that the vast majority of non impaired people had priority over yourself? We wish to enjoy "Exciting public places" too, but EVERYONE has the right to enjoy these places safely. No-one has any idea what will happen to them tomorrow. You could find yourself disabled in a split second, then what would you think of disabled people and the technology you assume is simple to aquire?!
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This works in places like Holland with a non-sociopathic community but England/uk has problems with the psyche of a high poercentage of its under 40's - the group who drink themselves silly on a regular basis despite liberalised drinks laws, and those who claim not to understand the concept of Zebra Crossings especially if without a central refuge and those who ignore pedestrian light controlled crossings and those who park on double yellow lines and block someones droipped curb into their parking pad and so ad infinitum. Mumel
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I have never seen anything so stupid in all my life. It may have the potential to work, however, we are conditioned to look for signs and markings whenever we negotiate traffic. What happens when people enter an area such as this will be of general panic as there is no defined rules as to who can go where. Here is another question, say you are in this shared space and doing what you believe to be correct, and let's face it, with no signs it is anyones guess as to who is correct anyway, and someone bumps into your car. What would the insurance companies do? "So Mr Smith, can you just explain again, you were in the left lane about to transition to the right to make a right turn"............... "No I don't think you understand Mr Insurer, there are NO LANES, rules etc"............
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OK so we removed the signs (apparently a visual distraction) bt instead we have infinite mess, not only do u look out for other cars, u have to look out for people. Now with no rules everyone would think they can go first and it would cause more accidents this way. Then it's really dangerous to drive when there are drunk ppl about WITH traffic lights, imagine without... Then there are small children which makes it easy not to notice from the height of a car. Imagine a very crowded (with ppl) street, how many times do u bump into other ppl and other ppl into u? imagine what it would be like if the cars were in the mixture...stepping on someone's toe would take another meaning... Essentially not having separation would make an improvement to pedestrians, not cars, having this freedom would make ppl careless 'I go where I want and I don't care' bt for cars it would be hell. As a driver u still have a responsibility to not run over ppl, bt what if some pedestrian walks up in ur path out of nowhere? In an overcrowded place, cars would have their progress reduced to a snail's pace. Think of crowded places WITH traffic lights how many times ppl jump out onto the street eventhough it's a red light? Also at a pedestrian crossing near a school, for example, u would end up waiting for at least 10 mins before all the pedestrians cross. Now imagine WITHOUT a pedestrian crossing!
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Not so long ago, I was sitting in New Road, Brighton when a toddler ran out in front of a taxi which was preceeding down the street at some speed. His father had not been watching him, understandably unaware that cars could use the road. Fortunately, I spotted the little boy, was able to dash forward and hold up my hand to halt the taxi dead in its tracks in the nick of time. Without my prompt action the child would have been seriously injured.
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We have been doing it for years the pavements are full of cars and bikes, but they don't like sharing the road, especialy taxi drivers - who think they own them. Idiots!!
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