Adrian Bell ([log in to unmask] ), a Transport for London
pedestrian planner, presented statistics at the Walk21 conference in
Toronto this week showing that shoppers who arrive by foot spend more
money on average each week than those who drive (pedestrians spend
less each trip, but make more trips each week).
Best wishes,
-Todd Litman
At 05:51 AM 10/1/2007, [log in to unmask] wrote:
>On Behalf Of Steve Melia
>
>Does anyone know of any studies (preferably UK-based) which throw any
>light on the relationship between traffic volumes and the vitality of
>retail activities along high streets?
>
>I am involved in a fascinating behind-the-scenes struggle over the design
>of a high street in a New Urbanist style suburban extension. The
>developers and the more senior officers want a 'traditional' high street
>with up to 8 lanes of traffic (including 2 bus lanes and 2 parking lanes),
>no cycle route and no 20mph limit (the 'design speed' of this straight 8
>lane road is allegedly 20mph, rendering a speed limit unnecessary). The
>projected traffic volumes are currently 15,000 vehicles per day.
>
>Some of the more junior officers with a higher level of environmental
>awareness, disagree, and are trying behind the scenes to change this. It
>would be possible to route the through traffic elsewhere. The developers
>oppose argue that high volumes of through traffic are necessary to support
>the retail activities along the planned high street. I have some evidence
>on the pedestrianisation of UK cities but nothing directly about any
>relationship between volumes of through traffic and retail spend or rental
>levels.
>
>The lead officer of the highway authority, who was apparently involved in
>the development of Manual for Streets, opposes any cycle route on "shared
>space" grounds. I find this particularly interesting, as I have recently
>returned from a study tour of the Netherlands, including Drachten where
>Shared Space began. Shared space there is combined with a coherent
>network of separate cycle routes which would put any British town of that
>size to shame. I have written an article following that journey, with
>particular emphasis on different concepts of 'permeability', which should
>be appearing in (probably the next edition of) Town and Country Planning,
>for anyone who is interested.
>
>Regards
>
>Steve Melia
>
>
>
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Sincerely,
Todd Alexander Litman
Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)
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Phone & Fax 250-360-1560
1250 Rudlin Street, Victoria, BC, V8V 3R7, CANADA
"Efficiency - Equity - Clarity"
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