Background – designing active travel
Project Centre worked with the London Borough of Waltham Forest to deliver the award-winning London mini-Holland scheme. This active travel scheme increased sustainable mobility across one of the most car dependent London boroughs.
From encouraging positive behaviour change to delivering high-quality walking and cycling infrastructure, our multidisciplinary team demonstrated their expertise in managing one of the most complex and innovative active travel projects.
The smooth running of the scheme was immediately challenged by a local action group in Waltham Forest, who protested the car reduction plan. That was a clear indication of the challenges to overcome in terms of public perception.
Process
Our engagement, design and traffic team worked collaboratively to develop the scheme, including multiple precautious steps in the process:
- Perception surveys – we issued inclusive and diversified consultation maps. This allows the whole community to identify current problems and areas of improvement
- Initial design – we delivered this by matching the community’s needs and concerns with the sustainable objectives of the program
- Community engagement – we engaged with residents, partners and stakeholders, to host community workshops. At these we present the results of the previous feedback stages
- Formal design – we redistributed junctions and road space effectively. Through carrying out all VISSIM, LinSig and Transyt modelling on the designed routes
The impact of our active travel schemes
Investigations in the early impact of the scheme discovered it increased positive perception of the local environment amongst the community. A quarter of residents said they were more likely to take up walking or cycling. This reflects in the walking and cycling account that Waltham Forrest under take every two years. There is also a decrease in people owning cars in the area.
Following the increase of active travel measures and the lowering of CO2 emissions, the community in Waltham Forest is becoming safer and healthier. King’s College London anticipated that residents will gain around one life year just from the projected increased level of walking and cycling activity in the area.
Testimonials
“I’m so impressed with the Mini-Holland design, it has the potential to score full marks on the junction assessment tool. There is no other route in the UK where this is the case and so this scheme could be a landmark”
Andrew Gilligan, former TFL Cycling Commissioner
“This scheme represents the type of transformational area change that the Mini-Holland Programme was designed to support. In terms of compliance with the LCDS it scores higher than any other major signalised junction in London.”
TfL, April 2015
Get in touch with one of our expert consultants to find out how we can help you with your active travel requirements.
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