You can read the question our Chairman asked RBK about raised pedestrian crossings and their very informative response below.
From: Colin Punch [mailto:chessingtondra@gmail.com]
Sent: 30 June 2021
To: ‘mervyn.bartlett@kingston.gov.uk’
Subject: Raised pedestrian crossings
Mr. Bartlett,
It has been observed that pedestrian crossings are now having a raised table.
Can you advise the thinking behind this design?
The ‘normal’ version is to have a slope from the pavement to the road surface which would cost little to create.
The raised table must cost considerably more to create with little or no benefit to pedestrians.
As a method of slowing the traffic is seems pointless to have it on the crossing point rather than some way before it.
In some cases it is located shortly before a bus stop so (elderly) passengers standing, waiting to alight, could be thrown off balance as the bus travels over it whilst braking at the same time.
Kind regards,
Colin Punch.
Chairman – Chessington District Resident’s Association
RESPONSE FROM KINGSTON COUNCIL
From: Ian Price [mailto:ian.price@kingston.gov.uk]
Sent: 23 July 2021
To: Colin Punch
Cc: Philip Loy; Graham Clapson; Matthew Hill
Subject: Re: Raised pedestrian crossings
Dear Mr Punch,
Thank you for your query regarding raised tables at pedestrian crossings.
The rationale for such designs is as follows, and a number of references are included at the end.
The first point to note is that this section of Moor Lane is 20mph, and as such benefits from speed reducing features. As part of our ‘Healthy Streets’ design ethos, making homogeneous level surfaces for pedestrians and cyclists is encouraged as it makes the highway environment more pedestrian (and wheelchair) friendly and helps with speed reduction at the same time.
In the previous arrangement on Moor Lane, the bus had to turn acutely into the westbound bus stop (by Church Rise) on Moor Lane. In the new arrangement, the bus has straight/ aligned access within a bus lane and a smooth transition from the table into the bus stop.
The speed table is more than sufficient to accommodate the full wheelbase of the bus and the gradient of the slopes are designed to ensure smooth transition into the bus stop. Thus, the ramps to the raised table are ‘smoother’ than traditional features, so as to minimise the impacts on buses and their passengers. This design is widespread on bus routes and minimises any effects for bus passengers. In our consultation with the emergency services and buses, they had no objection to the proposals, and the scheme was supported by TfL Bus Operations.
It should also perhaps be noted that it is official guidance from Transport for London that passengers must remain seated on buses at all times. Standing is not currently allowed anywhere on a bus due to the current Covid regime, and is inadvisable in any circumstances. Bus drivers are trained to allow this on buses.
Some examples of design principles are below.
Safe speeds
Lowering speeds with self-enforcing speed limits – There are many different ways to encourage people to drive at lower speeds, but evidence shows that self-enforcing speed limits are the most successful way to reduce speeds, these include raising pedestrian crossings and giving more space to people cycling.
https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/safety-and-security/road-safety/safe-speeds
Junctions and crossings
Using streetscape features such as raised tables help break down dominance of the environment by motorised vehicles.
Healthy Streets Explained
Providing better crossings and accessible footpaths (longer pedestrian crossing times, better sightlines and reduced speeds.
Achieving lower speeds
Flat-top vertical treatments can support easier pedestrian access at crossings and speed reduction. Raised tables are in fact advantageous if the plateau is sufficient to accommodate the full wheelbase of the bus (and so long as the position, height and gradient of the ramp is designed with bus passenger safety and comfort in mind, and with regard to TfL’s Bus Priority Technical Note BP2/05). Raised tables can be used to create raised crossings or as treatments at junctions.
I hope this offers a full explanation.
Regards
Ian