Trials
The trial was held from Monday 7 October to Sunday 20 October 2019.
As part of the Liveable Crouch End project, there were changes for two weeks to the road layout near the town centre including on:
- Middle Lane (and surrounding roads)
- Weston Park.
Traffic restrictions were in place on some roads.
Objectives
These trials provided an opportunity to:
- Feel what it is like to have a low traffic area that makes it easier to walk and cycle to school, work and the town centre
- See the potential of two public spaces
- Learn what impact these changes might have to traffic movement.
Proposed temporary changes
Changes to the roads in the Crouch End area:
- There was a bus/cycle only gate on Middle Lane, at its northern end with Priory Road / Hornsey High Street - operating between 7am and 7pm
- Middle Lane had a second closure point with a public area for pedestrians and cycles at its southern end, near Park Road - operating 24 hours a day
- Hillfield Ave had a closure point (access for pedestrians and cycles only) at its junction with High Street - operating 24 hours a day
- Birkbeck Road had a closure point just south of its junction with St Mary’s Road (access for pedestrians and cycles only). One parking bay was suspended (see below for details) - operating 24 hours a day
- Weston Park had a closure point with a small public area for pedestrians and cycles where it meets the Broadway. Some parking and loading bays were suspended (see below for details) - operating 24 hours a day
See the trials map below - please click on the map to enlarge:
Trial rationale
We have been asked why Middle Lane was chosen for the two-week trial.
Middle Lane has over 8,000 vehicles a day moving through it. This is far higher than we would expect or desire for a residential street of its nature.
During the pre-engagement and workshops, Middle Lane was identified by respondents as having too much traffic on it and needing interventions that reduced the impact of the traffic and made the road better to cross and walk and cycle down.
There are already some road closures within the area and only one bus gate was required. This made it a good choice in which to implement the trial as it could be implemented with less interventions than other areas, thereby keeping costs down.
Ferme Park Road was also identified as having high traffic volumes. The trial was predicted to have a positive impact on traffic volumes on Ferme Park Road as we anticipated that much of the traffic travelling down Middle Lane was then travelling down Ferme Park Road to cut out the traffic lights in the centre of Crouch End. Data from the trial will enable us to inform our design development for Ferme Park Road as well as the Middle Lane area.
What we measured
We undertook the trials to better understand the impact of the closures on traffic flows and speeds as well as to gather the views of businesses, residents, visitors and other stakeholders. We collected traffic counts in the week before the trial and continued these counts during the trial. We gathered bus journey time data and usage numbers. We also held a survey to register residents' views and experiences of the trail.
We will use this information to inform our design development. However, we also had some key questions that we were keen to test:
- Is there a reduction in traffic on Middle Lane as a result of the closures?
- Is there a reduction in traffic volumes on Ferme Park Road as a result of the closures?
- Is there an increase in traffic on Park Road and Tottenham Lane as a result of the closure?
- Does the increase in traffic on the two A roads equate to the traffic previously counted on Middle Lane, or has there been displacement (vehicles using different routes) and evaporation (different modes of travel chosen) of some vehicles?
- Is there an improvement to the WX bus which uses Middle Lane?
- Is there a change in journey times for any buses using Park Road and Tottenham Lane?
- Is there an increase in bus usage during the trail?
- What are the views of residents living within the Middle Lane trial area to the trial?
- What are the views of the businesses in the ton centre regarding the trial?
- What are the views of residents outside the trial area to the trial?
- What are the views of cyclists of the trial?
- What are the views of those visiting the trial area regarding the trials?
- What are the emergency services experience of the trials?
- What are the views of TfL, Network management and buses following the trial?
- What has worked well with the trial?
- What hasn’t worked?
- What needs to be implemented or changed to make any permanent intervention a success?
We collected data to understand all of these questions and are using the answers to inform our design development. The trial engagement and data reports are both available on the Reports and Minutes page.
Consultation
The questionnaire relating to the trials is now closed. We would like to thank all who took part.
Consultation results
We have now collated and analysed the results and the information can be found on our Reports and Minutes page.
All feedback will be taken on board for the final design options and the official public consultation will be undertaken in Summer 2020.
To stay informed on Liveable Crouch End programme, visit these pages regularly. If you have a specific query, please contact the team directly at liveablecrouchend@haringey.gov.uk.
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