Traffic management
schemes
Contact: Tel 020 7332 1710 or
email plans@cityoflondon.gov.uk
Consultation
Kerb build outs
Width restrictions
One way streets, banned turns and no
entry
Road closures
Facilities for the disabled
Junction entry treatments
Traffic signals
Speed humps
Traffic management schemes are introduced to solve specific
problems or to make the use of roads more efficient. The need for a
scheme can be identified in a variety of ways. An investigation
may, for example, be triggered by a bad accident record or the
concerns of local people. Sometimes, the City of London adopts an
area-wide approach to traffic problems.
Consultation
The City of London consults stakeholders for their views before
the introduction of traffic measures. In addition, many traffic
measures require the publication of a formal Notice in the press. A
three week period is allowed for objections to be received. Formal
objections are considered and schemes may need to be re-designed,
with further Notices being published, before a legally enforceable
Traffic Order can be made and the scheme introduced.
There is no single solution to problems associated with traffic
management. A variety of methods are used, sometimes in
combination:
Kerb build outs
At some road junctions visibility is often reduced because of
the shape of the roads or because of parked cars. Building out the
kerb into the carriageway can help solve this problem. It provides
protection for motorists emerging from a side road as they can
safely pull further out to see, and can be seen. Pedestrians are
similarly protected, have more space to stand and can also see and
be seen better. Cars are forced to park further from a junction or
crossing point.
Width restrictions
Width restrictions are a self enforcing means of restricting
access for large vehicles. Posts or bollards are placed in the road
about 2.1 metres apart, such that vehicles wider than this cannot
pass between them. There must be an alternative route available for
large vehicles such as refuse collection vehicles. Sometimes a gate
is provided for use by emergency vehicles. Such gates are kept
locked but the emergency services are issued with keys.
One way streets, banned turns
and no entry
These help control traffic movements without completely
restricting access and can help stop ‘rat runs’. One way working
may be for the whole length of a street, or for a short length at
one end. One way streets can lead to an increase in traffic speed
and short lengths can be difficult to enforce if drivers are
irresponsible and determined enough to drive illegally against the
one-way.
Road closures
These are an effective, self-enforcing means of stopping all
through traffic movements and may help define an area such as the
City’s Traffic & Environment Zone. When roads are closed by a
barrier there is often an emergency access gate for emergency
services.
Facilities for the
disabled
Tactile paving is now used at all zebra and pelican crossings to
help people with impaired vision. Similar tactile paving is also
used at many ramped crossing points. Some crossings have audible
signals, as well as the green man signal, to indicate when it is
safe to cross. Some pelican crossings and some junction signals are
fitted with a tactile conical knob on the pedestrian push buttons,
rather than an audible signal. The latter solution is often
preferred in the City so as to minimise disturbance to occupiers of
nearby buildings. See also Pedestrian
crossings.
Junction entry
treatments
A junction entry treatment is placed across the carriageway of
the minor road at a junction. The object is to show motorists that
they are leaving a main road and entering a special area and to
raise the priority for pedestrians crossing the junction. The
treatment often has a speed table, kerb build out and gateway
features.
Traffic signals
Traffic signals are designed to optimise and control traffic at
a junction by sharing out the time to different arms of the
junction and to pedestrians. See also
Pedestrian crossings.
Speed limits
Contact: Tel 020 7332 1710 or email
plans@cityoflondon.gov.uk.
The speed limit within the City is 30 mph. At certain locations
a lower limit is set due to extreme circumstances.