Camden happenings
Camden Road finds itself at the top of a list of roads getting widened pavements!
This went to affected residents and businesses from Dina Romero, Leader of the Council.
So what does this mean for us? Actually much less than we first thought. During the course of this week three short red and white barriers (red lines on the diagram) cordoning off some of the road, which will make it safer for pedestrians to get past the queues for the shops and perhaps make the zebra crossing a bit safer too. That’s all. Over 90% of Camden Road will remain unaffected.
So you might ask “what about all the criss crossing of the road or encroaching onto the roadway to keep two metres apart, we all have to do at the moment?”
How about this simple, low cost idea from Clifton Suspension Bridge yesterday?
So for Camden Road we’d suggest that all walkers take the left hand pavement. The only time we’d have to step onto the road would be to cross or to overtake. What might that look like? If you would favour it please reply to this with a comment.
Liveable low traffic neighbourhood
Finally, five days ago we asked you go to the Council’s new mass consultation web-site here. We only had only had 26 suggestions. That has now more than doubled. Thank you.
If you are interested, do keep monitoring how the ideas and support is growing to keep traffic levels down and ‘agreeing’ with those you would support. The more interest the CRA can demonstrate from its residents the more we can make demands for permanent change in our neighbourhood.
It’s a good idea. But it would be even better if we walked on the right to face the oncoming traffic, as it might still be occasionally necessary to step into the road. For example when coming out of my gate I can’t see people coming without sticking my head out. So people need to step into the road to increase distance while I am simultaneously backing off to let them pass.
Picture of Camden Road. The ‘One way system’ for pedestrians. From past experience
I would prefer to face the traffic !
Thanks – both good comments – I was originally of the same opinion (face the oncoming traffic) and changed it (including my depiction!) after seeing Clifton Suspension Bridge. I’m returning to your way of thinking. The key thing is that it is cheap and easy to do prior to getting a low traffic neighbourhood. One version of it would only allow motorised traffic through if it was a bus, maybe a taxi. Any other vehicle would not be through traffic but is likely to be a vehicle serving households on one side or the other of the bus gate.
This is a sensible solution (albeit amended to face the traffic, as others have suggested). However, I would see this solution as a last resort as it grates a little that pedestrians need to change their behaviours to accommodate cars. I would prefer to see a change in priorities so that vehicles give way to pedestrians on this street, so that pedestrians can safely step out. This is an opportunity to change the nature of the street entirely!
I was going to add a separate comment but it’s easier simply to agree with you John – thanks. I’m all for compromise so we can accommodate different needs but pedestrians have been compromising for too long and a lot more needs to be done to redress the balance.
Consider it a first, temporary, step. Very quick and cheap to implement. It will keep us all safer while working towards a low traffic neighbourhood. Maybe we could get better enforcement of the 20mph (or lower) speed limit to accompany it.
Reference: the side of the road Camden Road pedestrians should be encouraged to use.
There are numerous occasions when the 6 & 7 buses have to mount the pavement on this stretch of Camden Road as it is often the passing point, not forgetting the increasing number of delivery vans, so I still favour facing the traffic (which might even be in the Highway Code?)
No that is a really good idea!
I think it’s a good idea, as long as, like others say, we face the traffic. As a runner (dare I say it! But I run in the road when others are around!!) and someone who always walks into town and to work, I feel safer seeing the traffic coming towards me, rather than constantly having to look behind (if I am in the road, which I am frequently am, even before these socially distant times.
I agree that the pedestrian traffic should flow as others have suggested with one way systems facing the oncoming traffic. But I do think that careful thought and consideration needs to be considered how this is indicated with signage. I don’t think plastering the pavements and lamp posts with ugly bright yellow paint everywhere is very enhancing to the neighbourhood. Subtle, discreet signage is all that should be needed. This is a World Heritage City still…
Okay, I’ll turn the visualisation round so that people are facing the oncoming traffic! Thanks for all your comments. One of our local councillors also wrote to me saying, “The one way on pavements on Camden Rd is a very good idea. I’ll see if it can be made to happen”.
Very happy to have one way system facing the on coming traffic.