Healthy Streets
As set out in ‘Gear change’, the Department for Transport have embarked on what they describe as ‘the most radical change to our city streets since the arrival of mass motoring’. In May 2020, the government published statutory guidance requiring local authorities in urban areas to reallocate roadspace for cycling and walking.
As part of Croydon’s Growth Zone, the Council and Transport for London are responding to these national requirements, working together to develop proposals to improve Croydon’s streets. Emerging proposal include changes to:
- Improve the flow of people and goods into and out of the town centre
- Prioritise the access and safety of vulnerable road users (people with disabilities, cyclists, pedestrians)
- Improve bus, tram and taxi access
- Improve delivery and customer access for businesses
- Improve the quality of life for residents.
- Improve the environment
- Improve air quality
- Discourage short car journeys.
- Reduce the dependence on the private motor vehicle to access London Road
These projects will use a ‘Healthy Streets’ approach in line with the Mayor of London's Transport Strategy.
The Healthy Streets Approach is a system of policies and strategies to deliver a healthier, more inclusive city where people choose to walk, cycle and use public transport. The 10 Healthy Streets Indicators are the essential ingredients for a healthy street environment.
- People choose to walk, cycle and use public transport
- Pedestrians from all walks of life
- Easy to cross
- People feel safe
- Things to see and do
- Places to stop and rest
- People feel relaxed
- Not too noisy
- Clean air
- Shade and shelter
A phased approach
Due to the scale and complexity of the street network, healthy street changes will not be delivered all at the same time. These changes are being introduced using low cost and robust materials, which can be altered as needed as new developments in Croydon come forward. Schemes can also be trialled and adjusted where necessary.
In 2020 the Department for Transport provided ‘Emergency Active Travel Funding’ to bring forward changes to the street network. These were initially temporary changes to the highway network (implemented in summer 2020).
It is proposed that amended schemes will be implemented under permanent traffic regulation orders (TROs), seeking comments from the public on the proposals prior to any scheme being implemented.
Feedback so far
Feedback has been received throughout the implementation of the temporary schemes. The public were invited to submit their views about the existing project via the map-based survey on Croydon’s ‘Get Involved’ website and changes have been incorporated into scheme proposals.
Monitoring
We will continue to monitor schemes to assess the impact of the scheme. Data collection includes:
- Traffic counts
- Traffic speeds
- Bus journey times
- Emergency service response times
- Collisions
- Levels of walking and cycling
- Air Quality Surveys
Monitoring these schemes allows us to review their performance and make further changes as necessary.