11462 technical report - the royal parks

Technical Report issued on 15 January 2010 for The Royal Parks Agency

The Regent's Park The Broad Walk Shared Use Trial Monitoring

Technical Report

Atkins Intelligent SpaceEuston Tower286 Euston TowerLondon NW1 3AT

www.intelligentspace.comwww.atkinsglobal.com

Job Number 5075688 Copy No. - Document Ref. The Regent's Park The Broad Walk Shared Use Trial Monitoring

Job Name 11462

Printing A3 Double Sided

Issue Purpose of Issue Originated Checked Reviewed Authorised Date

1 Draft JC HB RH EF 20.08.2009

2 Revised Draft RH HB - EF 14.01.2010

3 For Information RH HB - EF 15.01.2010

This document and its contents have been prepared and are intended solely for The Royal Parks Agency and use in relation to The Regent's Park. Atkins assumes no responsibility to any other party in respect of or arising out of or in connection with this document and/or its contents. Except for internal use, no part of this document may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the written permission of Atkins.

Ordnance Survey®, OS MasterMap™, TOID™, Land-Line® and OSCAR® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Ordnance Survey, the national mapping agency of Great Britain. MapInfo® and MapInfo Professional® are registered trademarks of Mapinfo Corporation. Other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.This product includes map data licensed from Ordnance Survey with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Offi ce. ©Crown copyright 2009. All rights reserved.

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Executive Summary 5

Introduction 15

Pedestrian and Cyclist Activity 19

User Perception Study 27

User Behaviour 37

Level of Comfort Assessment 43

Conclusions 49

Appendix: Flow Surveys 55

Appendix: Questionnaire Surveys 57

Appendix: Interactions Study 61

Appendix: Assessment of Physical Characteristics 63

4

The Broad Walk Shared Use Trial Monitoring

515 January 2010

1 Executive Summary

6


No Window

The Regents Park

Water

Road and Open Space

Park and Planting

Pavement

Building

London Cycle Network

Underground Station

Showing the location of

The Broad Walk Shared Use Trial

Outer Circle

Outer Circle

Prince Albert Road

Prince Albert RoadSt. Mark’s BridgeSt. Mark’s Bridge

Outer C

ircleO

uter Circle

Albany Street

Albany Street

Park

way

Park

way

Outer Circle

Outer CirclePark Road

Park Road

Great Portland Great Portland St St StationStation

Camden Town Camden Town StationStation

The Broad Walk shared use trial

Avenue G

ardens

Avenue G

ardens

The Broad Walk

The Broad Walk

Chester RoadChester Road

Regent’s Park Regent’s Park StationStation


View from The Broad Walk north towards St. Mark’s BridgeFigure 1

View of The Broad Walk looking eastFigure 2

View of the cafe at the southern end of The Broad Walk Figure 3adjacent to Chester Road

Map of The Broad Walk in The Regent’s ParkFigure 4

715 January 2010


The Broad Walk shared use trialAs part of a commitment towards cycling, The Broad Walk shared use trial ran in The Regent’s Park from 8 August 2008 to 31 January 2010. Funded in partnership between The Royal Parks Agency and Transport for London, the trial was aimed to encourage people to enjoy cycling in green spaces and to test the suitability of The Broad Walk as a permanent cycling route.

The trial has been monitored for 12 months, followed by a six-month evaluation period from 31 July 2009 to 31 January 2010. Park users have been consulted throughout the process.

Critical success factors for the trial include a customer research survey, a shared use study, and a confl ict study, which will be benchmarked against comparable studies.

To ensure that the scheme is supported by all users, it was noted that there is a requirement to undertake objective, evidence-based research into the level of use and behaviour of users throughout the trial period.

The Broad Walk shared use trial is shown in context in the map in Figure 4 on page 6 , with views of the route in Figure 1 to Figure 3 .

Monitoring objectivesAs part of the evaluation process, The Royal Parks Agency has commissioned Atkins Intelligent Space to monitor the trial to test the suitability of The Broad Walk as a permanent cycle route.

Atkins Intelligent Space has undertaken a three stage monitoring process to more fully understand and investigate attitudes, behaviour, interactions and comfort of users at the outset of the scheme and throughout the trial period.

The aim has been to present an objective and evidence-based picture of user behaviour on The Broad Walk. All surveys have made use of agreed best-practice guidelines and techniques, including guidance from Transport for London (TfL)1, Department for Transport2 3 and ongoing research conducted by Atkins Intelligent Space for TfL’s Cycling Walking Accessibility Greenways programme.

Surveys were undertaken to capture user activity and behavioural trends during peak periods of the week. These surveys were also used to benchmark user views and evaluate these against the critical success factors in order to support the decision making process on the future of The Broad Walk.

Questionnaire surveys and video surveys were undertaken simultaneously during three stages of the trial:

At the outset of the trial, surveys were undertaken on • Saturday 20 August and Thursday 18 September 2008.

Approximately mid way through the trial on Friday 6 • March and Saturday 7 March 2009.

During summer 2009 on Thursday 16 July and • Saturday 18 July.

1 Transport for London, London Cycling Design Standards. 20052 Department for Transport, Cycling in Pedestrian Areas. 20053 Department for Transport, Cycle Infrastructure Design. 2008

About The Regent’s ParkThe Regent's Park, covering 166 hectares, is a unique space in central London managed by The Royal Parks Agency for the enjoyment of the public. The needs of all visitors are balanced with other duties relating to wildlife, heritage and conservation. Home to several organisations including the Zoological Society and the Royal Botanic Society, the park provides the largest grass area for sports in central London and offers a wide variety of other activities, including an Open Air Theatre, the London Zoo and many cafes and restaurants. It is a hugely important resource and much loved by the local and wider communities.

While providing priority for pedestrians, The Royal Parks Agency aims to accommodate a wide range of appropriate activities in the parks, including cycling. As a healthy form of exercise with a low environmental impact, providing for cycling within the park can be a pleasant way for many to gain access to its amenities and other places of interest, whilst allowing new and experienced cyclists to avoid busy urban roads.

Critical success factors

The Royal Parks defi ned the following fi ve critical success factors4 benchmarked on previous research, which have been monitored during the trial period, and evaluated on on page 10 :

Criterion 1: No fewer than 95% of users surveyed during perception studies must rate the overall quality of the park ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

Criterion 2: The level of comfort for pedestrians along The Broad Walk must not fall below A or B during peak user activity (measured using Platoon Level of Service, a robust methodology developed from standard pedestrian Level of Service assessments5 6).

Criterion 3: Based on video surveys along The Broad Walk more than 96% of cycle journeys must not involve neither minor confl ict nor major confl ict.

Criterion 4: 74% of pedestrians surveyed during perception studies should be satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with cycling on The Broad Walk. The data collected will be further analysed with information on vulnerable users (classifi ed and registered disabled, elderly and people with children under 5 years of age.) If there is a high proportion of this group who are uncomfortable this will be further assessed. Dog walkers will also be considered.

Criterion 5: 94% of cyclists surveyed during perception studies should be satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with cycling on The Broad Walk.

To assess criteria 4 and 5, surveys used the following fi ve categories: very uncomfortable, uncomfortable, satisfi ed, comfortable, very comfortable. This was adapted from an equivalent range of fi ve categories (very well, well, OK, badly, very badly) which had been used in previous research undertaken for the Royal Parks.

4 The Royal Parks, The Regent’s Park Broad Walk Shared-Use Cycle Project Summer Trial Report and Extended Trial Criteria. August 20085 Fruin, John J. Pedestrian Planning and Design. New York: Metropolitan Association of Urban Designers and Environmental Planners Inc. 19716 Pushkarev, Boris, and Jeffrey M. Zupan. Urban Space for Pedestrians: a Report of the Regional Plan Association. MIT Press: Cambridge, Mass. 1975

8


St. Mark’s Bridge and Avenue Gardens

St. Mark’s Bridge ( Figure 13 ) and Avenue Gardens ( Figure 11 ) are the natural continuation of The Broad Walk north and south respectively. Throughout the trial period these locations are designated as pedestrian only. A study of user activity was undertaken at both of these locations.

Avenue Gardens: The majority of cyclists do not dismount along Avenue Gardens both during the weekday peak hour and the weekend peak hour (79% and 72% respectively in Figure 10 ).

This section provides a summary of the use of The Broad Walk for both cyclists and those on foot. This assessment informs the critical success factors.

Activity levels

There are three key periods of time when activity can be particularly high, as defi ned following initial surveys at the outset of the trial. These are during the weekday morning peak, during the weekday evening peak, and throughout the afternoon on a weekend. Our assessment of activity, behaviour and the effect on how people use the route is based on these three key time periods.

Pedestrians make up the overwhelming majority of users at all times (see Figure 5 ), and The Broad Walk remains a space predominantly used by pedestrians.

Cyclist activity is low in comparison, and levels of cycling have not signifi cantly increased since the outset of the trial (see Figure 5 ).

The morning peak period is characterised by predominantly southbound movement of pedestrians and

How The Broad Walk is used

People per hour

Survey Date

Mode Weekday Weekend

AM Peak Hour

PM Peak Hour

Peak Hour

Sept 2008

Pedestrians 258 264 1032

Cyclists 30 12 18

March 2009


Cyclists 27 16 36

July 2009


Cyclists 42 57 46

There are no recorded children or vulnerable users using the route during the peak weekday morning during July 2009. At all other times there is a small proportion of children using the route (see Figure 7 ).

Cyclist speed

Cyclist activity along The Broad Walk at the weekend is relatively low. Cyclists at the weekend travel at an average speed of less than 10 miles per hour (mph). Average cyclists speeds during the weekday peak evening period are approximately 12 mph (shown in Figure 8 ).

Average cyclist speeds are lower on The Broad Walk adjacent to the access point onto Chester Road, compared to speeds along the length of The Broad Walk (shown in Figure 8 and Figure 9 ).

Weekday AM Peak hour is 08:00-09:00 in all casesWeekday PM Peak hour is 17:00-18:00 (Sept 08), 16:00-17:00 (March 09) & 18:00-19:00 (July 09)Weekend Peak hour is 15:00-16:00 except Sept 08 which is 16:00-17:00

Summary of activity at peak hours of the weekFigure 5

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 18.0 20.0

Weekday

Weekend

Ste

MPH

Median Speed

Average Speed

Average cycle speeds along The Broad Walk (clear section)Figure 8

0.0 2.0 4.0 6.0 8.0 10.0 12.0 14.0 16.0 18.0 20.0

Weekday

Weekend

Median Speed

Average Speed

Average cycle speeds on The Broad Walk adjacent to the access Figure 9point onto Chester Road

Cycling compliance and non-compliance on Avenue GardensFigure 10

Avenue GardensFigure 11

Weekday peak hour Weekend peak hour

6 21%6, 21%6, 21%

23, 79%

6, 21%

23, 79%

6, 21%

23, 79%

6, 21%

5, 28%5, 28%

13, 72%

5, 28%

13, 72%

5, 28%

13, 72%

5, 28%

cyclists towards central London, typical of commuting times. At all other times there is no pronounced predominant direction of movement.

Throughout the morning period, most users (80%) are not in groups, making their own individual journeys. There is a pronounced increase in the number of people travelling in groups of 2 or more people in the weekday evening peak period, and this proportion increases at the weekend, with 80% of users in groups of 2 or more people (see Figure 6 ).

80%

18%

1%

40%

39%

10%

7%4%

40%

20%

52%

14%

7%

Weekday AM Weekday PM Weekend

People in Groups of 4

People in Groups >4

People in Groups >10

Group sizes during peak periodsFigure 6

Individuals



89%

5%4%

86%

3%

10%1%

87%

0%

13%0%

Child Cyclists

Rollerbladers/Skaters

Mobility Impaired

Weekday AM Weekday PM Weekend

Summary of demographic information during peak periodsFigure 7

Adult Pedestrians

Child Pedestrians

Adult Cyclists

Cyclists on bicycle (non-compliance)

Cyclists off bicycle (compliance)

915 January 2010


The Regents Park

Water

Road and Open Space

Park and Planting

Pavement

Building


wider cycling connections

St. Mark’s Bridge: St. Mark’s Bridge is separated from The Broad Walk by a pelican crossing over the Outer Circle (a well-used two lane, vehicular route). Despite this severance, which successfully encourages cyclists to slow down to cross the road, the majority of cyclists do not dismount at St. Mark’s Bridge during the weekday peak hour (77%, shown in Figure 12 ). This trend is reversed during the weekend peak hour during which the majority of cyclists dismount across the bridge. This is likely due to high pedestrian activity and relatively low capacity across the bridge, encouraging cyclists to dismount.

The wider cycling network

Compared to other adjacent cycle routes, the number of cyclists using The Broad Walk is very low. Almost 400 cyclists use the Outer Circle per hour in the morning peak period, compared to 50 cyclists using The Broad Walk in The Regent’s Park (see Figure 14 ). This is unchanged from the outset of the trial.

Key issues regarding cycling connections are presented in Figure 15 .

Outer Circle

Outer CirclePrince Albert Road

Prince Albert Road St. Mark’s BridgeSt. Mark’s Bridge

Outer C

ircleO

uter Circle

Albany Street

Albany Street

Park

way

Park

way

Outer Circle

Outer Circle

Avenue G

ardens

Avenue G

ardens

The Broad Walk

The Broad Walk

St. Mark’s Square St. Mark’s Square (one-way)(one-way)

Regent’s Park Road Bridge Regent’s Park Road Bridge (shared use greenway)(shared use greenway)

Regent’s Canal Regent’s Canal (shared use towpath)(shared use towpath)


Cycling compliance and non-compliance on St. Marks BridgeFigure 12

St. Marks BridgeFigure 130 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400

The Broad Walk(Regents Park) (July

2009)

Albany Street (July2009)

The Outer Circle(July 2009)

Comparison of cyclist activityFigure 14

Cyclists per hour

AM Peak PM Peak

St. Mark’s Bridge is a key connection between to the wider area including Regent’s Canal shared use towpath, though cycling is currently not permitted across the bridge.

No cycling permitted

St. Mark’s Square, a southbound one way street, does not provide a visible northbound cycling connection between The Regent’s Park and a recently redeveloped shared use route over Regent’s Park Road Bridge to the north.

To the south of The Broad Walk, the shared use route is not well connected to the Outer Circle, where Avenue Gardens represents a clear visual link on which cycling is not permitted.


Chester Gate Chester Gate (one-way)(one-way)

14, 23%

48, 77%

14, 23%

13, 42%13, 42%

18, 58%

13, 42%

18, 58%

13, 42%

18, 58%

13, 42%

18, 58%

Cycling connections onto and from The Broad WalkFigure 15

Cyclists on bicycle (non-compliance)

Cyclists off bicycle (compliance)

Weekday peak hour Weekend peak hour

10


Criterion 1: Pass

No fewer than 95% of users surveyed during perception studies must rate the overall quality of the park ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

“Based on customer research surveys, anything more than a 2% drop in respondents fi nding the ‘quality of their visit excellent or good’ with ‘cycling in the park’ as a stated reason fails this criterion.” This is benchmarked against customer research studies carried out in The Regent’s Park by Synovate in 2005 & 2006 in which 97% of respondents found the ‘quality of their visit excellent or good.1

Throughout the shared use trial there has been no signifi cant change in users’ opinions of the park, which have remained consistently high.

97% of weekday users rate the overall quality of • the park as good or excellent (see Figure 16 ).

99% of weekend users rate the overall quality of • the park as good or excellent (see Figure 16 ).

1 The Royal Parks, The Regent’s Park Broad Walk Shared-Use Cycle Project Summer Trial Report and Extended Trial Criteria. August 2008

Criterion 2: Borderline

The level of comfort for pedestrians along The Broad Walk must not fall below A or B (measured using the Platoon Level of Service methodology).

“The level of service for The Broad Walk must be B or above for peak pedestrian/cycle fl ows based on video footage and the physical attributes of the route.” This is benchmarked against the Kensington Gardens Shared Use Study carried out by Atkins in 2008. Levels are from A (open movement) to F (jammed). The Level of Service on the Broad Walk without cycling is Level of Service B.2

The design of a path can be important to encourage, or hinder, responsible use by all users. In particular, the width of a path and its capacity can be a key driver for successfully sharing space. When assessing the capacity of a path and its design it is important to take into account the level of pedestrian and cyclist activity, and how activity on the path varies with time. This supports an understanding of how a path functions during commuting periods or during busy weekend afternoons, when capacity issues can be signifi cantly different.

Using research conducted by Atkins for Transport for London on shared use cycle routes, the Level of Service has been calculated for pedestrians during The Broad Walk shared use trial. Level of Service is a standard measurement of pedestrian capacity and level of comfort. In this context, the methodology assesses the peak volume of pedestrian fl ow activity and the amount of available, usable space for pedestrians.

Taking into account the effect of cyclists, the Platoon Level of Service for pedestrians along the majority of The Broad Walk is calculated as A and B.

This Level of Service assessment suggests that there is suffi cient space along most of the route at peak times to


Criterion 3: Pass

Based on video surveys along The Broad Walk more than 95% of cycle journeys must involve neither minor confl ict nor major confl ict.

“Based on at least six days of video footage, more than 95% of cycle journeys will involve neither minor confl ict nor major confl ict.“ This is benchmarked from research on Palace Walk in Kensington Gardens – from a Friday and a Saturday there were 3,518 cycle journeys: 137 involved minor or major confl ict – 3 were major confl ict situations. Minor Confl ict is defi ned as ‘cyclist or pedestrian has to brake or change direction but the movement is calm and controlled within a 2m distance of each other’. Major confl ict is defi ned as ‘cyclist or pedestrian has to take emergency action, within 1m of each other, in what is considered to be a near miss’.3


Evaluating Critical Success Factors

accommodate a shared use facility with current levels of user activity.

However, at the intersection of Chester Road the pedestrian Level of Service on The Broad Walk is calculated as C during peak summer activity at the weekend when taking into account the reduction in usable width for pedestrians due to space required for two cyclists to pass.

This suggests that pedestrian movement may become constrained at temporarily busy periods during peak summer times. To operate successfully continued monitoring is recommended. A change in management procedures may be required to ensure there is minimal potential for confl ict given site specifi c limitations at this location adjacent to Chester Road. In addition, surface or signage changes could be considered to reinforce considerate and responsible behaviour from all users.

Assessing the number of confl icts between pedestrians and cyclists is key to determining the impact of the introduction of shared use and the effects of potential capacity issues in order to evaluate the success of the shared use scheme.

Typical user behaviour along cycling and walking routes can vary depending on factors including but not limited to current activity levels, the type of user, proportions of each user group and the design of the space (its proposed use and how it is used in practice).

The level of potential confl ict is sometimes perceived to increase on unsegregated shared use routes, particularly as there are no designated exclusive space for either pedestrian or cyclist. However, by design unsegregated space can increase the awareness of pedestrian priority amongst all users, and support considerate cycling by the majority of cyclists.

In addition to what is considered typical behaviour, three types of interactions and near-miss scenarios (categorised as minor confl ict, major confl ict, and collisions) were assessed at key sections of The Broad Walk.

We predict that 97.5% of cycle journeys along The Broad Walk do not involve confl ict.

This is based on extrapolating results from interaction studies at two key locations along The Broad Walk during peak periods of a weekday and weekend in July 2009.

Good15728%

Satisfactory7

1%

Poor2

1%

Very Poor0

0%

No Opinion1

0%

Excellent39670%

Good15728%

Satisfactory7

1%

Poor2

1%

Very Poor0

0%

No Opinion1

0%

Good27327%

Satisfactory353%

Poor2

0%

Very Poor3

0%

No Opinion0

0%

Excellent71570%

Good27327%

Satisfactory353%

Poor2

0%

Very Poor3

0%

No Opinion0

0%

All Stages (weekday) All Stages (weekend)

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Excellent

Good

Satisfactory

Overall perception of the park during the trial schemeFigure 16

Poor

Very Poor

Poor

Very Poor

No Opinion

1115 January 2010


Criterion 4: Pass

75% of pedestrians surveyed during perception studies should be either satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with cycling on The Broad Walk.

“This is benchmarked against surveys in Kensington Gardens in which 74% of pedestrians thought the cycle routes worked OK, Well, or Very Well. The data collected will be further analysed with information on vulnerable users (classifi ed and registered disabled, elderly and people with children under 5 years of age). If there is a higher proportion of this group who are ‘uncomfortable’ with the scheme this will be a critical failure. Dog walkers will also be considered in a separate category. Further analysis will be carried out and considered if the percentage falls between 95% and 75% (one in twenty to one in four ‘uncomfortable’ with the trial).” 4

There has been very little change in users’ level of comfort over the course of the shared use trial.

80% of pedestrian respondents who expressed an opinion on a weekday are satisfi ed or comfortable with the shared use trial (see Figure 17 ). 85% of pedestrian respondents who expressed an opinion at the weekend are satisfi ed or comfortable with the shared use trial (see Figure 17 ).


In total, 82% of all surveyed pedestrians who expressed an opinion are either satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with the shared use trial.

Dog Walkers make up 8% of respondents on a weekday and 3% of respondents at the weekend. Of all dog walkers surveyed during the week, 67% were satisfi ed or comfortable with the shared use trial. Of all dog walkers surveyed at the weekend, 100% were satisfi ed or comfortable with the shared use trial (see Figure 18 ).

Vulnerable users: On a weekday 2% of all respondents considered themselves as having a disability. No respondents at the weekend considered themselves as having a disability (see Figure 19 ). Of these respondents during the weekday, 74% were satisfi ed or comfortable with the shared use trial (see Figure 19 ).

Of all weekday respondents, perceived comfort tends to decrease steadily with age, as shown in Figure 20 . This trend is less pronounced at the weekend with over 90% of respondents over the age of 55 satisfi ed or comfortable with the shared use trial (see Figure 21 ).

Visual or Hearing

81%

Mobility111%

Other1

0%

Visual or Hearing

81%

Mobility111%

Other1

0%

No Disability102298%

213%

637%2

13%

213%

637%

2

213%

213%

637%

4

212%

213%

213%

637%

425%

212%

213%

213%

637%

425%

212%

213%

213%

Criterion 5: Borderline

94% of cyclists surveyed during perception studies should be either satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with cycling on The Broad Walk.

“This is benchmarked against surveys in Kensington Gardens in which 94% of cyclists thought the cycle routes worked OK, Well, or Very Well).” 5

Throughout the trial there has been no signifi cant change in the perceived comfort of cyclists using The Broad Walk, which has remained consistently high.

98% of cyclists surveyed during the week are • comfortable with the shared use trial (see Figure 22 ).

93% of cyclists surveyed at the weekend are • comfortable with the shared use trial (see Figure 22 ).

In total, 96% of all cyclists surveyed are either satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with the shared use trial.


10

108

6

12

14 5 4 2

23

8

3

8

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

1035 18 16

7

10

108

6

12

14 5 4 2

23

8

3

8

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

<16 17-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 >55

257

6142

28

30

14

37

2622

18

13 15

1918

27

2 8 17 18 22

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

2 62 112 87 59

31

257

6142

28

30

14

37

2622

18

13 15

1918

27

2 8 17 18 22

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

<16 17-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 >55 3 2

79%

34%

23%

79%

34%

23%

4354%24

30%

79%

34%

23%

4354%24

30%

79%

34%

23%

4354%24

30%

79%

34%

23%

4354%24

30%

79%

34%

23%

2

13

65%

22%

1312%

65%

22%

1312%

65%

22%

9181%

1312%

65%

22%

9181%

1312%

65%

22%

9181%

1312%

65%

22%


1711

19% 1729%

1119% 17

29%

813%

1119% 17

29%

915%

14

813%

1119% 17

29%

915%

1424%

813%

1119% 17

29%

915%

1424%

813%

1119% 11

25%1

25%1

25%

375%

125%

375%

125%

375%

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory


All Stages (weekday)Visual or Hearing

Mobility

O h

Visual or Hearing

Mobility

Other

No Disability

Dog walker’s comfort with the schemeFigure 18

Disabled users and their comfort of schemeFigure 19

Comfort of all weekday users by ageFigure 20

Comfort of all weekend users by ageFigure 21

Cyclist’s comfort with the schemeFigure 22

Age

Age

All Stages (weekday)

Not ComfortableNot Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

11428%

8320%

318%

277%

11428%

14837%

8320%

318%

277%

27336%

11415%

8511%

669%

27336%

21729%

11415%

8511%

669%


Pedestrian’s comfort with the schemeFigure 17

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory


Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory


Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Not Comfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Not Comfortable

Very UncomfortableVery Comfortable

Comfortable

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory

Very Comfortable

Comfortable

Satisfactory


Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

Not Comfortable

Very Uncomfortable

12


Conclusions

The Broad Walk is not a main cycling commuter route, primarily due to a low level of permeability into and out of the surrounding area caused by a lack of effective connections for cyclists.

The Broad Walk can become very busy at peak periods, especially during summer months. Due to two borderline critical success factors, if shared use is implemented along The Broad Walk we recommend that the route continue to be monitored to ensure that there are minimal impacts on all users, given site specifi c limitations. The shared use policy should be reviewed should there be a deterioration in levels of comfort.

Continued work could be undertaken to provide information to improve the way that shared use impacts on the wide range of park visitors including dog walkers and vulnerable users. This would help to ensure that the key performance indicators measuring the operation and quality of The Broad Walk clearly pass, and exceed wherever possible, the stated critical success factors.

There is an ongoing lack of awareness of the trial, particularly amongst infrequent users of the park. If implemented, the shared use route could benefi t by being fully supported with suitable information for visitors who arrive on foot or by bicycle.

Some cyclists do not dismount along Avenue Gardens and at St. Mark’s Bridge where no-cycling policies are in force. The majority of cyclists dismount on St Mark’s Bridge during periods of busy pedestrian activity. The full impact of this behaviour was not evaluated as part of this assessment.

Figure 23 to Figure 27 show activity on The Broad Walk during the extended shared use trial.

Looking south from The Broad Walk towards Avenue GardensFigure 23

1315 January 2010


Looking north along The Broad WalkFigure 24

Looking north along The Broad WalkFigure 25

Visitors to Regent’s ParkFigure 26

Activity on The Broad WalkFigure 27

14


1515 January 2010

This chapter introduces the aims of the project and the approach taken by Atkins Intelligent Space

Introduction2

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About The Regent’s ParkThe Regent's Park, covering 166 hectares, is a unique space in central London managed by The Royal Parks Agency for the enjoyment of the public. The needs of all visitors are balanced with other duties relating to wildlife, heritage and conservation. Home to several organisations including the Zoological Society and the Royal Botanic Society, the park provides the largest grass area for sports in central London and offers a wide variety of other activities, including an Open Air Theatre, the London Zoo and many cafes and restaurants. It is a hugely important resource and much loved by the local and wider communities.

While providing priority for pedestrians, The Royal Parks Agency aims to accommodate a wide range of appropriate activities in the parks, including cycling. As a healthy form of exercise with a low environmental impact, providing for cycling within the park can be a pleasant way for many to gain access to its amenities and other places of interest, whilst allowing new and experienced cyclists to avoid busy urban roads.

The Broad Walk shared use trialAs part of a commitment towards cycling, The Broad Walk shared use trial ran in The Regent’s Park from 8 August 2008 to 31 January 2010. Funded in partnership between The Royal Parks Agency and Transport for London, the trial was aimed to encourage people to enjoy cycling in green spaces and to test the suitability of The Broad Walk as a permanent cycling route.

The trial has been monitored for 12 months, followed by a six-month evaluation period from 31 July 2009 to 31 January 2010. Park users have been consulted throughout the process.

Critical success factors for the trial include a customer research survey, a shared use study, and a confl ict study, which will be benchmarked against comparable studies.

To ensure that the scheme is supported by all users, it was noted that there is a requirement to undertake objective, evidence-based research into the level of use and behaviour of users throughout the trial period.

The Broad Walk shared use trial is shown in context in the map in Figure 28 .

Monitoring objectivesAs part of the evaluation process, The Royal Parks Agency has commissioned Atkins Intelligent Space to monitor the trial to test the suitability of The Broad Walk as a permanent cycle route.

Atkins Intelligent Space has undertaken a three stage monitoring process to more fully understand and investigate attitudes, behaviour, interactions and comfort of users at the outset of the scheme and throughout the trial period.

The aim has been to present an objective and evidence-based picture of user behaviour on The Broad Walk. All surveys have made use of agreed best-practice guidelines and techniques, including guidance from Transport for London (TfL)1, Department for Transport2 3 and ongoing research conducted by Atkins Intelligent Space for TfL’s Cycling Walking Accessibility Greenways programme.

Surveys were undertaken to capture user activity and behavioural trends during peak periods of the week. These surveys were also used to benchmark user views and evaluate these against the critical success factors in order to support the decision making process on the future of The Broad Walk.

Questionnaire surveys and video surveys were undertaken simultaneously during three stages of the trial:

At the outset of the trial, surveys were undertaken on • Saturday 20 August and Thursday 18 September 2008.

Approximately mid way through the trial on Friday 6 • March and Saturday 7 March 2009.

During summer 2009 on Thursday 16 July and • Saturday 18 July.

1 Transport for London, London Cycling Design Standards. 20052 Department for Transport, Cycling in Pedestrian Areas. 20053 Department for Transport, Cycle Infrastructure Design. 2008

Critical success factors

The Royal Parks defi ned the following fi ve critical success factors4 benchmarked on previous research, which have been monitored during the trial period:

Criterion 1: No fewer than 95% of users surveyed during perception studies must rate the overall quality of the park ‘good’ or ‘excellent’.

Criterion 2: The level of comfort for pedestrians along The Broad Walk must not fall below A or B during peak user activity (measured using Platoon Level of Service, a robust methodology developed from standard pedestrian Level of Service assessments5 6).

Criterion 3: Based on video surveys along The Broad Walk more than 96% of cycle journeys must not involve neither minor confl ict nor major confl ict.

Criterion 4: 74% of pedestrians surveyed during perception studies should be satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with cycling on The Broad Walk. The data collected will be further analysed with information on vulnerable users (classifi ed and registered disabled, elderly and people with children under 5 years of age.) If there is a high proportion of this group who are uncomfortable this will be further assessed. Dog walkers will also be considered.

Criterion 5: 94% of cyclists surveyed during perception studies should be satisfi ed, comfortable or very comfortable with cycling on The Broad Walk.

To assess criteria 4 and 5, surveys used the following fi ve categories: very uncomfortable, uncomfortable, satisfi ed, comfortable, very comfortable. This was adapted from an equivalent range of fi ve categories (very well, well, OK, badly, very badly) which had been used in previous research undertaken for the Royal Parks.

4 The Royal Parks, The Regent’s Park Broad Walk Shared-Use Cycle Project Summer Trial Report and Extended Trial Criteria. August 20085 Fruin, John J. Pedestrian Planning and Design. New York: Metropolitan Association of Urban Designers and Environmental Planners Inc. 19716 Pushkarev, Boris, and Jeffrey M. Zupan. Urban Space for Pedestrians: a Report of the Regional Plan Association. MIT Press: Cambridge, Mass. 1975

1715 January 2010

The Broad Walk Shared Use Trial MonitoringIntroduction

About this report

This report provides a technical summary of the fi ndings, presented in the following chapters:

Chapter 1 ‘Executive Summary’

Chapter 2 ‘Introduction’

Chapter 3 ‘Pedestrian and Cyclist Activity’.

The results of an assessment of activity levels, movement and background information on the types of people using The Broad Walk is presented, undertaken using video footage.

Chapter 4 ‘User Perception Study’

The results of a comprehensive analysis of user opinions, surveyed on-site over the course of the shared use trial, is presented.

Chapter 5 ‘User Behaviour’

In addition to an assessment of cyclist speeds and compliance of no-cycling rules, this chapter outlines interactions and potential confl icts between users.

Chapter 6 ‘Level of Comfort Assessment’

An assessment of pedestrian comfort along The Broad Walk.

Chapter 7 ‘Conclusions’

This chapter summarises the key fi ndings of this research.

Appendices contain survey details and information on the interactions study and an assessment of the physical characteristics of The Broad Walk.

Map of The Broad Walk in The Regent’s ParkFigure 28

No Window

The Regents Park

Water

Road and Open Space

Park and Planting

Pavement

Building


Underground Station

Showing the location of

The Broad Walk Shared Use Trial

Outer Circle

Outer Circle

Prince Albert Road

Prince Albert RoadSt. Mark’s BridgeSt. Mark’s Bridge

Outer C

ircleO

uter Circle

Albany Street

Albany Street

Park

way

Park

way

Outer Circle

Outer CirclePark Road

Park Road

Great Portland Great Portland St St StationStation

Camden Town Camden Town StationStation


Avenue G

ardens

Avenue G

ardens

The Broad Walk

The Broad Walk


Regent’s Park Regent’s Park StationStation


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View from The Regent’s Park facing south-east towards central LondonFigure 29

About Atkins Intelligent SpaceAtkins Intelligent Space is a consultancy providing expertise on pedestrian movement and space use. We work to help improve public space, minimise social risks and maximize economic benefi ts. The practice uses science-based methods to turn pedestrian movement from an undervalued resource into a tangible and manageable asset.

As a business operation within Atkins since 2007, Intelligent Space is based in central London and carries out projects on an international level. Since our foundation in 2000, we have been working for renowned clients among government bodies, property owners, developers and consultants. The work of the practice is cited in the Department for Transport’s good practice casebook “Walking: The Way Ahead”. Intelligent Space won the 2002 AGI Innovation Award for the analysis of crowding at Notting Hill Carnival and were independent cross party technical advisors to the 2002 UK Parliamentary Debate on Walking in Towns and Cities.

During past projects including evaluation of walking and cycling infrastructure on Hampstead Heath, in Kensington Gardens and Greenwich Park, Atkins Intelligent Space has developed a set of evidence-based tools for assessing shared use spaces in terms of user comfort and infrastructure management. We are currently writing research-led Guidance for the design of shared use routes across London’s Greenways for Transport for London. We are also undertaking analysis for the Department for Transport, which will lead to new local transport guidance for Shared Space and Shared Use in 2011.

11462 technical report - the royal parks

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