Put pedestrians on top: Eliminate all pedestrian underpasses.BACKGROUND During the 1960s, because of the extra traffic volume generated by increased car ownership (as posited by the Buchanan Report), the view was that either new wider roads had to be built, or radical re-prioritisation and 'surgery' carried out on existing roads and junctions. Roundabouts, vehicle over and underpasses were constructed and even straight sections of roads were widened and upgraded. Yet all this happened opportunistically, ie, not as an integrated, citywide system intended to produce consistent traffic flow increases, but instead measures were applied intermittently in·ter·mit·tent adj. 1. Stopping and starting at intervals. See Synonyms at periodic. 2. Alternately containing and empty of water: an intermittent lake. to those locations where land might be assembled and a scheme implemented. Marble Arch Marble Arch is a white Carrara marble monument near Speakers' Corner in Hyde Park, at the western end of Oxford Street in London, England, near the tube station of the same name. and Hyde Park Hyde Park, park, London, England Hyde Park, 615 acres (249 hectares) in Westminster borough, London, England. Once the manor of Hyde, a part of the old Westminster Abbey property, it became a deer park under Henry VIII. became giant roundabouts with continuously flowing traffic and no stops at junctions, as did Hammersmith, Aldgate, Holloway and Elephant & Castle. Park Lane was widened to four lanes by taking land from Hyde Park and adding a northbound north·bound adj. Going toward the north. northbound Adjective going towards the north Adj. 1. carriageway carriageway Noun 1. Brit the part of a road along which traffic passes in one direction: the westbound carriageway of the M4 2. . The outcome was dire. The need to keep traffic flowing continuously in order to cope with a theoretical increase in volume meant that there could be no pedestrian crossings or traffic lights. The indiscriminate in·dis·crim·i·nate adj. 1. Not making or based on careful distinctions; unselective: an indiscriminate shopper; indiscriminate taste in music. 2. and sweeping response was to build pedestrian underpasses, accessed by ramps and stairs, and erect e·rect adj. 1. Being in or having a vertical, upright position. 2. Being in or having a stiff, rigid physiological condition. continuous railings along roads and around roundabouts to prevent 'jaywalking'. Underpasses were/are dark and dangerous, intensely confusing for wayfinding and orientation and take the pedestrian on a much longer journey. PROPOSITION Eliminate all pedestrian underpasses in London and replace with surface level pedestrian crossings. Re-use the abandoned underpass spaces for art galleries, restaurants, wine bars, internet cafes The high-tech equivalent of the coffee house. However, instead of playing chess or having heated political discussions, you browse the Internet and discuss the latest technology. CDs, DVDs, games and other "cyber stuff" are also generally available. , office storage and so on. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] |
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