Forum topic: David Burrowes and the campaign for more time to cross

Dear Mr Burrowes,

Pedestrians need more time to cross the road. Please stand up for pedestrians like me by raising this issue with Patrick McLoughlin MP, Secretary of State for Transport, and in Parliament if you haven’t already done so.

Now is the time to raise this issue with the Department for Transport currently reviewing Traffic Signs policy, including pedestrian crossings guidance.

National charity Living Streets has highlighted that current DfT guidance assumes people walk at 1.2m/s. This figure has not been updated since the 1950s when traffic and levels of car ownership were much lower than today.

Research published by University College London in 2012 showed that on today’s busy roads, three quarters of older people struggle to cross the road in time. This builds on research which shows that young children walk at a much lower speed than 1.2 m/s.

Parents pushing prams and those with young children, older and disabled people are all disadvantaged by signalised crossings because of the disproportionate priority given to motorised vehicles. Reducing the assumed walking speed to 0.8m/s would give vulnerable people three seconds more to cross the road safely.

The ability to cross the road safely is something we should all be able to take for granted. It is essential for everyday journeys on foot to access shops and services, meet friends, and to stay healthy and independent. Despite most journeys involving walking and over 77% of all trips under a mile are made on foot (on average, per person, per year), there is a major lack of priority given to walking by the Department for Transport, and inadequate crossing times are a symptom of this.

While the government has announced the consultation to review Traffic Signs and consider the use of different types of crossings to accommodate more vulnerable road users it is important thay they do review the assumed walking speed.

Please ask Patrick McLoughlin MP to review the current guidance on pedestrian crossings and increase the amount of time pedestrians have to cross the road as well as raise the priority given to walking within his Department and raise the issue in Parliament. I would appreciate it if you send me any response you receive from him on this issue.

I would also be grateful if you also took one of the following actions:

1. Tweet your support, including @livingstreets and #timetocross - here's an example tweet for your convenience: bit.ly/1arXzuU
2. Raise the issue with my local council.
3. Raise the issue of the complete lack of pedestrian crossing facilities at the junction of Green Lanes, Bourne Hill and Hedge Lane with Enfield Council and TfL. This is an extremely dangerous crossing but one that cannot be avoided by anyone walking.

Thank you in advance.

Yours sincerely

Basil Clarke

Dear Basil

Many thanks for the email you sent me late last night about the Living Streets campaign and pedestrian crossings.

I certainly appreciate that it can take longer for children, the elderly and disabled to cross the road and take the safety of pedestrians extremely seriously.

It is up to local authorities to ensure their pedestrian crossings provide everyone with enough time to cross the road safely. The Government provides a range of suggested timings for crossing in its guidance. However, these are not mandatory and I do believe that local authorities are best placed to assess and respond to local need.

I have therefore raised this issue repeatedly with Enfield Council and also with Transport for London (around the A406 area). I will continue to highlight particular areas of need (as raised with me by my constituents) with the relevant authorities.

You will be pleased to know, the Department for Transport recommends that where a crossing may be used by a large number of older people or those with mobility issues, for example outside residential care homes, this should be taken into account.

I do hope that this information helps, and thank you again for taking the time to contact me about this important issue.

Best wishes

David