Highways and Footways
Against the backdrop of the climate emergency, COVID-19 pandemic and the societal awakening to social and mobility injustices, ‘Highways and Footways Guidelines’ has been developed through agile engagement with the Cross River Partnership team and representatives from local authorities to address accessibility issues – both historic and emerging – that either need renewed attention or guidance where it is lacking. These issues range from broader challenges, such as addressing modal conflict, female safety and devising 24-hour strategies for the public realm, to more specific issues, such as ensuring alternative crossings are safe for all, managing the increase of kerbside activity and designing inclusive cycle infrastructure readdress the issues and barriers faced by underrepresented user groups and those using non-standard cycles.
The report is available to download at the end of this page.
Accessible streets, Equitable landscapes
By 2040, London’s population is forecast to be 9.9 million – 900,000 more than today’s in 2021. The projected growth, in conjunction with Zero Carbon London targets and Healthy Streets (TfL) ambitions will see a larger modal shift in user behaviours away from cars to active travel. It is essential that London’s highways and footways adapt to these changes to facilitate safe and accessible travel.
As the Department of Transport seeks to amend the code to put pedestrians at the top of a new road hierarchy, having received overwhelmingly positive consultation feedback (December 2021) for the proposed changes, ‘Highways and Footways Guidelines’ sets out a shared vision for accessibility that exceeds minimum safety standards that is founded upon the belief that no matter what form of mobility we rely on or choose to use, we are all pedestrians and that by enhancing their safety and accessibility, we benefit all users of highways and footways.
Children, the elderly, disabled people and/or with neurodiverse conditions are given particular attention across the study of different accessibility issues. By addressing the needs of the more vulnerable or the underrepresented, highways and footways can overcome intersectional issues and become more safe, accessible and generous spaces for the fuller spectrum of society with different mobility abilities, creating more equitable landscapes for all.
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