R2OK! Forum Index R2OK!
Contact R2OK! admin

Click here for R2OK! Website


 
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups   RegisterRegister 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 

Oxford Circus New Pedestrians Crossing

 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    R2OK! Forum Index -> News and Current Affairs
View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
mark occomore



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:24 pm    Post subject: Oxford Circus New Pedestrians Crossing Reply with quote

Shoppers in central London may soon be able to cross Oxford Circus diagonally under plans to ease congestion.

The busy intersection would be adapted under a £4m investment plan inspired by Tokyo's Shibuya crossing, where pedestrians cross with ease.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7498662.stm

____________________

Good idea, but a nightmare in London when the roadworks start.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
John W



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:00 pm    Post subject: Re: Oxford Circus New Pedestrians Crossing Reply with quote

mark occomore wrote:
Shoppers in central London may soon be able to cross Oxford Circus diagonally under plans to ease congestion.



Well, well, Mark. London is decades behind other cities in the UK who have had box junctions for 30 years! Rolling Eyes


John
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
mark occomore



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 9955
Location: UK

PostPosted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

John,

I guess the future plans will be to move the buses away from Oxford street? Just a theory!!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
John W



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK

PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 9:59 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

mark occomore wrote:
John,

I guess the future plans will be to move the buses away from Oxford street? Just a theory!!


Again, London is decades behind. The Coventry shopping precinct was the first traffic-free shopping area in Europe, built in 1948-52.

Recently, though, I've noticed they sometimes let disabled drivers park in Smithford Way Rolling Eyes Still haven't figured how their cars GET there; off the market area I guess.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
RockitRon



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646

PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:38 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Tokyo's Shibuya is interesting - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXtOdSgf6Ic&NR=1 amongst other examples. The traffic is halted for 40-50 seconds (green lights at traffic lights here last ten if you're lucky) and this appears to be only just long enough for people to cross, as the last few mingle with the restarted traffic, which is presumably also given longer time.

The system must rely upon there being sufficient space to hold back the waiting army of ants. Unless they plan to demolish some of the buildings (including the tube station!) around Oxford Circus I'm not sure how they're going to manage it. It would certainly be better than the lottery of using the Underground subway to cross, though - working out which exit comes out where is a nightmare.
_________________
Ron
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Mark Mayhew



Joined: 11 Dec 2006
Posts: 2897

PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 8:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

London has lots of pedestrian only areas so it is factually incorrect to say we are decades behind.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
John W



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 3367
Location: Warwickshire, UK

PostPosted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 10:03 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Mark Mayhew wrote:
London has lots of pedestrian only areas so it is factually incorrect to say we are decades behind.


I was implying they were decades behind with regard to their most popular shopping area.

Brent Cross was built in 1976, decades behind, though I accept that it was the first 'enclosed' shopping mall in UK. The Coventry one is only partly enclosed, and that was only recently ! Laughing
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
RockitRon



Joined: 07 Dec 2006
Posts: 7646

PostPosted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nottingham's Victoria Centre opened in 1973; it's certainly enclosed. I don't think it was the first, either - probably Birmingham's Bull Ring Centre (the first one) in the 60s.

No matter.

It would be impossible to do that for London's Oxford Street or, indeed to ban all traffic - I think only buses, taxis and cycles are allowed now - as some people need a little help to get from one end (Marble Arch) to the other (Tottenham Court Raod) without burrowing underground.

Thinking further about it, a much better candidate for the Shibuya Crossing treatment, at least on a visual and logistical headache scale, would be Piccadilly Circus
_________________
Ron
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    R2OK! Forum Index -> News and Current Affairs All times are GMT
Page 1 of 1

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum


Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group. Hosted by phpBB.BizHat.com