OpenStreets Bath
The Vision
A segregated bike route allowing for safe cycling along the London Road.
Close two sides of Queen Square to traffic.
Remove through traffic from Gay Street and create an inviting environment for all.
A segregated bike route allowing for safe cycling along the London Road.
"Cities that seize this moment to make it easier for people to walk, bike and take public transport will prosper after this pandemic and not simply recover from it" Janette Sadik-Khan
Reclaim Street Space for a
healthier, safer and happier Bath
Cities around the world are taking street space back to enable pedestrians to physically distance safely, to reduce air pollution that contributes to respiratory diseases and enable vibrant economies in a post-pandemic world.
Bath must act now.
Using paint and some imagination, we can quickly and effectively transform our streets to respond to the crisis.
Now
Open Streets for All
The Ideas
Open Street Principles
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Increase pavement widths to allow for safe physical distancing from others and make walking a more attractive way to get around.
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Close streets to private vehicles (while allowing emergency access) to reduce pollution in the key areas and allow more space for walking and cycling.
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Create pop-up bike lanes on key routes to allow all ages and abilities to safely cycle into the city.
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Create safe transportation options for key workers.
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Close some streets to through traffic to allow for safe cycling and walking in areas where the pavements are narrow.
Pavement Widening
Bike
Lanes
Slow
Streets
Street
Closures
Reallocate road space as pavement by using paint and plastic bollards
Benefits
+ Create additional space for so pedestrians can safely physically distance.
+ Allow cafe/restaurant seating at safe physical distances.
+ Makes walking as a means of transport safer and more attractive.
+ Creates more space for those with disabilities.
Reallocate road space as segregated bike lanes by using paint and plastic bollards.
Benefits
+ Allows all ages and abilities to safely travel by bicycle.
+ Makes cycling a viable alternative to driving or taking public transport into the centre of Bath.
+ Reduces pollution related health impacts.
+ Reduc
Make streets only open to traffic accessing destinations on the street. Remove through traffic by implementing bollards mid-way on the street.
Benefits
+ Reduces vehicle traffic on the street allowing pedestrians to walk in the street when necessary.
+ Reduces air pollution for businesses and residents located on the street.
+ Creates a safe environment for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
+ Still allows vehicles to access all properties on the street and allows emergency vehicles to pass through.
Close the street entirely to all vehicle traffic except emergency vehicles.
Benefits
+ Removes vehicle traffic on the street allowing pedestrians to distance more effectively.
+ Reduces air pollution for businesses and residents located on the street.
+ Creates a safe environment for cyclists of all ages and abilities.
Pavement Widening
Street Closures
Bike Lanes
Slow Streets
Bike Route London Road
London Road
Bike Route
Create a separated bike lane to connect the East of Bath and Batheaston to the centre of Bath.
This is a largely flat corridor that could enable all abilities and ages to cycle safely to jobs and amenities in the centre of Bath, while reducing the strain on local bus services.
Pop-up bike lanes on the London Road.
Pop-up bike lanes on the London Road.
Slow Street Gay Street
Gay Street
Slow Street
Remove through traffic from Gay Street to create a safe and comfortable environment for pedestrians and cyclists accessing the Circus and beyond.
Close Gay Street to through traffic.
Close Gay Street to through traffic.
Closure Queen Square
Queen Square
Street Closure
Close the South and Eastern arms of Queen Square to traffic entirely and reclaim as pedestrian space.
Re-route traffic flow as two-ways on North and Western sides.
Open Queens Square to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Proposed opening of Queens Square to Pedestrians.
Open Queens Square to pedestrians and bicyclists.
Pavements Pulteney Bridge
Pulteney Bridge
Pavement Widening
Pavements on Orange Grove to be widened by removing one vehicle lane and closing Pulteney Bridge to traffic entirely.
Re-route busses that currently use Pulteney Bridge via North Parade.
Pavements widening and closure of Pultney Bridge to vehicular traffic.
Pavements widening and closure of Pultney Bridge to vehicular traffic.
Pavements Pulteney Bridge
Pulteney Bridge
Pavement Widening
Pavements on Orange Grove to be widened by removing one vehicle lane and closing Pulteney Bridge to traffic entirely.
Re-route busses that currently use Pulteney Bridge via North Parade.
Pavements widening and closure of Pultney Bridge to vehicular traffic.
Pavements widening and closure of Pultney Bridge to vehicular traffic.
The Issues
Safety
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Pavements in Bath are often too narrow to effectively maintain physical distancing without stepping into the street.
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50% of Bath residents¹ take public transport, walk or cycle to work. Essential workers need the space to effectively distance as they travel to and from work.
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By creating safer streets, we will reduce the burden traffic accidents place on the NHS.
Bike Routes
Upper Bristol Road
Upper Bristol Road
Bike Routes
The Upper Bristol road is a flat and wide corridor that could easily collect the west of Bath into the city centre as a safe route for cycling.
Bike Route on the Lower Bristol Road.
Bike Route on the Lower Bristol Road.
Health
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Air Pollution is at dangerous levels in Bath(2).
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Research from Harvard shows just exposure to air pollution can increase covid-19 mortality rate by 8% (3)
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Regular exercise reduces the effects of COVID-19 (4). We must create safe streets for residents to exercise on.
Sustainability
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As lock down is lifted, we need to ensure people have safe alternatives to commuting by car.
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We need to reduce overcrowding on public transport by allowing people to safely walk and cycle.
Vitality
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We need to make space for businesses to use the street for safely distanced seating and trading as lock down is lifted.
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We do not want to ban cars or stop those that rely on cars but we must ensure that pollution and congestion do not get worse as
References
(1) Mode Share for Bath Transportation https://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/getting_around_bath_-_vision_and_strategy_launch_document.pdf
(3) https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.04.05.20054502v2
(4)https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52076856