Our team of experts studied the pedestrian crossings at roundabouts in Biel, Switzerland, then compared them with similar crossings at Pontorson, Normandy, France, and in the UK at Norbiton and Surbiton, London and at Poynton near Manchester.
Study.
Crossings at roundabouts
Biel
Linked design: traffic, zebra crossings, landscape
At Biel, Switzerland, we looked at several edge-of-town centre roundabouts. The overwhelming positive impression was the way that simplified pedestrian crossings had been integrated into the obvious pedestrian desire line as well as landscape.
Thus safety, convenience and the comfort of vulnerable pedestrians as well as the integration of landscape were central elements of the design.
A key point for UK traffic engineers is the concern that placing the crossings so close to the roundabout reduces the road space available for vehicles leaving the roundabout to stop without backing up on the roundabout and thereby causing traffic congestion.
From observation, a five-metre road space between the roundabout and crossing appeared to be sensible compromise. A longer distance would create an unnecessarily detour for pedestrians A shorter distance would be insufficient for a single car to leave the roundabout and stop at the crossing with congesting the roundabout.
Where we saw longer vehicles or a group of cars stopping at the exit crossing, we noticed that if there was congestion on the roundabout, it was very temporary as the traffic lane was sufficiently narrow to allow pedestrians to cross, and therefore free the road, reasonably quickly.
At Pontorson, Normandy, France, there was a similar care to give pedestrians a safe, convenient and comfortable route across all roads leading to the roundabout. There were similar distances from the simplified zebra crossings to the junction with the roundabout as well as a similar integrated landscape.
The conclusion would be that concern for amenity and vulnerable pedestrians appears to be advanced across much mainland Europe.
Linked design: traffic, zebra crossings, landscape, similar to Biel
Pontorson
At Norbiton, west London, conventional UK zebra crossings are located approximately five metres away from each junction of the roundabout, in a similar traffic arrangement to the roundabouts at Biel and Pontorson.
Though not currently recommended by the Department for Transport, Traffic Sign Manual, the closeness of the crossings to the edge of the roundabout, a distance of some five-metres, does not appear to cause congestion on the roundabout or inconvenience drivers.
However, as required by current traffic sign regulations, the conventional zebra crossings are complete with twenty zig-zag lines, ten sets of painted studs and ten stop line road markings, as well as a total of ten Belisha beacons (orange flashing globes on black and white posts) at the road junctions of the roundabout.
The result has a very confusing cluttered appearance, detrimental to road safety and the objectives of good urban design.
Standard UK zebra crossings at all five junctions of the roundabout
Norbiton
At Surbiton, west London, a roundabout of similar size and traffic volumes to that at Norbiton, has the normal UK courtesy crossing arrangement of a dropped kerb and tactile paving at each of the five road junctions between the approach roads and the roundabout.
There are no warning signs to tell drivers that pedestrian are likely to cross. At one of the roads there is a conventional zebra crossing some 90 metres away. There are no alternative conventional zebra crossings at any of the other approach roads.
Only fit and aware pedestrians feel comfortable using any of the crossings. Vulnerable people are at a significant disadvantage.
Courtesy (uncontrolled) crossings at all five junctions of the roundabout
Surbiton
At Poynton, Cheshire, near Manchester, an unconventional roundabout, built in 2011 replaced a conventional signalised cross road junction. Pedestrian crossing places are located conveniently on the obvious pedestrian desire lines as seen at Biel and Pontorson.
The design’s significant feature is that all conventional traffic signs have been omitted. Formally it is described as an uncontrolled junction. However, because of arrangement of the kerbs and change of road surface at the two roundels, drivers treat the road junction as a double mini roundabout and safely make the correct manoeuvres.
This degree of uncertainty leads drivers to take care and respect other road users, including pedestrians at the informal pedestrian crossing places. At each of the four approach roads, the carriageway is narrowed to prevent drivers parking or waiting. This reduced width allows pedestrians to cross the road conveniently, safely and comfortably.
Uncontrolled junction: no traffic signs, road markngs or zebra crossings
Poynton
Conclusions
National casualty data shows the uncontrolled junction at Poynton to be remarkably safe
Crashmap.co.uk. the government vehicle accident data base gives a general impression about the safety of each of the three UK roundabouts. As would be expected the Norbiton roundabout, with its complete set of conventional zebra crossings has the least accidents.
At Surbiton, where all the crossings are uncontrolled has a single recorded pedestrian casualty in the last three years.
At Poynton, the totally uncontrolled junction there were none. The recent safety record is better than existed at the previously signalled controlled junction.
The data does not give any indication of inconvenience to pedestrians or the likelihood that vulnerable pedestrians would have difficulty using any of the uncontrolled crossings.
However, a reasonable conclusion is that at Surbiton as well as Poynton, vulnerable pedestrians would feel far more comfortable when they cross the road if the uncontrolled crossings were converted to simplified zebra crossings.
The conclusion regarding Poynton is that it is remarkable that a totally uncontrolled junction is so safe. Drivers have become used to driving with care and avoid taking risks.
More generally there are huge opportunities in the Uk to integrate safe, convenient and comfortable pedestrian routes at roundabouts with local landscape.