Tuesday 9th March 2021
A traffic survey was carried out to investigate a handful of reports that Hope Terrace and Clinton Road were suffering from increased traffic after installation of the Quiet Route. The surveys were carried out at the modal filter at the junction of Whitehouse Loan and Strathearn Road.
Summary
- Numbers of walkers, wheelers and cyclists exceeded the numbers of motor traffic. Nearly 100 walkers seen in the space of half an hour!
- No significant rat running on Hope Terrace.
- Some low level rat-running observed on Clinton Rd – traffic should continue to be monitored here and further traffic reduction measures installed if necessary.
Morning 08:00 to 08:30
Conditions:
- Traffic on Strathearn Rd was moderately busy, indicating that “normal” rush hour was taking place, i.e. general traffic was not significantly reduced due to lockdown
- Weather was dry, overcast, light wind and ~7 degrees
- Only motor vehicles were counted in the morning, due to an oversight. However, there were more bikes on Whitehouse Loan than cars counted and many of the riders were families or towing young children in trailers. The early evening survey included bikes and walkers
- Only primary 1 to primary 3 children and key-workers’ children were in school at the time of the survey. Note that children are expected to arrive on time to school and not early (earliest start time is 08:50). This means that the morning survey ended 20 minutes before the arrival of the first primary children (although some private nursery children attend earlier)
Analysis:
- 9 vehicles were recorded on Hope Terrace in half an hour, around half of which were estimated to be residents. There was no evidence of any significant rat-running
- 25 vehicles were recorded on Clinton Rd in half an hour, particularly travelling in the southeast to northwest direction. One of the vehicles was a large food distribution lorry
- 2 vehicles arrived at the modal filter “lost”, then turned around. It is expected this behaviour will reduce to zero once drivers know the new layout.
Early evening 17:40 to 18:10
Conditions:
- Traffic on Strathearn Rd was still busy, but slightly less busy than in the morning, again indicating that “normal” rush hour was taking place, i.e. general traffic was not significantly reduced due to lockdown
- Weather was dry, overcast, wind picking up and ~7 degrees
- Motor vehicles, bikes and “walkers” were counted. The “walkers” category included runners, 3 scooters, and a skateboard.
Analysis:
- 91 walkers (including runners and wheelers) were recorded travelling along Whitehouse Loan in half an hour
- 20 bikes were recorded travelling along Whitehouse Loan in half an hour
- 3 vehicles were recorded on Hope Terrace in half an hour, one of which was a van working at one of the properties. There was no evidence of any significant rat-running
- 21 vehicles were recorded on Clinton Rd in half an hour, split equally between the two directions
- 2 vehicles arrived at the modal filter “lost”, then turned around. It is expected this behaviour will reduce to zero once drivers know the new layout.