Oxford traffic filters consultation

Fri 2 Sep 2022, 08:35

I can only see this as a revenue generating scheme. If it was about road safety then putting more traffic onto the overcrowded A34 (probably the most dangerous road in the area) would not be considered an option. Oxford's congestion is predominantly school run traffic and queues generated by "improvements" - be they the queue for the Westgate car park or at newly phased traffic lights at Seacourt. No school traffic this morning and no congestion.

Thu 1 Sep 2022, 22:52 (last edited on Thu 1 Sep 2022, 22:53)

"Every single one of the tragic deaths of cyclists in Oxford has been a collision involving an HGV"

Whilst it is true that large vehicles are involved in a disproportionate number of cycling fatalities (not just in Oxford either), they aren't all HGVs, as some involve PSVs. There were cyclist fatalities involving buses in 2004, 2006 and 2017. I found one in 2009 involving a van, and another where the vehicle was described as "other".

Cycle Streets have an interactive map of collisions involving cyclists across the country. I haven't gone through all the Oxford incidents, but it seems to me that whilst large vehicles will be disproportionately involved in fatalities for reasons of basic physics, there is a large number of other serious accidents which, whilst not involving fatalities, should not be underestimated, and most of those do not involve HGVs and PSVs.

https://bikedata.cyclestreets.net/collisions:field%3Aseverity=/#12.01/51.73355/-1.21587

Wed 31 Aug 2022, 11:57 (last edited on Wed 31 Aug 2022, 11:58)

Couldn't agree more - better access to the JR is essential from everywhere in the county. 

Wed 31 Aug 2022, 10:54

Absolutely – the City Council could have got one put in as part of the Barton Park development. A real missed opportunity.

Wed 31 Aug 2022, 09:44

A real need is for a Park and Ride for the JR with access through the back entrances off the A40 which would reduce all the hassle and queues at the JR.

Wed 31 Aug 2022, 08:54 (last edited on Wed 31 Aug 2022, 09:24)

To put this into context, the proposed bus filters are one of a number of measures that we are looking at, and which we will be considering following on from this consultation.  These will include a workplace parking levy, zero emission zones and other measures to reduce traffic in the city and improve bus and active travel options. This is just the first stage in what will be quite a long and complex process and your views are essential to this.  There is more information and a survey about OCC's wider plans at:  https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/central-oxfordshire-travel-plan 

Wed 31 Aug 2022, 07:59 (last edited on Wed 31 Aug 2022, 08:19)

Anyone who travels into Oxford (whether by train, bus or car) might like to take a look at the consultation for new ‘traffic filters’ that opened yesterday: https://letstalk.oxfordshire.gov.uk/traffic-filters-2022

The aim is ostensibly to “Make walking and cycling safer and more attractive” and “Make bus journeys faster and more reliable” by adding six no-through points across the city, a bit like the existing one on the High Street. Everywhere will still be reachable by car, but you’ll have to approach from the ring road, rather than driving through the city centre.

There is a long list of exemptions, which includes all HGVs and all vans. Residents within the ring road (and a few places outside) will get 100 day passes per vehicle, so if you have two cars you can still drive your kid to school every day, for example.

Personally I’m… not really convinced? Every single one of the tragic deaths of cyclists in Oxford has been a collision involving an HGV, so this won’t make cycling any safer. It also seems counter-intuitive to basically exempt anyone in the city centre, when the short-distance trips across the city are exactly the ones which are best suited to walking and cycling.

But see what you think and fill the consultation in. It’s open until 3rd October.