Pedestrianise the University - Tyndall Avenue

The Dutch originally introduced the idea of taking away all road furniture, so that cars/buses/pedestrians/cyclists all share the same space, and interact mainly by eye contact, to make a safer thoroughfare for all. 

This has now been taken up in many other places, for example the main road outside Imperial College South Kensington campus. 

Tyndally avenue and the top half of Woodland Rd would be ideal to transform in this way - there is always a huge throughput of mainly student pedestrian traffic here, squeezed onto inadequately narrow pavements because of the space given over to cars and a bus route. There is also an alternative route for the latter on St Michael's Park if required

Why the contribution is important

To make the space in the main University precinct far more friendly to the majority of people who use it, and create a space that give a very positive vibe about the University, right at its heart.

by user125525 on December 11, 2013 at 11:26PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 4.3
Based on: 13 votes

Comments

  • Posted by user563181 December 12, 2013 at 21:39

    It's all very well to say that. But what about local residents who have to pass by quite often in a car. Who will be passing by when you are on your Christmas, Easter or Summer holidays. It gets very busy around lunchtime in term times, that is a very narrow time band and doesn't mean you should stop people going about their normal business, as they do, come rain, come shine all through the year.

  • Posted by user920528 December 13, 2013 at 16:03

    Good idea, it would develop a campus atmosphere within the city. Leave the bus running through but at reduced speed.

  • Posted by user125525 December 13, 2013 at 23:20

    This will result in at worst a tiny addition to travel time. If a car has to go at 10mph along the 100 yard stretch instead of 20mph, that's only an extra 20seconds. And of course during non-term times it will be even less extra time. Is that worth a safe space for all?

  • Posted by user236215 December 18, 2013 at 10:39

    Good idea Moinsaleem! The area does feel dangerous with vehichles coming at all directions, and given that it might just be the busy pedestrian area in Bristol, I would love to see more done. Agree with MB37 that local residents (and the Grammar School) needs must be considered, however I thought that the point of shared space is that cars can use at anytime? -should be limited impact? In conjunction, there would need to be efforts to stop the use of the area as a rat run for cars - but sounds like a win-win to me. Improve the area for the greatest number of users (pedestrians), make it safer for all and further improve the area for 2 great South-West institutions - UoB and the Grammar School.

  • Posted by user447986 December 18, 2013 at 12:43

    YES to this. University Walk and Tankards Close too (leaving access for deliveries and emergency vehicles).

    Just keep a through route from the top of Elton Road to St Michael's Park for the buses (they don't stop on Tyndall Avenue anyway).

  • Posted by user412750 December 19, 2013 at 21:32

    I've seen it working at the Imperial College site in London where traffic is absolutely fraught. It works. If it works there, it can work in Bristol.

    It is not about squeezing motor vehicles out, but about increasing everyone's awareness of each other, and getting everyone to treat each other with care and respect, regardless of their mode of transport. Who could object to that?

    An excellent idea.

  • Posted by user447986 January 03, 2014 at 22:56

    Well this is getting an unintentional trial run due to Wessex Water digging up the road -

    "From 6th January, a full road closure will be in force at the junction of Woodland Road, Elton Road and Tyndall Avenue."

    Let's see if it really causes much of an issue for local traffic.
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