Walking and Cycling to Southmead Hospital

Transcription

1 Walking and Cycling to Southmead Hospital A note of the opportunities, route, tactics and programme Revised Draft for discussion purposes John Grimshaw CBE August 0

2 Walking and Cycling to Southmead Hospital A note of the opportunities, route, tactics and programme In 0 the new Southmead Hospital opens. It hopes to see a significant number of staff and visitors choosing to walk and cycle to the Hospital. Indeed of all major institutions in Bristol, the Hospital has a vested interest in encouraging high levels of active travel for fitness and health. There is a considerable urgency in putting in place convenient, safe and attractive walking and cycling routes because in 0 during the move to the new Hospital the number of car parking spaces will be reduced and so of necessity it will be a great opportunity for staff and visitors to make a change and get in the habit of walking and cycling. This note sets out what must be done in identifying routes, opening them up, signing and promoting them and making the Hospital precinct itself welcoming for pedestrians and cyclists. These proposals have been prepared at the request of Adrienne Parsons and her Active Travel Team. Although they are of a preliminary nature to be discussed and developed, they cover all the essential ingredients for a successful policy. High levels of everyday walking and cycling require the following:. Safe and attractive routes which are seen to be more pleasant and convenient to use than the current experience of travelling by bus or car.. Popular routes where there is a sufficient mass of people to both encourage the individual to walk and cycle (its normal to do so) and to make them feel safe by the presence of others.. A welcoming presence at the Hospital. This is not just bike storage and showers. Much more importantly it is the provision of really beautiful routes from each of the Hospital s entrances which give the message to everyone that walking and cycling is the way to travel here. Walking Routes Individuals will start from hundreds of destinations and will nearly always start walking down their local street or from a nearby bus stop. As soon as possible their route would join in with one signed to the Hospital and designed as a Southmead Hospital route. Its key features will be Use of parks to give an open spacious traffic free feel Use of short cuts to give a more direct route Tree lined streets to make on road sections more attractive should be a signature of routes to Southmead Hospital Priority or protected crossings of all roads Welcoming entrances to the Hospital which are separated from, although maybe adjacent to, vehicular entrances Avenues within the Hospital to its main buildings and the Hub The map shows the suggested walking routes and highlights the Parks, which could be so important a part of this walking world. Note that most walking routes will be quite short and these routes need not extend for more than kms with the last half nearest the Hospital the most important. The path across Northville Millennium Green. Note: routes via parks will need to be lit if they are to be used year round. This is especially important for the hour operation of the hospital Cycling Routes Cycling routes follow very much the same principles except that they can extend further, maybe up to 8kms. On minor residential roads cyclists will be travelling with the traffic rather than on the footway. Through the open spaces though, shared use routes should be developed. Within the Hospital itself where there may be a high concentration of usage, separating out walkers and cycles maybe an advantage. The problem in this area is to find routes which are direct, avoid the main heavily trafficked roads, and which minimise the total hills to climb. This is a difficult task especially as the main roads historically chose the least hilly alignments. Interaction with the Community It should be noted that many or most of the beneficiaries of these routes will not be Hospital based but will be the general public going to schools, shops and their separate work. It is much to be welcomed that Southmead Hospital s initiative will diffuse popular routes throughout the wider community and lead the way to a much more active life style throughout the community. Routes within the Hospital precinct The map shows the main entrances available and the works needed. As far as possible we envisage tree lined avenues for walkers and cyclists leading from each entrance to the hub of the hospital. These routes should have continuity and priority over any side roads and this should be made clear by means of raised zebra crossings or similar. Careful thought should be given at each entrance to make it clear that the travellers are important, even though they are only walkers and cyclist. For example the Kendon Drive entrance is a scruffy gate which suggests a reluctant concession, whereas it is the end of the main route from Henleaze, Clifton and Bristol. Entrance should be memorable locations with carefully detailed work and even sculptural input to emphasis their importance. They are after all the start of a journey through the Hospital. Developing the routes There is an urgency to see these routes open but each has some work to be done before they can be opened. They need to be tested by novice cyclists and walkers (their purpose is to encourage many more people to walk and cycle, not just to make existing cyclist have an easier journey). Negotiations for new links and crossing details need to be undertaken and works then put in hand, and finally the routes need to be signed and promoted and staff incentivised to use them. Some of the routes such as the Dorian Road route from Bristol s Concorde Way are available now, at least in an interim state, and can be signed. Others such as the fascinating link across the Millennium Green need careful negotiations and detailed work. In some case whilst this is happening an interim route of reasonable standard could be followed. The Southmead Hospital Active Travel Group This Group owns the project and can do much to develop and promote it. They are custodians of the routes, ensuring support within the Hospital Development Programme, perhaps signing the routes and then leading the way in promotion and use. Bristol City Council The Council supports this programme and sees it as a significant and crucial part of their strategy for developing a Green and Active City. The proposals connect to the ideas for a Strategic Cycling Network. The promotion of the Southmead routes and the development of promenade routes within the Hospital site will do much to raise the profile and the funding of the overall scheme. It should be noted that to the north the routes run into South Gloucestershire and that links to the proposed South Gloucestershire Truck Cycle Route will be achieved under a programme coordinated by Suscom and others. Page

3 l Map. Walking to Southmead Hospital with distances from hub Walking and cycling to Southmead Hospital : A note of the opportunities, route, tactics and programme.0km.km Approximately km from main entrance to Hospital Filton Recreation Ground (extensive views to the north).0km Millennium Green (wide views) Filton Station.0km Monk s Park.0km Badock s Wood Southmead Hospital Horfield Common The Trym Path Page 0 metres 000

4 Map. Cycling to Southmead Hospital - notes on cycling routes A - G Route A - Bristol Parkway and Filton Station. Station exit connects direct to dedicated cycling routes from Parkway to Bristol Concorde Way. Existing bridge over main line railway is well used by cyclists. This very convenient cut through has been gated off. It could be reopened largely on Network Rail land, so as to minimise perceived security issues.. This road is closed off to through traffic.. Shakespeare Avenue is almost dead level and is also an excellent example of modern home zone design. This makes for the most attractive way and the least hilly way to Southmead.. Existing crossing of main road serves Orchard school. 7. Remove hedge so as to run spacious path parallel to school grounds. 8. this wide footway is suitable for a shared use route. Monks Park Avenue crossing will need to be carefully detailed.. Cut through this jutting hedge at the corner of the substation to reach the playing fields. 0. Construct and plant new path and avenue around Horfield Sports Centre Field to join Dorian Road at new development. Route B - Link to Concorde Way. Dorian Road will be the main ambulance route to the hospital. If possible it should not be used for other hospital staff or visitor vehicles so as to minimise traffic on this important cycling route.. This crossing of the main road needs some attention. There are schemes in hand for this junction to be funded from the Sainsburys store development.. Plant up Wessex and Lockleaze Avenues as avenues! This then links to Concorde Way for the established route to Bristol. Route D - From Westbury on Trym via Eastfield Road and Lake Road This route will give an attractive bypass to the Southmead Road.. Existing advance stop lines at Southmead Road junction. Plant up Doncaster Road with Avenue trees both sides to make this an attractive approach to the Hospital.. Follow Lake Road past the Lido. Route E - The Southmead Route to Cribbs Causeway. The exit from the Hospital needs careful thought. The footway is narrow here and there is a considerable conflict in turning movements. Really the entrance needs redesigning to make a wide pavement each side of the traffic and a strip of Hospital Land is required to make the important link to Shetland Road.. Provide a second zebra crossing in this area and negotiate to replant the hedge m back? On Shetland Road itself, consider closing off to through traffic and changing priorities at crossings.. Open up these diagonal paths to cyclists.. Opportunity for a new path across this open space.. Cross road and make shared pavement on east side.. Existing Charlton Road will lead to a cycle route across the former runway to Cribbs Causeway itself.. The value of the current Council scheme to provide a shared use route on this wide pavement will depend upon the quality of priority crossings of the Elm Park and Springfields side roads.. The Council scheme continues up the main road. Route G - to the Millennium Green, and Filton Sports Centre. There are zebra crossings all around the Gloucester Road mini roundabout which could be used.. Open up new link to Millennium Green.. Make new path across Green keeping to the level.. Open up closed entrance to Shields Avenue to make a direct link to school.. Convert existing path to shared use by widening it so as to provide a link to the Sports Centre. Make a new path cutting diagonally across the green to as to give an attractive route for as long as possible and avoid having to walk or cycle up the hill beside the main road. 7. Adjust existing lights crossing for shared use 8. Continue on minor roads. Allow cycling on this path so as to serve local people. 0. A good path could be set all along this boundary by removing the school hedge and creating a new avenue. This would give the least hilly way to the Hospital site. Shakespeare Avenue Home Zone route from Fiton Staion The path through Monks Park Page. Link from Kellaway Avenue to Dorian Road. This connects with planned zebra crossing to Western Road. Route C The Kendal Drive Route to Bristol This route is already signed, but only very minimally. The Southmead Active Travel Working Group could take over the signing of this and every route with the support of the Councils.. Detail this crossing.. The route divides and small details and works are required all through to enhance it as a clearly defined and eased route. Route F. Monk s Park Avenue: A wider link to the existing crossing could be made by adding m of Hospital land.. Existing path through Monk s Park needs to be marked for shared use.. Dunkeld Avenue is a wide tree lined road with little traffic. There is a bit of a climb up Charborough Road (which makes this route somewhat less attractive than it might have been) and careful details will be needed for shared use of existing crossing on Gloucester Road View of the Monks Park Avenue junction and crossing Kenmore Drive Crescent showing attractive tree lined road

5 l Map. Cycling to Southmead Hospital (revised August 0) Walking and cycling to Southmead Hospital : A note of the opportunities, route, tactics and programme 8 7 E F Filton Station G 0 Southmead Hospital A 7 Internal routes shown in detail on separate pages 8 D e Wa y C cord 0 Con B Page

6 Map. The Southmead Hospital Site map This map shows the proposed layout of roads within the site. The scale is too small to show the details of the walking and cycling routes which should be clearly delineated as attractive tree lined avenues separate from general traffic. The entrances should be made a particular and recognisable feature. (Details of each route on following pages) View of current access from Southmead Road which is to become a traffic free promenade. Monk s Park Avenue. Dorian Road Avenue. Kenden Drive Avenue. Southmead Road Avenue Page

7 Suggested main walking and cycling route from Monk s Park Avenue to the Hospital Entrance Scale (metres ) Avenue trees Looking down Avenue beside Monk s Park Way towards Monk s Park Avenue Entrance Monk s Park Way m path possibly divided down centre Existing car park Existing Path beside Monk s Park Way. Double path width into space away from road 8 m m m. Bristol City Council to revise existing Pelican Crossing and connection to Sherston Road for shared use to provide the connection through to Monk s Park Open Space Link.. Widen footway into Hospital land so as to give.0m width from the roadside kerb. Provide new planting and boundary on Hospital land.. Monk s Park Avenue Entrance Gateway.. Depending upon the redevelopment here the shared use path may only be m wide for a short distance. Note the remains of a former dividing line for cyclists.. Create avenue along this section by removing one row of parked car () as shown in the cross section.. Raised zebra crossing of this side road to give priority to pedestrians and cyclist. 7. Depending upon the arrangement of services here the path may have to divide in two. 8. This is a lovely section of existing path as can be seen in the photograph. Widen the existing path away from the road and plant further trees along this far side.. Provide a raised zebra crossing to cross any road here. 0. This area will be an important focus where we would encourage cyclists to leave their bikes and to proceed on foot to the Hospital entrance. Space for bikes could be provided between the trees although it would be easier if the boundary wall could be demolished? Part of this will have to be removed for the avenue from Dorian Road anyway.. Widen this raised zebra across Monk s Park Way to.0m.. This corner is a pinch point on the all important approach to the Hospital entrance. Maybe the exact location or size of the roundabout could be adjusted to give a little more room here? And the planned retaining wall could be constructed nearer to the building? It would be very valuable to achieve a.0m width as the number of people walking to and from the Hospital will inevitably increase the closer one gets to the entrance.. Widen this proposed crossing to.0m as well.. Widen final approach path to Hospital entrance to m or even m.. Note that all seats along these paths should be set back by.m so that people enjoying them are well clear of the path itself. Similarly make sure that ALL street furniture bins, lighting, signs are set back at least 0.m clear of the edge of the path.. Final crossing to the Hospital entrance.0m wide. 7. These roadside paths are not needed and the lawn should be taken up to the kerbside. 8. Rearrange paths here to be on the desire line. Page 7

8 Plant avenue Suggested main walking and cycling route from Dorian Road to the Hospital Entrance Scale (metres ) New path to make main avenue route Remove hedge Dig up and grass over footway m m View outside A&W Mental Health Trust boundary showing the width of land occupied by the hedge View showing space behind hedge along much of Dorian Way Dorian Way showing hedge on east side which could be replaced with spacious avenue for pedestrians and cyclists. Dorian Road Entrance Gate. Note Bristol City Council could aim to direct as many cyclists and pedestrians along Tilling Road so as to minimise any conflicts on Dorian Road itself. If this can be achieved consideration would need to be given to exactly how pedestrians and cyclists would negotiate their way from Tilling Road to the start of the entrance path. This might require a raised zebra at the entrance to the Hospital or some other crossings which suited ambulances.. Tilling Road.. The footway is barely.0m wide here and so would not be suitable for shared use. One option over this 0m section would be for cyclists to follow the road and then to join the avenue at the crossing further along. Another would be to negotiate for an additional.m of land from the neighbouring gardens providing them with a good quality brick boundary wall to their gardens by way of compensation.. Move the proposed bus stops further along the road to beyond the crossing at the start of the.0m wide avenue.. Negotiate with A&W Mental Health Trust to take.0m of land to widen the footway to.0m.. At the two crossings the path would need to come into A&W Mental Health Trust by a further.0m so as to allow fort a raised zebra crossing. 7. Over this section negotiate to extend the path up to the existing closed timber boundary fence to achieve a.0m path. 8. Once past the building negotiate to construct a.0m wide path on A&W Mental Health Trust land so as to create a full avenue for the remainder of the route.. Raised zebra crossing. This is the boundary of the A&W Mental Health Trust land. 0. The path may need to be slightly narrower in the vicinity of this service cabinet.. Link paths as required.. Some of the masonry boundary wall will need to be removed to allow the Dorian Road Avenue through.. Provide storage for bikes here, keeping the trees where possible. This will encourage cyclists to leave their bikes here and proceed on foot to the Hospital entrance.. To Monk s Park Avenue Entrance. Page 8

9 Suggested main walking and cycling route from Kendon Drive to the Hospital Entrance Avenue trees Scale (metres ) View looking towards Hospital from Kendon Drive direction Boundary fence Existing car park Access Road m m m m Kendon Drive Entrance with obstructing car. Continue the surfacing right through from the public road and plant out avenue trees to the road itself. Note that this is the link to the lovely Badock s Wood and it is proposed that the linking roads Kingsholm and Doncaster are planted with avenue trees to draw Badock s Wood up to the Hospital.. Kendon Drive Entrance Gateway.. Provide raised zebra crossing of internal access road instead of the two shown on the current plans.. Security Entrance Gateway.. Position boundary fencing,.0m off the back of the car park. Use a green mesh fence so as not to detract from this avenue to the Hospital.. Create.0m wide path with.0m verges on either side, and plant an avenue of trees through to the Hospital. 7. Here the path will need to move nearer to the road. Allow.0m clear off the building so as to accommodate entrances. 8. Raised zebra crossing across car park entrance. There will not be room for trees on this section.. Entrance to bike storage. 0. Main route to Hospital entrance.. Space for bikes in open racks so they can be left as close to the entrance as possible.. Note that all path junctions should be radiused as shown (.0m). Page

10 Suggested main walking and cycling route from Southmead Road to the Hospital Entrance 7 8 Southmead Road entrance showing the more recent gates and brick plinths. These need removing and the kerb realigned to create a m wide path Scale (metres ) 0 Southmead Road Avenue which is to be used for a walking and cycling route Reconstruct existing boundary railings to be set back.m from the kerb so as to allow Bristol City Council to construct the important connection to Shetland Road which provides the way through to Southmead and Cribbs Causeway.. Reconstruct boundary on this side, parallel with Somerset House to provide.0m width of pavement connecting to the existing zebra crossing.. The entrance gates are probably not required any more to cross the road. Rearrange the carriageway to provide.0m wide pavements for shared use, either side. Note the entrance road need only be one carriageway width as only one stream of traffic at a time can enter the Hospital but two lanes are required for the exit so as to accommodate left and right turns.. Southmead Road Entrance Gateways.. Reposition raised zebra crossing here so as to make an early connection with the stream of pedestrians coming from the Somerset House side of the road.. Widen raised zebra crossing to m. 7. Set the main path away from the road so as to be on the desire line. Note that the roadside path is not needed and the lawn should be taken to the edge of the road. 8. Create.0m wide path along existing road. Note that it may be more economical to construct the path to one side or the other of this.m wide road so as to take advantage of the kerb? But in order to remove the characteristic of a road the surface must be flush with the grass.. Note that ALL path junctions should be radiused. 0. All seats (and other furniture bins, signs and lights) should be set back by at least 0.m so that the full width of the path remains clear.. Existing Lime tree avenue.. Reposition proposed path to match the desire line, and construct.0m wide.. Grass up to the road kerb.. Crossing to be.0m wide to provide shared use to Beaufort Way.. Cyclists to join Beaufort Way at this point because this will become only lightly trafficked.. If the proposed bollards are omitted then a.0m pavement can be achieved. 7. Arrange a wide table type zebra crossing on the line of the main walk up to the Hospital entrance, partly to be on the desire line and partly because the footway is wider on the car park side. 8. Provide racks for bikes so that they can be as close to the Hospital entrance as possible.. Entrance to storage under car park. 0. To Kendon Road Entrance. Page 0

11 Appendix - Bristol Cycling Map with Southmead routes added Shakespeare Avenue Home Zone route from Fiton Staion View of the Monks Park Avenue junction and crossing Page