What is a Low Traffic Neighbourhood?
A low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) is a residential area, bordered by main roads where through motor vehicle traffic is discouraged or removed whilst maintaining access for residents and improving the environment for pedestrians and cyclists. LTNs are also sometimes described as filtered permeability schemes.
What is filtered permeability?
Filtered permeability is an urban planning concept that is used in Low Traffic Neighbourhoods. “Filters” are used to allow pedestrians, wheelers and cyclists through, but not motor vehicles.
What is a modal filter?
Modal filters are usually bollards or planters that restrict the passage of certain types of vehicles (usually motorised), but allow pedestrians, cyclists and other wheelers through.
What is a bus gate?
Bus gates are road restrictions that mean the road can only be used by public service buses, taxis (not private hire vehicles), pedal cyclists and emergency service vehicles. The “gates” are usually camera-enforced and its operation can be timed. There are bus gates currently in place in a few different areas of Edinburgh including The Jewel, Prestonfield Avenue, Little France Drive and Bankhead Drive.
What is rat-running?
The practice of using residential and minor streets to avoid main strategic roads or particular junctions is often know as “rat-running”. It’s an emotive term to describe something completely legitimate that, as drivers, we all do without considering the negative impact on residents, pedestrians and cyclists. The use of Sat Navs has meant an increase in traffic cutting through residential areas and evidence shows that drivers who use “rat-runs” are more likely to exceed speed limits.
How will deliveries and tradespeople get to my house?
LTNs are designed to allow delivery, trade and refuse collection services access to all properties by car, van or lorry. For some routes this may take slightly longer than before the LTN implementation.
What about emergency services?
Emergency services have generally been very positive about LTNs. They are always consulted before the implementation of any schemes and have typically seen no change in response times.
Will “displaced” traffic increase congestion and pollution on main roads?
There is sometimes concern that modal filters will increase congestion and therefore pollution on main roads.
The evidence to date has shown this not to be the case. It can take months for traffic patterns to settle, but medium-term traffic evaporation is well-evidenced. Around 15% of displaced traffic disappears from the area entirely as drivers adjust routes and behaviour – avoiding the area, changing modes or even cancelling journeys. The result is a couple of minutes extra on some residents’ journeys as they have to drive further round the edge of the LTN before entering, but there is little substantive change to main road congestion.