Ensuring pedestrian and cyclist safety
The intersection in the photo down below is where my partner almost died. It doesn’t look like much, right? Let me give you a closer look at what happened that day.
The Lethal Intersection
Intersection on Huvudsta Alley
We were out for a bike ride on a sunny day, using the bicycle lane on a downhill stretch. There's a small dirt road on the right where cars usually stop, allowing us to continue on the bike lane and pedestrian path safely. But we encountered a situation where a driver failed to stop and almost collided with my partner.
Though my partner managed to avoid the collision, he had to shout at the driver. While my partner kept biking, I stopped, still in shock from what just happened. The driver began yelling at me, claiming they were turning right.
The driver gets out of the car to yell
I responded, explaining that as the driver of an SUV, they should have a greater responsibility than someone riding a bike. Here's the twist: my partner has no driver's license. Yet the driver's argument was correct. Then again, it's unfair to expect someone without a license to know they should stop on a bike path when there's a dirt road nearby.
Edit: I recently spoke to one of my readers and realized I had misinterpreted the Swedish law regarding turning right at an intersection. The turning right rule doesn't apply if someone exits a parking lot or crosses a pedestrian lane. (6) This is similar to the rules in Croatia. I remember wanting to explain this to an ill-informed driver, but I was unsure if it applied. It's concerning to think that there are people behind the wheels of large vehicles who may not be aware of the rules of the road. We all need to be more cautious and aware of our surroundings.
Remember to take care when sharing the road with others, even at seemingly calm intersections. Safety, understanding, and courtesy are crucial when moving.
Plan view of Huvudsta Alley and 3 crossings
There are three crossings in a short distance on this downhill towards Kungsholmen, each with the potential for danger from reckless drivers. The speed on a bike you get on the hill is extensive, and cyclists will use it to get onto the next hill, making it even harder to stop when cars turn right from any of these crossroads.
Photos of 3 crossings
Huvudsta Alley needs design upgrades to clarify the separation of pedestrians, cyclists, and cars.
Current situation of Huvudsta Alley
Too Many Intersections
As mentioned, the alley poses a severe safety risk due to the numerous intersections through which cars speed. While this might have been acceptable decades ago when only members of the horse riding club used it, it now serves as an important bike artery for the city center and requires minimal intersections. The best solution would be to limit the number of intersections to only one while allowing other roads within the area to connect.
Road proposal
One of the ideas here could be to connect the area with the south intersection so we have the minimum amount of road on Huvudsta Alley. The section where cars and bikes share the road should be converted into a bike-priority route. This means that bicycles have priority over cars, and cars need to follow their tempo. They cannot overtake bikes.
An example of a priority road in Stockholm: Surbrunnsgatan (1)
The Problem of Priority at Crossroads
It's disheartening that some drivers don't understand that not everyone can go to driving school. They aren't taking responsibility for the safety of people who aren't driving. Pedestrians and cyclists aren't surrounded by a protective multi-ton metal vehicle. The road system needs to be more inclusive and protective of all users, not those in cars. This is especially important because cars are responsible for most fatal accidents on the road. (2)
We need to encourage accessible alternative transportation and educate drivers on their responsibilities. That can significantly increase road safety. We all need to work together to make the road system more appropriate and secure for all users, regardless of their mode of transportation. Changes do not occur only by following what the government dictates; they happen when citizens become active on such topics.
Education
As a student, I attended an elementary school in Croatia with a traffic program. We had traffic lessons in fifth grade, and if we passed the biking lessons and traffic test, we got a biking license. I must admit that it made me proud, and it helped me when I got my driver's license. But, I now think such programs are unnecessary if we want to build a sustainable environment, as traffic rules exist because of cars.
Street signs
So, what do we do if we cannot efficiently educate the general population on traffic rules? The easiest solution in this case would be to put a stop sign, a zebra crossing, and speed bumps for the drivers since it makes no sense they have the right of way. With that approach, a car must stop and let all the cyclists and pedestrians pass first.
Picture of the same crossroad with a stop sign
But I don’t trust drivers. There are still so many who don’t follow the rules.
Traffic calming
It is always better to change the street design instead of just putting up a sign. (3) It doesn't make sense that someone can drift to the right on this crossroad and still be considered valid. We can add speed bumps and a few green beds with water delay to make the crossroad safer. (4) This will reduce the driver's speed and help the environment simultaneously. By doing this, we can achieve two goals with one solution. If the driver is the type that doesn't follow the rules, then they may be the type that loves their car and will not want to bump into flowerbeds.
Design instead of the parking lot
This location is vital for cyclists living in northern Stockholm who travel to the city center. It's also a beautiful lake promenade with a view of Kungsholmen. The only way to bike there is through a road leading to a horse club parking lot. Yet, we can improve it by developing amenities that benefit the cyclists and pedestrians in the area. We can use this location to create something more beneficial to the community than private car parking.
By providing people with a viable alternative to driving, we can reduce the number of cars on the road and decrease the likelihood of accidents. Biking and walking can provide access to places for those who cannot afford a car or do not have a driver's license.
I am sharing feedback from my Instagram followers on my irenas3rdplace account. I recently conducted a survey asking for their ideas on making the most of the available space. After reviewing all the responses, many people suggested adding a playground, benches, and tables. Other great suggestions included food: cafes, restaurants, and even food trucks. Besides, followers mentioned canopies, better lighting, and fountains to improve the experience.
Have you heard of "tactical urbanism"? It's this cool movement centered around making small, temporary changes to urban spaces to make them more livable and enjoyable. Interestingly, some of the ideas shared by my Instagram followers align perfectly with the concept of tactical urbanism. It's an awesome way to swiftly enhance public spaces without having to wait for more long-term, permanent changes.
I'd love to have you join in as an Instagram follower! Your input and responses to questions would be incredibly valuable in our quest to create better urban environments. Together, we can make a real impact and make our cities more vibrant and people-friendly. What do you say?
An example of tactical urbanism (5)
Plan of the concept
Here is the design that followed after a conversation with the Instagram followers:
1 - canopy
2 - flea market
3 - bike parking, fountain
4 - playground
5 - pavilions
6 - food truck area
7 - remaining parking
8 - remaining intersection
After evaluating all possible options, I have decided to implement the food truck concept with additional amenities that have proven popular. Although the parking space will be reduced, it will be reserved exclusively for those seeking a pleasant dining experience, not just a parking spot.
6 - view of the food truck section from the alley
To complement the food truck theme, I intend to construct a spacious seating area under a canopy that will create a warm and inviting ambiance for eating.
1 - canopy and seating
Since there is already a nearby café, I will not include one in my design. Instead, I added a flea market adjacent to the seating area, which can be enhanced with attractive lighting to provide a cozy atmosphere.
2 - flea market
For the park visitors, I plan to provide basic amenities. A bike parking, drinking water fountains for both humans and dogs and several benches along the alley.
3 - bike parking, fountain, and a bench
I chose a relatively small playground because we already have a playground in the alley. This area is designed for kids to play while adults enjoy the food trucks and relax under the canopies.
4 - playground
It is crucial that we do not cut down any trees as we plan and develop this design. I believe that adding more trees to the area would not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the design but it would also help to promote a healthier environment.
What’s next?
Shortly, I'll contact Solna municipality to discuss the issue with this crossroad. Do you think there's something that can be added to improve its design? Perhaps you've encountered a similar crossroad in your area and have unique insights? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below!
Source
Surbrunnsgatan blir Stockholms första cykelgata / vaxer.stockholm. Available at: https://vaxer.stockholm/projekt/ny-losning-for-cykeltrafik-pa-surbrunnsgatan/#:~:text=Surbrunnsgatan%20blir%20Stockholms%20f%C3%B6rsta%20cykelgata&text=I%20augusti%202023%20startade%20arbetet,av%20stadens%20smalaste%20cykelbanor%20breddas
https://www.pacts.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/PACTS-What-kills-most-on-the-roads-Report-15.0.pdf
Marohn, C. (2023) The Key to Slowing Traffic is Street Design, Not Speed Limits, Strong Towns. Strong Towns. Available at: https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021/8/6/the-key-to-slowing-traffic-is-street-design-not-speed-limits
What are green beds with water delay? Read my previous blog post! Section Involving the community - 1. Green Beds with Water Delay and Cleaning
Thakkar, K. (2022) An overview of Tactical Urbanism, RTF | Rethinking The Future. Available at: https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/designing-for-typologies/a6052-an-overview-of-tactical-urbanism/
När gäller utfartsregeln? (no date) Trafiko. Available at: https://trafiko.se/faktabank/fragor/nar-galler-utfartsregeln
Nice work Irena!