It was probably the former mayor's animadversional comments on pedestrianisation that resulted in a poorer than expected number of participants in the "Pedestrianise?" survey. Nevertheless, I'd estimate about a third of regular readers took part. Over two fifths of respondents were residents and the remainder traders. A solitary respondent said they were neither.
The thrust of the former mayor's argument was that the pedestrianisation concept is dead and wouldn't work. I doubt if everyone takes this view. If the results of the survey reflected the views of Rhuthun people (and who's to say) then there are some interesting messages.
Thinking on pedestrianiation has nevertheless moved on. This blog first mentioned pedestrianisation almost five years ago. This referred to the St Peter's Square one-way rectangle that, we felt, could easily be treated without hindering through traffic. Since then, this blog, too, has referred to the concept of "shared space" without using the name, in keeping areas open to traffic while encouraging "pedestrian priority". The answer isn't black-and-white or yes-or-no; there's actually shades of possibilities. Ultimately, wouldn't it be nice to see less traffic and fewer parked cars. But how likely is radical change? Pedestrianisation in whatever form that best suits Rhuthun/Ruthin got scant mention in the Masterplan 2 exhibition though there was mention of traffic on the Square as a detriment.
Meanwhile, with thanks to those who participated, here's what people felt in the survey. I take it to mean that "pedestriansation" could be anything from a total ban of cars to pedestrians having sufficient priority to hold sway, such that the balance of power is by foot rather than on wheels.
The thrust of the former mayor's argument was that the pedestrianisation concept is dead and wouldn't work. I doubt if everyone takes this view. If the results of the survey reflected the views of Rhuthun people (and who's to say) then there are some interesting messages.
Thinking on pedestrianiation has nevertheless moved on. This blog first mentioned pedestrianisation almost five years ago. This referred to the St Peter's Square one-way rectangle that, we felt, could easily be treated without hindering through traffic. Since then, this blog, too, has referred to the concept of "shared space" without using the name, in keeping areas open to traffic while encouraging "pedestrian priority". The answer isn't black-and-white or yes-or-no; there's actually shades of possibilities. Ultimately, wouldn't it be nice to see less traffic and fewer parked cars. But how likely is radical change? Pedestrianisation in whatever form that best suits Rhuthun/Ruthin got scant mention in the Masterplan 2 exhibition though there was mention of traffic on the Square as a detriment.
Meanwhile, with thanks to those who participated, here's what people felt in the survey. I take it to mean that "pedestriansation" could be anything from a total ban of cars to pedestrians having sufficient priority to hold sway, such that the balance of power is by foot rather than on wheels.
Click to enlarge