Sustrans Community Street Design

Flo Johnson-Marshall

Urban Designer,

Community Street Design

@FloJMarshall

flo.marshall@sustrans.org.uk

A world where people choose to travel in ways that

benefit their health and the environment

Traffic danger: biggest barrier to active travel

Source: Department for Transport National Travel Survey 2008

71% adults played outside in streets or areas close to

home every day when they were children, compared

to 21% of children today.Play England 2008, ICM Poll0

Social isolation… or interaction?

Residents in

streets with lower

speeds know more

neighbours, spend

more time

socialising in their

street and allow

their children to

play out more often

Source: Sauter and Hüttenmoser (2006)

1. Reconsider

2. Rediscover

3. Redesign

4. Reimagine

Bridgwater

2.5 yr behaviour change project

Remove barriers to:

• Employment

• Educational opportunities

• 6,500 Population

• 2,750 dwellings

• 4 Schools

Hamp

Delivery Approach

• Door to Door Surveys: 800

• 9 on-street events: 320 Attendees

• Regular community meetings

1. Reconsider: Awareness raising

Regular Activities

• Regular Community Activities

• Schools Activities & Workshops

• Large Scale Community Events

• Over 1900 Residents Attending

2. Rediscover: community-building

• Elderly coffee mornings

• School workshops

• Bike/scooter fixing workshops

• Large scale events: 1,900 attendees to some

3. Redesign: design workshops

• 17 Workshops :10 designs produced

• Attended by over 450 Residents

• Co-design with Community & SCC design engineer

4. Reimagine: 3D visuals

Rhode Lane

• Road severs connectivity

• Traffic <60mph

• Units 50% vacant

• Barriers to ease of movement

• Lack of resting places

• Fear of crime & antisocial behaviour

The community-led design

3D Visualisation

Celebration: Street Party!

Community comments on Rhode Lane

“We love how it looks, cars go much slower now,

and it’s really revived the place”

“I love the logs and walking along the walls, it

makes it more fun!”

“I came to the workshops, and to see it built is

amazing! I was so surprised that it really happened

as nothing ever used to happen around here!”

• 11% of residents agreed or strongly agreed that

they have cycled more since the project

• 18% of residents agreed or strongly agreed that

they have walked more since the project

• 10% decrease average daily traffic volume

• 80% of residents now think the street is pedestrian

friendly

• 20% of residents now think the street is safe for

children to play on, (compared to 7% before)

So does it work? Previous examples

One small step.

One giant leap.