Summary of the trial feedback and traffic data
This project came about as a result of concerns raised by residents about road safety in the East Withington area, emphasising the need of better public space and safer environments for walking and cycling.
As a result of these concerns the area was selected by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and the Council to be part of a Greater Manchester Active Travel programme, which puts in measures designed to make it safer to walk and cycle. Back in 2021, TfGM and partners rolled out a ‘have your say’ engagement (that included several online design workshops) to find out what residents thought about their streets. The feedback from this was considered and led to a draft proposal that was shared with residents.
The trial
In August 2023, we began a trial with nine temporary modal filters and and two streets became one way. The scheme objectives were to:
- Reduce through traffic volumes and speeds, and reduce the severance caused by roads;
- Increase walking and cycling by providing safe access to key destinations such as public transport stops, and improve the quality of journeys;
- Improved mental and physical health outcomes through increased levels of physical activity, reduced road danger and improved air quality;
- Support the wider active travel programme, Bee Network development and links to LCWIP centres; and,
- Making the area an attractive place to live and pleasant place to spend time.
The initial trial (Phase 1) lasted over six months. It was then extended for a further six months (Phase 2) when seven filters and the one-way streets were removed. Two filters remained in place on Burlington Road and the western end of Parsonage Road. Details of the decision to end the first trial and the information which informed it.
Prior to the trial, traffic and speed counts were collected in 2021 in key locations which provided a baseline for subsequent monitoring and data comparison. Phase 1 traffic and speed data was collected in Autumn 2023 and early 2024, and Phase 2 data was collected in June 2024.
Analysis of the figures shows that:
- In the northwestern part of the trial area, overall traffic levels reduced in Phase 1 by an average of 52%. During Phase 2 traffic levels were on average 32% lower than baseline levels.
- There was no pre-trial baseline data for most of the eastern parts of the scheme area. A comparison of traffic data between Phase 1 and Phase 2 however shows that traffic flows had reduced by an average of 50%, suggesting that during Phase 1, more motorists were using these roads such as Hatherley Road, Stephens Road, and Heathside Road alternative routes to bypass the filters.
- Traffic flows on Alan Road were stable during Phase 1, when compared to the baseline levels. During Phase 2, the flows have increased by 59%. Additional traffic may be making use of Alan Road to avoid the two remaining two filters on Burlington Road and the western end of Parsonage Road. However, even with the number of additional vehicles, the levels of traffic are still at levels which would be expected on a road of this size and location and equates to one additional vehicle every few minutes.
- Traffic flows at the western end of Mauldeth Road remained largely stable during each phase of the trial. The eastern part of Mauldeth Road east showed increases of about 20% in Phase 2, compared to Phase 1, however no baseline data was collected for this location.
- Generally, speeds across the area reduced significantly during Phase 1, particularly near the two diagonals filters on Parsonage Road. During Phase 2, the speed increased when compared to Phase 1 at some locations such as Parsonage Road Central, Heaton Road Central, Heaton Road south but remained lower than pretrial levels.
An online survey was live throughout Phase 1 of the trial. During Phase 2, the survey was amended to gather residents’ views on the two remaining filters. Phase 2 received 433 responses, of which 417 completed the whole survey. The survey results are:
- More than 90% of respondents said that they lived in the scheme’s area.
- 67% of residents support the last two remaining filters.
- Residents were asked if their vehicle journey time within the area had increased as a result of the two filters. 54% said no it had not increased, and 27% answered yes.
- The survey asked if additional measures (e.g. speed humps) were added, what would the support be. 77% of residents said they would be in support of additional safety measures and 16% said they would not be in support.
- 67% of people said that they feel safer walking, cycling or crossing the road in the area as a result of the Parsonage Road/Wilmslow Road filter, compared to 22 % who feel very unsafe or somewhat unsafe. For the filter on Burlington Road / Heaton Road 63 % feel somewhat or very safe walking, cycling or crossing the road in the area, compared to 21 % who feel somewhat or very unsafe.
A monitoring report was produced at the end of the trial period for this scheme. The executive summary of the report is available on request by emailing: parsonage@manchester.gov.uk