RESTRAINING THE AUTOMOBILE IN NOTTINGHAM

THE ARTICLE DESCRIBES METHODS OF TRAFFIC RESTRAINT PLANNED FOR THE CITY OF NOTTINGHAM, WHICH ARE INTENDED TO COMPLEMENT EXISTING TRAFFIC CONTROL AND PEDESTRIANISATION SCHEMES, AND TO REPLACE A 100M. SCHEME FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A MOTORWAY RING. THE METHODS ARE AIMED AT EASING TRAFFIC CONGESTION PROBLEMS WHICH INCLUDE (1) THE NEED TO DIVERT A LARGE VOLUME OF THROUGH TRAFFIC AWAY FROM THE CITY CENTRE, (2) CONFLICT BETWEEN PEDESTRIANS AND TRAFFIC, AND (3) POOR CONNECTIONS BETWEEN PUBLIC TRANSPORT TERMINALS. ONE PART OF THE PLAN IS THE INTRODUCTION OF A SHOPPERS BUS WHICH PROVIDES A FREE SERVICE LINKING SHOPPING AREAS AND BUS STATIONS. IN ADDITION, A SUBSTANTIAL IMPROVEMENT IN PEAK- HOUR BUS FREQUENCIES DISTRIBUTED OVER THE WHOLE SYSTEM AND RELATED TO DEMAND IS PLANNED. IN AN EFFORT TO ENFORCE PEAK PERIOD TRAFFIC RESTRAINT, THE CONCEPT OF A 'TRAFFIC COLLAR' IS PROPOSED. THIS CONSISTS OF A CIRCLE OF POINTS WITHIN THE OUTER RING ROAD AT WHICH MOTORISTS ARE GIVEN A CHOICE - TO PARK AND RIDE, TO CIRCULATE THROUGH THE CITY OR TO QUEUE AT THE POINT OF ENTRY TO THE CITY CENTRE. TRAFFIC LIGHTS WOULD BE USED TO RESTRAIN THE TRAFFIC ACCORDING TO THE DEGREE OF CONTROL REQUIRED.