Crossing the Divide: Opening a dialogue on approaches to Western European first Millennium BC studies

Abstract

The authors look at how pedestrians were first marginalised in the days of the red flag men preceding the horseless carriage, and how professionals in the industry have colluded in this marginalisation ever since. A redesign of road crossings is deemed to be urgently required and the authors look at choices open to the planners. These include carriageway and footway widths and heights, crossing lengths, guard rails, timings, signal phasing and the reduction of split crossings. The authors also flag up accident surveys, identifying patterns of crossings casualties, suggesting the need to look again at traffic calming initiatives and optional forms of road crossings. They maintain the hierarchy levels are still contentious and more research is required to determine a fairer distribution of rights of access between pedestrian and vehicle, where both parties feel safe and unthreatened.