Preliminary results are now available from the traffic study conducted by Gorski Consulting at the Blackfriars Bridge on May 29, 2022 in London, Ontario. A two-hour videotaping session was completed between 1300 and 1500 hours. This was a Sunday afternoon. The following are some high-lights of the analysis.
The focus of the study was in the area where the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) intersected with the east end of Blackfriars Bridge. This is also where northbound Ridout Street terminates for motorized traffic. Four Google Maps views of the area as shown below.
This Google Maps view shows the location of the historic Blackfriars Bridge located at the north-west of downtown London, Ontario.
This Google Maps view of the site shows how Ridout Street and the Thames Valley Parkway intersect at the east end of Blackfriars Bridge. It is at this point of intersection that cyclists and pedestrians were documented interacting with eastbound vehicles crossing the bridge.
This is a view looking west toward Blackfriars Bridge with the intersection of the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP) in the foreground.
This is a view looking east from the east end of Blackfriars Bridge showing the intersection with the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP).
In total, 78 eastbound motor vehicles were documented travelling over Blackfriars Bridge. 294 cyclists were observed passing through the study area. 362 pedestrians were observed passing through the study area.
Approaches to the area were from four directions:
- Eastbound on Blackfriars Bridge.
- Northbound on Ridout Street.
- Southbound on the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP).
- Northbound on the Thames Valley Parkway (TVP).
Motor vehicles were constrained to travel just eastbound through the area. However, pedestrians and cyclists using the four directions of approach had three alternatives as to where they would go. This results in a matrix of 12 cells of different travel actions for pedestrians and cyclists. The two tables below show the frequencies of pedestrian and cyclist actions.
As an example, using the table of pedestrian actions, the first row shows the pedestrians who entered the area travelllng southbound along the Thames Valley Parkway. 143 pedestrians were observed entering the study area from this direction of travel. The table shows that 78 of those pedestrians continued southbound on the Thames Valley Parkway, 15 of those turned to travel southbound on Ridout Street and 50 of them turned to walk westbound onto Blackfriars Bridge. This should explain the meaning of the rest of the cells in the two tables.
Many issues reveal themselves once a detailed study is performed. Some of them unexpected, as demonstrated in the photo below.
For those believing that documentation of travels over the Blackfriars Bridge is a simple operation, how would you explain this method of bridge crossing by a unique pedestrian?
No further comment will be made about the results at this time. Using our methods it will be possible to calculate motor vehicle, pedestrian and cyclist speeds and thus examine any safety issues but these matters will be addressed at a future time. It is expected that at least one or two additional sessions will be performed.
If anyone is interested in participating in this study please contact me at my e-mail address: [email protected]
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