Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study – Session #2 – Large Reduction in Pedestrian Observations
Results have now been tabulated showing the pedestrian volumes from Session #2 of the Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study (BBTS) in London, Ontario. A reduction in pedestrian volumes of almost 100% was observed compared to Session #1. The table below shows the pedestrian results from Session #2.
In comparison, the table below shows the pedestrian results from Session #1.
Although there were fewer observed pedestrians in Session #2, a larger percentage of those turned toward crossing the Blackfriars Bridge in comparison to Session #1.
For example of the 140 pedestrians in Session #2 who approached the study area from SB TVP, NB TVP and NB Ridout, 72 persons turned to cross Blackfriars Bridge. This is slightly more than 50%. In contrast, in Session #1, 279 persons approached the study area from the three noted sources but only 98 persons turned to cross Blackfriars Bridge. This is only 35 % of that total. These results are from rather small numbers of observations so there is nothing conclusive to be drawn at this time.
In addition to the observations of pedestrians we have also kept track of “Non-Pedestrians”. These are persons who ride roller-blades, e-skateboards, e-scooters, electric or non-powered wheel-chairs, etc. and do not fit into the three categories (pedestrians, cyclists and motor vehicles) that we have been reporting. Interestingly, in Session #1 there were 25 observations of such Non-Pedestrians whereas in Session #2 there were 27. Specifically there were 11 observations of e-scooters in Session #2 whereas there were only 3 such observations in Session #1. It was also interesting to observe that in Session #1 there were 8 observations of elderly or infirm persons riding electric, medical carts or wheelchairs. In Session #2 there was only one such observation. Although the numbers discussed here are rather small they may provide some information about the differences in populations using the study area on a Sunday afternoon (Session #1) versus a peak-hour Friday afternoon (Session #2).
No detailed analyses have been conducted so far with respect to the speeds of the observed units and what traffic conflicts may exist. It is expected that such analyses will be performed sometime in the future. We expect to conduct Session #3 in the not too distant future and those results will be posted again on this Gorski Consulting website.
Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study – Session #2 – Large Reduction in Cyclist Observations
Motor vehicle volumes increased while cyclist observations decreased in Session #2 of the Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study conducted by Gorski Consulting
It was not surprising that the findings from Session #2 of the Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study (BBTS) were different than Session #1: It was the magnitude of the difference that was surprising.
Earlier we reported that the volume of motor vehicle traffic had increased by about 100% from Session #1 to Session #2. Now results have also been tabulated for cyclist observations. Substantial differences were noted between Session #1 and #2. The table below shows the cyclist observations from Session #2.
We provide the following explanations of the table contents. The “Source” column indicates the location from which the cycle entered the study area. So the “SB TVP” cell signifies all those cyclists who entered the site travelling southbound on the Thames Valley Parkway. Then we look at where the cyclists went, either continuing southbound the the Thames Valley Parkway (SB TVP), turning to travel south on Ridout Street (SB Ridout), or turning to travel westbound onto Blackfriars Bridge (WB Blackfriars). So in the top row of the above table there were 67 cyclists who entered the site from southbound on the Thames Valley Parkway. 57 of those continued to travel southbound on the Thames Valley Parkway. 7 cyclists turned to travel south on Ridout Street and 3 cyclists turned to travel westbound on Blackfriars Bridge. The rest of the cells should now be self-explanatory.
In contrast, the table below shows the cyclist observations from Session #1, which have been shown previously.
In Session #1 a total of 294 cyclists were observed in the 2-hour period between 1300 and 1500 hours of Sunday, May 29th, 2022. In Session #2 a total of 169 cyclists were observed in the 2-hour period between 1530 and 1730 hours of Friday, June 17th, 2022. That appears to be a substantial reduction of cyclist observations in Session #2. No conclusions will be made at this time. There is still much to do in terms of gathering more data.
Unofficially, while standing at the site, it appeared to us that the speed of eastbound motor vehicles was substantially higher in Session #2 than what we observed in Session #1. No speed calculations have been performed at this time so this is just an informal comment. It is expected that a detailed study of this issue with occur in the future.
Stay tuned as more analysis is continuing. We will be examining the volume of pedestrian traffic in Session #2. We also expect to conduct Session #3 in the near future, and possibly more. Eventually we will also be examining the speeds of the various observed units (motor vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians, etc.) and what collision conflicts may exist.
Lots more to come…
Gorski Consulting Involved in Annual Velo Cyclist Counts
This view, looking west along Dundas Street at Colborne is where cyclist observations were made by Gorski Consulting on the morning of June 8, 2022.
As per last year’s involvement, Gorski Consulting participated in Velo Canada’s cyclist counts that took place throughout Canada between June 7 and June 12, 2022. We volunteered to conduct observations between 0700 and 0900 hours along Dundas Street just west of Colborne Street on the eastern edge of downtown London. This was a chilly morning given the normally expected warm temperatures and this may have led to some lower cyclist observations. Never-the-less, 14 westbound and 15 eastbound cyclists were documented between the precise 2-hour time of 0654 and 0854 hours. The manner in which our video cameras were set up also allowed for views of cyclists travelling north-south along Colborne however, since we were not assigned to document cyclists on Colborne no official count has been made.
An example of one of our video cameras mounted to the back-side of a sign (in the foreground) at the south-east quadrant of the intersection of Dundas and Colborne Streets.
An example of a typical eastbound female cyclist stopped in the south cycling track of Dundas at Colborne.
The character of cycles is changing rapidly in London, Ontario. As shown here, e-bikes are becoming much more numerous.
As we conduct our observations there is no shortage of situations where cycling dangers unfold, even on a designated cycling track, as shown in the three photos below.
Here a westbound cyclist travelling on the north cycling track of Dundas Street encounters a motor vehicle which has come to a stop blocking the cyclist’s path.
As the cyclist approaches the stopped vehicle he veers out of the cycling track.
The cyclist must veer back to the right again when the rear end of a parked police vehicle encroaches in the cycling path.
Such unfortunate encounters occur regularly in numerous scenarios throughout the City of London. They cause some anger and intolerance. What we believe is that detailed, objective and unbiased data can help to educate all users of roadways in reducing instances of such potential danger.
Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study Session #2 Reveals Doubling of Motor Vehicle Observations
Observations between 1530 and 1730 hours of June 17, 2022 showed that twice as many motor vehicles crossed the Blackfriars Bridge compared to similar testing on Sunday, May 29, 2022.
Preliminary results are now beginning to unfold from the 2nd Session of the Traffic Study at the Blackfriars Bridge in London, Ontario. In the inaugural documentations of May 29, 2022, a total of 78 vehicles were observed travelling eastbound over Blackfriars Bridge over a period of 2 hours. This was viewed as a very low volume. In the subsequent testing on June 17, 2022, the volume of eastbound vehicles rose to 158 in the same two-hour period. This is a doubling of the volume.
There is nothing extraordinary about these results. The May 29, 2022 testing was done on a Sunday afternoon between 1300 and 1500 hours. It would be expected that low motor vehicle volumes would occur. Similarly the volumes from June 17, 2022 were observed between 1530 and 1730 hours on a Friday afternoon. This is a peak hour for traffic volumes. So the results are not unexpected.
We are now entering the more difficult task of documenting the motions of pedestrians and cyclists at the site. It can be recalled from the May 29th documentations that there were vastly more cyclists and pedestrians than motor vehicles. Furthermore, the travel paths of pedestrians and cyclists were more complicated. This made it more time-consuming to complete the analysis. It is unknown what the result will be from the second session but we expect that similar patterns will emerge: many more pedestrians and cyclists will likely be documented. Of course this cannot be said for certain until the official tally is made. Stay tuned as we report on these further documentations…
Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study – Session #2 Completed
Pedestrians stopped in the cycling lane of Blackfriars Bridge making the passing motion of a cyclist a little challenging on the date of Session #2 of the Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study.
Session #2 of the Blackfriars Bridge Traffic Study was completed on Friday, June 17, 2022 between 1530 and 1800 hours. The video from 10 cameras will be copied and assembled into projects on the Adobe Premiere editting software, followed by further analysis. It will be interesting to compare these observations of a rush hour of a Friday afternoon to the original session which was completed on a Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned for more results…
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