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Issues
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- Concern over proposed shared space around Kingsmead Square, as motor traffic in this area is fast moving.
- Across the city centre public realm, lack of visual contrast to distinguish critical areas such as step nosings, dropped kerbs, crossing points
- Lack of tactile warning paving at dropped kerbs which creates a hazard for people with sight loss.
- Cycle infrastructure provision shared with pedestrians is a particular hazard for people with sight loss.
- Street furniture not always visually distinguishable
- Bollards, A-boards and other obstructions on the footway narrow the width and are a particular hazard for people with sight loss and those with mobility impairments.
- Tapered steps in some locations are a trip hazard
I am a blind person. I use a long cane. I used to know Bath very well but am beginning to find it increasingly unfriendly to people with a vision impairment. The removal of kerbs and the increased use of bollards make it difficult to navigate. Bollards are a hazard.
Just outside the train station there are steps which are, I’m told, I could not see then, shaped like curved triangles. My sighted guide would not take me down them. Had I been trying to negotiate them alone, with my cane, they would have presented a danger.I understand that audible signals on crossings are also under threat, which is a worry. I also understand that formal crossings are being replaced by informal crossing points, which blind people cannot use safely. That would deny me access.
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Examples
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- Poor pedestrian crossing facility at entrance to Riverside coach park with no tactile warning
- Two sets of feathered steps at Brunel Square in front of the train station are a trip hazard, particularly for visually impaired people, those in a hurry and not paying attention. Steps along a sloping site should end in a level platform and risers should be uniform in height.
- The lightweight wavy seating on Kingsmead Square can easily be walked into as not clearly distinguishable.
- Steps to footway at George Street do not have nosings highlighted or handrails provided, or tactile warning at top and bottom of steps. While they start immediately off the carriageway, tactile paving would be difficult to provide at the bottom step, but could be provided at the top step. These steps are also tapered which is a trip hazard.
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Recommendations
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- Review of the Kingsmead Square proposal and other public realm schemes, to ensure there is adequate delineation between pedestrian and vehicular areas, preferably by use of a kerb, or by visually contrasting kerb lines and tactile warning paving along the footway/carriageway boundary.
- Detailed review of city centre crossings including side road crossings to ensure tactile warning is provided appropriately.
- Dropped kerbs need to be highlighted with visual contrast and tactile warning paving, to indicate to visually impaired people and wheelchair users where they may cross or move onto the road and also to warn drivers not to park blocking them.
- Guidance paving deployed in open pedestrianised areas
- Enforcement against A-boards and cafe and retail irregular encroachment of footway space
- Review of cycle crossings of footway areas to ensure pedestrian priority