ON JANUARY 21, outside of peak hour, members of Oxford Pedestrians’ Association, including one wheelchair user, surveyed and tested the crossings and permeability for walkers of the newly-reconfigured Frideswide Square.

There is no doubt that the square is more attractive and easier to use without the lights, pedestrian deterrent fencing and extra traffic lanes.

The premise of the new square is that without signs or lights drivers will be more courteous, and wheelchair users, cyclists and pedestrians will be able to use the square in safety.

In the event, those who stood out for their courtesy were the bus drivers.

Every single one of them slowed or stopped to allow the wheelchair user and the people on foot a safe crossing.

However, only a third of car drivers were this considerate.

Most drove straight past a man in a wheelchair waiting to cross.

Only when we stepped out in front of them did most car drivers stop.

The busiest route, Hythe Bridge Street, was where drivers behaved the worst. Even when moving slowly or completely paused, most moved on to the crossing area rather than give us the few seconds that we needed to cross.

In addition the wheelchair user was made more disabled by two aspects of the new square.

The long ridged lines (called “tactile paving” although its purpose is not clear here) running across the pavement in front of the Said Business School gave him a bumpy ride (which wheeled luggage and wheeled walking frames will also experience), and the popular desire line from the dropped kerb to the traffic island on the north side towards Oxford Royal Hotel cannot be used by a wheelchair user due to the high kerb on the island.

In the half-an-hour we observed the square, we witnessed three car drivers aggressively blaring their horns at cyclists they wanted to overtake on the roundabout (constantly overrun) in front of the hotel.

We highly appreciated the courtesy shown by the bus drivers, and wonder, how do we teach other drivers this principle, for the safety, convenience and enjoyment for everyone of our beautiful new square?

SUSHILA DHALL
Chairwoman, Oxford Pedestrians’ Association, Stable Close, Rewley Park, Oxford