Pedestrianisation and politics: a case study

Proposals to pedestrianise or close roads to traffic are often controversial. This article analyses the impact of partial pedestrianisation, using a case study conducted in Brighton, UK. Before-and-after studies found a modest traffic reduction within the area and an increase in cycling during the week, but no significant overall modal shift. There was a high level of public support for the pedestrianisation scheme. One of the streets was closed to traffic on weekends only, but there was public support for this to be extended to weekdays as well. Over two-thirds of visitors to the area arrived using sustainable modes; less than 3% had parked in the immediate area. The changes were controversial and contested, and the outcome was a compromise. This article analyses the process and draws lessons for other cities.