Increases in traffic on our roads is inevitable and this can make it more difficult to cross them as a cyclist or pedestrian. In terms of the wider walking and cycling agenda crossing opportunities are important as they overcome the severance that is otherwise created by busy roads. In the case of signal controlled crossings, these also offer a traffic calming effect in that they can regulate the traffic flow to a certain extent and create breaks in the traffic.

At Bedfordshire Highways we receive many requests each year and it would not be possible to provide every crossing but we do consider between 5 and 6 crossing requests each year and successfully install these crossings. Pedestrians crossings can also be provided via other means via new developments and Safer Routes to School projects for example.

Whatever the mechanism for achieving a crossing it is important that the facility is designed carefully and safely. Choosing which crossing is most appropriate and indeed where it should go is a sometimes difficult job as there are many competing demands and criteria related to safety and amenity that must be fulfilled in order for the crossing to be well used and beneficial to the travelling public.

In most cases we find out about the need for a crossing from you, the public. We take your comments on board and ask our designers to carry out an assessment. This may involve some early discussion with the requestee, be that an individual or a Parish Council. We assess the request against two documents produce by the Department for Transport. These are Local Transport Note 1/95 "The Assessment of Pedestrians Crossings" and Local Transport Note 2/95 "The Design of Pedestrian Crossings". These documents can be found by clicking on the highlighted documents on the Department for Transport| (new window) website.

Also we need to take into account the local situation and need. In urban areas there may for example be a need to meet a pedestrian desire line to the hospital, bus station or specific routes into town. Specific junctions may present a barrier and so providing pedestrians crossings facilities may prove useful.

In order to let us know about locations where a crossing might be useful please contact:

Highways Helpdesk
Bedfordshire County Council
6th Floor
County Hall
Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK42 9AP

Tel: (01234) 228661
Email: highways@bedscc.gov.uk|