Shared-space junctions

Hi Providing priority is always given to pedestrians, as they will always come off worse if in contact with a vehicle & if zebra crossings were installed at strategic points for those who need to use them, is that a way forward? My two biggest concerns are that the left, or nearside front corner of a bus is a total blind spot for the driver (I have tried it) & no matter what provisions are provided for people crossing, shared space or not, people will still cross where they please. People don't have number plates, so often just please themselves.

I've just read a letter in the Telegraph from a driving instructor who says he observed these junctions for a while the other day and said not one single car "gave way" for a pedestrian - mainly because there are no signs at all instructing them to do so! I would like to know how the powers-that-be intend to enforce the 20mph speed limit that is due to come into being in the next couple of weeks? On the one hand, the way they are going, people won't want to drive into the city centre, on the other hand, the way the new bus services are heading, we won't have any choice BUT to use our cars!

Hi again on this thread What would help is if motorists knew the highway code with regard to the rights of pedestrians to start with. Rule 170 is an example of what is just not understood by so many motorists. Whether a shared junction or not, rule 170 states: "At a junction. When crossing the road, look out for traffic turning into the road, especially from behind you. If you have started crossing and traffic wants to turn into the road, you have priority and they should give way" (see Rule 170). The fact that a healthy pedestrian is limited to a max walking speed of 4mph, should make no difference, but motorists believe that they have the right of way on any road, but that is contrary to what the highway code states. When I did my class 4 bus test thirty years ago, eleven out of the fifteen applicants failed the theory test on that question alone, yet they were all driving around in their cars. Theory tests have always been part of the PSV. I suspect that I would struggle to pass a highway code test now. On a recent tv quiz show, not one of six drivers answered all of the questions on the highway code & several did not answer half of them. That is the crunch of this problem, along with the blind spot for a bus driver turning left where the corner of the bus hides anyone outside of the bus.

I drove across this junction the other day, and taxis were absolutely hurtling across it. Then again, Coventry city centre was so dead on Friday and Saturday night I thought I'd made a mistake and gone out mid-week. Is it always so quiet? On Friday night a taxi driver (I was somewhat drunk) ranted at me that there was no business in Coventry. Until we got to Earlsdon high street, which was heaving with people and cabs. (The taxi driver called them "a disgrace".) 20 years I remember Gosford Street/Jordan Well/Far Gosford Street used to be heaving on Fridays and at weekends.

Another article in today's Coventry Telegraph - "Shared space junctions to be reviewed".

Now it is reported that a zebra crossing has been installed at the Burges shared space junction - Coventry Telegraph report

Hi all, What ever court action is meted out to the driver involved with the fatality, nothing will bring the man back to life. I knew him from Holbrooks too. I also have real sympathy & understanding for the driver of the bus. The fact that zebra crossings have been installed now, means that what was there before was inadequate, no matter what a council or highways spokesman has said. If what was there had been adequate, then nothing else needed to have been added after the event, at whatever great cost to a cash strapped town hall & highways department. Please remember, if you or I cannot see the bus driver, then he cannot, see you or me. Just look at the picture in the telegraph of the No55 turning left out of Bishop St. into Hales St. The driver cannot be seen. Making a tight left hand turn in one of those buses means that the driver is forced to drive blind. Not like the days of buses with off centre high vision cabs as can be seen in Midland Red's model pictures in a nearby post. I hate cover-ups in any situation & whilst I am not totally against shared junctions, this particular action stinks all of the way to the town hall. I am so sorry to have to say this of my own city.

Hear hear Philip and how would they see a wheelchair too, which is lower, my daughter-in-law told me yesterday about the zebra crossing as she cuts through to the hospital, she too is wheelchair bound.

Hello, I am an architecture student at Coventry University. I am currently writing a dissertation on the shared spaces we have in Coventry. If you could take a few minutes to fill out the questionnaire I have posted, this will be very helpful. Thank you, Oliver Flew Link to questionnaire

Thank you for the questionnaire, it was good to be able to give my thoughts on shared spaces. I wonder if on one question there's a possibility to have multiple tick boxes? Question 4 asks if we've used the shared space: "In a car", "On a bike", or "Walking".... and I had to choose one, but I'd like to have been able to select all three.

Pleased to help Oliver . I had the same problem as Rob but noticed today it now has multiple tick boxes so some people may wish to resubmit.