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What can we do about it?

Guide Dogs has been campaigning against the use of shared surface streets for two years and has undertaken in-depth research in to the problems and potential solutions of shared surface streets.

Campaign in a Box

We need to bring the "Say NO to Shared Streets" campaign to every corner of the UK and involve as many people as possible.

We have created a Campaign in a Box giving you all the materials and information you need to run a campaign against shared surface streets in your area.  There documents will help bring the campaign to every corner of the UK and include template letters for emailing your national politicians or local authority to express your concerns, and 'shell' press releases and tips on contacting the media.  

Campaign in a Box ready to download here

Research Reports

TNS Impact Report

TNS-BMRB, a leading market research company, was commissioned by Guide Dogs to conduct a survey examining the impact of shared surface streets and shared-use pedestrian/cycle paths on the safety, mobility and independence of 500 blind and partially-sighted people in the UK.

TNS Impact Report - PDF (374kb)

TNS Impact Report - Word (339kb)

TNS Impact Report Executive Summary - PDF (135kb)

Design trials research with University College London (UCL)

Research undertaken for Guide Dogs by University College London (UCL) has demonstrated that the minimum height for a kerb to be reliably detectable by blind and partially sighted people is 60mm or greater.

No participant in the research failed to detect the 120mm, 80mm, or 60mm height kerb in any trials, from any angle tested, or for either of the edge profiles. In addition, kerb heights of 60mm and above induced the greatest confidence in what they were and what they signified. 

Effective Kerb Heights for Blind and Partially Sighted People (word) 588kb

Effective Kerb Heights for Blind and Partially Sighted People (pdf) 699kb

The Design Trials research report ‘Testing proposed delineators to demarcate pedestrian paths in a shared space environment’ is available here to download.

Focus group research

We undertook in-depth research in to the experiences of blind and partially sighted people in shared surface streets in both the UK and in the Netherlands where ‘shared space’ advocates that shared surface streets work well. We assessed the risks and impact of these schemes and found that the safety, confidence and independence of blind and partially sighted people was undermined with parts of some towns becoming no-go areas.

Report on UK Focus Groups (pdf) 1.1M
Report on UK Focus Groups (word) 165K
Report on Holland Focus Groups (pdf) 76K
Report on Holland Focus Groups (word) 0.9M


Designers

We commissioned RambØll Nyvig, an international design practice specialising in streetscape and public realm design, to consider how shared space street design could include the needs of blind and partially sighted people. In their report ‘Shared space – safe space’ they advised introducing a ‘safe space’ in any shared space street design. This ‘safe space’ is an area equivalent to a pavement where vulnerable pedestrians would feel safer, but would not prevent the remaining area being shared by other pedestrians, motorists and cyclists. The requirement for a ‘safe space’ was recognised in the ‘Manual for Streets’, published by the Government in 2007. Link to 'Manual for Streets' report

RambØll Nyvig report 'Shared space - safe space' (word) 93K

RambØll Nyvig report 'Shared space - safe space' (pdf) 1.2M

 

Recognising the issue

The Department for Transport has recognised Guide Dogs’ concerns about the implementation of shared surface streets in shared space street designs. They have commissioned research to provide evidence based guidance on implementing shared spaces. Guide Dogs will participate in this research on the Sounding Board.

The Disabled Person’s Transport Advisory Committee (DPTAC) – advisors to the Government – has issued a statement sending a clear message to local authorities that in a shared space, kerbs must be retained until an effective alternative is found. Link to DPTAC Statement

The Commission on Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) has also recognised the issues in their publication ‘Civilised Streets’.

Advisory booklet

Guide Dogs has created an advisory booklet for local groups concerned about the use of shared surface streets in their town centres so that they can get involved in the development of any schemes.

Briefing for Local Groups (pdf) 327K
Briefing for Local Groups (word) 41K


We are concerned about the implications of shared surface schemes on people with a learning disability.  Where there is no clearly defined pedestrian area, there are potential safety implications for some people with a learning disability who may find this design set-up confusing.
- David Congdon, Head of Campaigns and Policy, Mencap 



We are concerned that despite their responsibilities under the Disability Equality Duty, public authorities are carrying out ‘consultations’ with disabled people that are at best piecemeal and at worst, tokenistic.
- John Knight, Head of Policy and Campaigns, Leonard Cheshire Disability 



A shared surface could remove the relative safety that deaf and hard of hearing people enjoy. RNID would welcome the chance to contribute to discussions about street design to ensure that for deaf and hard of hearing people shared spaces are, above all, safe spaces.
- Brian Lamb OBE, Director of Communications, RNID