Park Row Engagement Survey

Engagement has concluded

• Park Row Engagement Survey

  Share Park Row Engagement Survey on Facebook Share Park Row Engagement Survey on Twitter Share Park Row Engagement Survey on Linkedin Email Park Row Engagement Survey link

  We asked

  The engagement on Park Row, Perry Road, Upper Maudlin Street and Colston Street was open for six weeks from 14 December 2020 to 24 January 2021.

  People were asked to give their views on how they felt the temporary bike lane that was implemented in summer 2020 was going. They were also asked to give their views on the general street environment, what they liked about the streets, what they would improve and what would they prioritise for improvements. A further question was asked about the introduction of a cycle lane north bound on Colston Street, which was not part of the temporary scheme. The survey aimed to capture views from residents, businesses and anyone who uses the area to help build a picture of what people would like to see improved.

  Individual responses were received via the online survey and, to ensure the survey reached as wide an audience as possible, paper copies with an offer of language translation included in 12 languages were posted along with a free post envelope to 763 local properties. 25 posters were put up in the local area to raise awareness of the survey. Local stakeholders and groups were also asked to help raise awareness of the survey and it was promoted on Bristol City Council’s social media platforms. Initially all businesses were visited in person, but new COVID-19 restrictions in December 2020 prevented face to face engagement. From this point the team offered virtual chats and phone appointments to anyone who wanted to ask questions and provide verbal feedback. Separate meetings also took place with the University of Bristol and Bristol Royal Infirmary to understand their needs and any potential impacts.

  You said

  From the engagement survey we received 460 responses, which were made up of 371 online and 89 paper responses. Of the responses received, 50% are residents who live within one mile and 70% lived within two miles. Over 70% of respondents walk to the road, 57% ride a bike and 48% drive a car or van, while 15% catch the bus.

  60% of respondents liked the area due to the “local high street economy”, 52% like the “personality and character of the street”, and 44% like it due to access to the hospital.

  The most serious and moderate problems identified were “Street is busy with traffic”(78%); there is too much pollution/poor air quality (75%); “there is too much congestion” (74%); and “Access for disabled people is poor” (64%). In terms of problems related to cycling, 64% thought the “road feels unsafe to cycle on” and 64% thought there being “no protected cycle lane outside the hospital” was an issue.

  The survey provided boxes for “other” comments which asked people to give their views on the temporary bike line. People were also asked to comment on the proposal to create an additional protected bike lane northbound on Colston Street. Most comments mirrored the priorities above with various suggestions of how the cycle lanes might be improved including surfacing, protection at junctions and removal of large breaks between the bollards that allowed parking. Many also commented that the crossings outside the hospital and at the bottom of St Michaels Hill needs to be improved. There were 125 comments in support of the suggestion to introduce a bike lane on Colston Street and 38 comments against.

  Most of the businesses in the area are independent shops providing a range of services, some of which were very specialised. Businesses have raised concern about the removal of parking for shoppers and space and access for deliveries. They were also concerned that the scheme may have negative impacts on traffic congestion. It must also be noted that the changes coincided with free parking at Trenchard Street Car Park that were offered to hospital staff during COVID-19 restrictions, reducing the availability of parking spaces for shoppers in the area.

  We did

  The feedback from this survey along with the engagement with local businesses, community groups and local stakeholders will be used to help produce some designs for a more permanent solution for walking and cycling improvements on these streets. There will be further engagement with the community on next steps once these designs are completed.

  More information about what we engaged on and the results are available in either the summary report or the full report.