FOUR A-Plant employees have taken part in an event to improve understanding of the potential problems construction can create for vulnerable road users in London.
The constructors cycling experience, hosted by Transport for London (TfL), highlights issues faced by pedestrians, cyclists and people of reduced mobility due to factors like increasing HGV traffic, dust and noise. The monthly rides are part of the transport authority’s Healthy Streets initiative, which aims to increase walking, cycling and the use of public transport.
A-Plant’s Mark Pudney (managing director of Speciality Heavy), Dave Harris (business development director), Tom Welland (national account manager) and Alan Clarke (sales manager) were joined by Will Norman, the commissioner for cycling and walking and Michael Barratt MBE, development impact assessment manager at TfL.
Mark Pudney said, “A-Plant is a regular user of London Highways, delivering equipment and services to the construction and infrastructure markets across the capital. Therefore, it is important that we are on board with TfL’s healthy streets approach, working collaboratively with communities and industry. My colleagues and I really enjoyed taking part in the constructors cycling experience and it provided a great insight into the challenges faced by the authority in keeping essential construction traffic and deliveries into the city running, but at the same time keeping cycle and pedestrian routes open and safe.
“The experience highlighted the challenges faced by vulnerable road users when footpath or cycle path diversions force them into flowing traffic and got us thinking about what more we can do as a business to help develop safer streets. As well as promoting cycle awareness, our design team is now working on a template for construction sites, which will allow cyclists and pedestrians to remain on route, rather than being re-directed into high risk areas when works are being carried out.”
TfL’s Michael Barratt has been working with construction firms to ensure their methods don’t hinder people from using sustainable modes of transport. He said, “London is such an exciting city to work in and visit and I am passionate that everybody should be able to enjoy travelling around the capital safely, whether they get about by cycling, walking or using public transport. A-Plant was one of the first companies to join us on our monthly rides and it has been fantastic to witness their enthusiasm and dedication in helping to improve the safety and security of the travelling public.“
