Tourism Signposting in London

1
Tourism Signpostingin London

• Presentation to NLCC24 November 2006

2
Contents

• Legislative framework for White on Brown Tourist
  Road Signs
• Background to the Legible London project for
  pedestrian wayfinding

3
White on Brown Tourist Road Signs

• General Guidance contained in the DfT document
  Tourist Traffic Signs Inside The M25 (1997)
  seeks to achieve consistency and fairness. Not
  statutory.
• Signs should make tourists journeys
  easierwithout intruding unduly into the
  localities they are visiting
• Sets out guidance on
• Who is responsible for making decisions on
  applications
• Eligibility criteria
• Finance
• Application procedures
• Design points

4
Who decides applications?

• Decision-making responsibility rests with the
  relevant Traffic Authority
• M25 and motorways The Highways Agency
• Transport for London Road Network (TLRN) TfL
  Surface Transport
• Other roads Borough Council Transport
  Department
• DfT 1997 Guidance recommends development of local
  Signing Strategies

5
Eligibility Criteria Business Type

• Qualification for WoB signs should be restricted
  to
• Excursion, historic or cultural attractions
• Sports venues or leisure centres
• Camping or caravan facilities
• Networked Tourist Information Centres
• Hotels and accommodation, restaurants, pubs and
  retail should not be eligible.

6
Eligibility Criteria Visitor Numbers

• M25 250,000 other motorways 150,000
• Primary Routes 100,000
• Other roads (outside central London) in
  accordance with local signing strategy
• Not advisable for more than 1 sign on approach to
  a junction
• It is unlikely that individual signs will include
  more than 3 or 4 destinations each

7
Transport for London Surface Transport

• Applications for Brown Tourist Signs - A guide
  for Tourist Operators
• Signs are not for advertising they are to help
  tourists find their way
• Eligibility Criteria
• Be of more than local significance, and open to
  visitors without prior booking. The question of
  significance is subjective but account will be
  taken of how much publicity and advertising is
  carried out by the site owners nationally.
• Normally have at least 100 000 annual visitors or
  at least 100 car parking spaces, to demonstrate
  more than local significance. The parking
  provision is considered to be an appropriate
  proxy for traffic flow to a tourist destination.
  Parking facilities outside the grounds of the
  tourist attraction will not normally be counted
  as it is assumed that these also cater for other
  local needs. Staff parking will not be included.
• Normally be outside the circular ring roads,
  the North Circular (A406) and the South Circular
  (A205). Signing for attractions within the inner
  ring road will only be considered in exceptional
  circumstances.
• Have any necessary continuity signing previously
  approved by the relevant Borough

8
LDA White on Brown Signposting Project

• Aim
• to understand how well the current systems are
  working
• To establish whether there is a need to improve
  it and if so, how.
• The Tourism Company employed to deliver project
• Start by drawing together all the borough
  policies
• Speak to businesses and traffic authorities to
  understand their experience
• If necessary, recommend a policy framework to
  address issues, e.g. to improve consistency
  through a Concordat.
• To be completed by 31 March 2007
• Any Questions so far?

9
Legible London www.legiblelondon.info

• Transport for London project, working with LDA,
  boroughs and businesses
• The Mayor wants London to be a world-class
  walking friendly city by 2015.
• London can be a wonderful city to explore on
  foot, but there are many barriers to getting
  people to walk more regularly whether for
  leisure, commuting, shopping or health.
• The Legible London project aims to address this
  through a range of information from street signs
  and maps through to digital journey planning
  technology.
• Legible London hopes to make it easier to walk in
  and around the capital, for Londoners and
  visitors alike.

10
Legible London www.legiblelondon.info

• Current status
• TfL is evaluating the options for delivering a
  Legible London system throughout the capital,
  starting in the central and Olympic areas in time
  for 2012 and rolling out to outer boroughs and
  town centres by 2015.
• The aim is that through a range of information
  from street signs and maps through to journey
  planning technology, Legible London will give
  people the knowledge to make informed choices
  about the walking option, and enable them to walk
  round the city confident they wont get lost
• TfL currently applying internally for funding
  feasibility studies for pilot projects in
  Waterloo/South Bank and Richmond.