Medway Council's recent proposal to implement red routes on some of Medway's busiest main drags marks a significant stride towards tackling road danger, pollution, and congestion in the region. This ambitious plan is presumptively just the beginning of a transformation that will change the way people commute, promote sustainable transportation options, and create a safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists across the Medway towns. Let's delve deeper into Medway's red route initiative and explore the potential benefits it brings to the community.

Red Routes: A Comprehensive Solution to Traffic Woes

Red Routes Explained: What Are They and How Do They Work?

In this section, we'll explore the concept of red routes and how they differ from conventional roads. We'll shed light on how red routes prioritize public transport, cyclists, and pedestrians while keeping traffic flowing efficiently. Understanding the fundamental principles behind red routes will help us grasp their effectiveness in addressing road danger and inactivity.

• A red route is a designated road corridor where restrictions and rules are enforced.
• Red routes are identified by red lines or markings along the edges of the road, indicating that stopping, parking, and other obstructions are prohibited.
• Red routes are carefully designed to keep traffic flowing efficiently in order to reduce congestion.
• Red routes typically operate 24/7, or at least during peak hours, to maintain consistent traffic flow.
• Emergency stopping is sometimes allowed on red routes, usually for specific road users, and only in specific designated areas. For example, a courier or a disabled road user might be allowed a 30 minute slot in a road bay.

The Benefits of Red Routes for Road Safety and Air Quality

This segment will focus on the positive impact of red routes on road safety and air quality. By prioritizing public transport, red routes discourage unnecessary private vehicle usage, leading to reduced congestion and fewer accidents. We'll also discuss how this initiative contributes to improved air quality and reduced pollution, creating a healthier and cleaner environment for Medway residents.

• Improved Road Safety: Red routes prioritize the movement of public transport, cyclists, and pedestrians, reducing potential conflicts with private vehicles and enhancing overall road safety.
• Fairer Parking: With clear restrictions on stopping and parking, red routes ensure fair access to road space for all road users, discouraging unauthorized parking and obstructions, and discourages long term parking in places of very high demand.
• Smoother Traffic Flow: By keeping lanes clear and reducing unnecessary private vehicle usage, red routes help maintain a steady traffic flow, reducing congestion and travel time for commuters.
• Enhanced Air Quality: Red routes promote the use of sustainable transportation options, such as public transit, cycling, and walking, which leads to reduced emissions and improved air quality for the community.

Sustainable Transportation: Encouraging Active Travel and Greener Alternatives

Medway's red routes would intrinsically discourage use of private transport, making other methods of travel more convenient. Other methods might include: Active travel, such as walking and cycling, as well as the use of greener transportation alternatives like electric vehicles and e-cargo bikes. We'll discuss the incentives provided to businesses and individuals to adopt eco-friendly transport methods, promoting a sustainable and low-carbon future for the region. The Red routes in Rochester, Chatham and Rainham might include and support features such as: 

• Walking: Red routes prioritize pedestrian safety and accessibility, encouraging more people to walk for short-distance trips.
• Cycling: Red routes could provide more dedicated cycling lanes, promoting cycling as a green and healthy alternative for commuting.
• Public Transit: Red routes prioritize public transport, making it more efficient and reliable, encouraging more people to use buses and trains.
• Electric Vehicles: Red routes and parking rules might take your vehicle emissions into account in order to support the adoption of electric vehicles, reducing emissions and promoting cleaner transportation options.
• E-Cargo Bikes: Red routes facilitate the use of e-cargo bikes for delivery services, reducing the reliance on polluting vehicles.
• Low-Carbon Transport Incentives: Red routes may offer incentives for businesses and individuals to switch to low-carbon transportation methods.

This is Medway Councils official image from their website - This picture does belong to them

Collaborative Approach: Engaging Industry and Local Community

Medway Councils efforts for a greener Medway so far:

According to the Medway Council Website, they have been trying to lead the way and establish the route toward a greener Medway.

Anti-Idling Campaign in Rainham:   
Medway Council received funding from the DEFRA Air Quality Fund some time ago, to undertake an anti-idling campaign in Rainham. This initiative aimed to reduce unnecessary vehicle idling, which contributes to air pollution.

Expanding Cycling Infrastructure:   
Medway boasts over 80 miles of dedicated cycle lanes, making it easier for cyclists to navigate the region safely. To further improve cycling and walking infrastructure, the council is developing a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP). This plan will build upon the existing cycle routes and introduce additional active travel revenue workstreams, including schools and workplace initiatives, resources, and dedicated officers.

Electric Vehicle Charging Points:   
To support the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), Medway Council has been proactive in installing electric vehicle charging points. As of now, 34 EV charging points have been installed in three council-owned car parks. Additionally, a survey was conducted to encourage residents to suggest locations for on-street charging.

Kent-Wide EV Charge Point Network:   
Medway council has also been collaborating with Kent County Council and other districts in Kent, Medway conducting feasibility studies for the development of a Kent-wide EV charge point network. The project aims to bring EV charge points to about 30 public car park locations within Medway and approximately 150 countywide. This initiative complements the existing 34 charge points installed during Summer 2021.

Promoting Electric Vehicles:   
Medway Council hosted its first EV Event at Rochester Castle Gardens. This event allowed the public to explore different EV options and learn about the supporting infrastructure to facilitate a smooth transition to electric vehicles.

Active Travel Initiatives:   
The council has been actively promoting active travel initiatives among schools and communities. Working with the KM Charity, the "Walk on Wednesday" (WOW) initiative has seen participation from about 3,000 children across Medway. The Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel campaign also saw significant involvement from Medway schools, with 2,440 schools registering nationally and nearly 8 million children participating. Notably, during a two-week campaign, 80% of pupils attending St Margaret’s at Troy Town Primary School in Rochester walked or cycled, and 81% of students at Greenacre Academy in Walderslade achieved 6th place nationally.

Walk to School COP26 Initiative:   
Medway Schools participated in the Walk to School COP26 initiative in October 2021, contributing to saving over 5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) by students choosing to walk to school rather than drive.

Urban Traffic Control System:   
Medway Council has connected two more sites, the A229 Maidstone Road junction with ASDA and Princes Avenue junction with Dove Close in Walderslade, to the Urban Traffic Control system (UTC). This system allows for remote monitoring of traffic signals, enabling quick and efficient fault detection and correction to minimize congestion.

Support for Ultra Low Emission Vehicles:   
Medway Council actively supports local businesses in switching to ultra low emission vehicles through the Kent REVS scheme. The scheme is regularly promoted through leaflets, websites, and newsletters. Since its launch in February 2021, 15 Medway businesses have participated in the scheme, contributing to the reduction of emissions.

This is Medway Councils official image from their website - This picture does belong to them

Looking Ahead: The Future of Red Routes in Medway

Implementing Red Routes: Challenges and Opportunities

Some Challenges that we've identified that Medway Council may face:

• Public Acceptance: Introducing new traffic restrictions, as with many things, may face resistance from some residents and businesses who are accustomed to the existing road conditions.
• Road Design and Infrastructure: Adapting existing roads to accommodate red routes may require significant modifications, such as adding red markings, signage, and lane adjustments.
• Traffic Management & Enforcement: Ensuring strict adherence to red route rules and preventing unauthorized parking and obstructions may require effective enforcement measures. We do believe that Medway council is expecting that the revenue from PCNs and other fines will only just cover the expense of enforcing these red routes. Considering these road transformations are due to happen on some of Medway's busiest roads, we've got to expect the management of traffic during the transformative construction phase is likely to be challenging.
• Funding: Securing sufficient funding for the planning, development, and maintenance of red routes is essential for their successful implementation.
• Businesses located on these earmarked red routes will almost certainly suffer from reduced business, it's only human nature for the public to want to take the easiest path - and sometimes that means going elsewhere to save the hassle of travelling along these roads during the construction phase.

On the flip side, here are some of the opportunities we all might benefit from with a new red route system in Rochester, Chatham and Rainham:

• Safer Roads: Red routes in Medway will likely prioritize pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport, leading to improved road safety and reduced accidents.
• Reduced Emissions: By encouraging sustainable transportation options, red routes contribute to lower emissions and improved air quality in the town centres and main drags.
• Efficient Traffic Flow: Red routes aim to keep traffic flowing smoothly, reducing congestion and travel time for commuters. A big win for anyone who has to deal with the Rainham top road often - especially with all these disruptive road works!
• Active Travel Promotion: Red routes intrinsically encourage walking and cycling, promoting a healthier and more active lifestyle.
• Economic Benefits: The red route budget, as well as well-designed red route system once built, can attract businesses, support local economies, and boost tourism by offering contracts to local businesses involved in the construction process, and encouraging efficient transportation options once in place.   
  Data Collection and Analysis: A smart red route might opportunities to collect valuable data on traffic patterns and behaviour for future improvements.
• Sustainable Development: Red routes align with the council's vision for a greener, more sustainable future, creating a positive impact on the environment.

This is Medway Councils official image from their website - This picture does belong to them

Our Final Thoughts

Medway Council's proposal for red routes demonstrates its commitment to creating a sustainable, safe, and inclusive transportation system. By prioritizing public transport, active travel, and greener alternatives, the region aims to revolutionize the way people move around, reducing road danger and pollution while enhancing the overall quality of life for its residents. With industry partnerships and community engagement, Medway's red route initiative is set to pave the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.

As much as well don't like change (to some degree) and we might love to bash public services and public workers in good old British tradition, other notably beneficial works conducted recently include the Anthony's way roundabout near the Medway tunnel in Wainscott, Strood's remapped one-way system, the bridge to St Peter's village near Wouldham and Eccles, and the many bypasses that have come into fruition over the decades have all demonstrably shown to relieve traffic in these areas to some degree. 

And if you don't like this news, wait to hear about Kent County Council's plans for the Bluebell Hill Makeover!