Chapter III – part three: A historic town
Vehicular traffic: 252–256
The traffic on these roads is mainly destined for Norwich, but in summer there is a higher proportion of through traffic than at other times of the year caused by vehicles bound for the holiday resorts
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Fig. 148 Elm Hill. Although historic buildings are scattered throughout the old city, there are a number of important groups, and in particular there is a whole area west of the Cathedral where much of the old city remains intact.
Vehicular traffic
252As might be expected in a busy city whose centre functions largely on a medieval street pattern, vehicular movement is restricted by congestion. No less than twelve busy roads converge on Norwich, funnelling traffic towards the centre. The traffic on these roads is mainly destined for Norwich, but in summer there is a higher proportion of through traffic than at other times of the year (24.5% at a count taken in 1957) caused by vehicles bound for the holiday resorts along the Norfolk coast. Even so, the traffic converging on the centre from outside the town is small in quantity compared with that from inside.
253A recent survey of traffic in and around the city centre indicated that the number of vehicles entering the old city area on a weekday (Friday) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. was about 43,000, and during the same period on a Saturday the number was about 49,000.
254During the Friday morning count, the number of cars entering the old city area between 7.45 a.m. and 9.45 a.m. was 6,687 and the number leaving was 2,933. This provides a rough pointer to the number of people using cars for the journey to work into the centre. It is estimated that nearly 20% of the employees in the area already travel by private transport.
254During the Friday morning count, the number of cars entering the old city area between 7.45 a.m. and 9.45 a.m. was 6,687 and the number leaving was 2,933. This provides a rough pointer to the number of people using cars for the journey to work into the centre. It is estimated that nearly 20% of the employees in the area already travel by private transport.
255A survey of car parking in 1960, covering an area somewhat less than the walled city, showed that 3,500 vehicles were parked (on and off the streets) during the peak Friday morning period. This figure represents an increase of 38% over a similar count two years earlier. It is estimated that a comparable figure for the walled city as a whole would now be over 5,000 vehicles.
256The traffic flows at twenty entry points into the old city area during the period 5.15 to 6.15 p.m., also on the Friday, are shown in Figure 152. The precise manner in which this traffic is dispersed within the old city area is not yet available from the survey, but it seems clear that old narrow thoroughfares such as St. Giles Street, St. Benedict Street and Magdalen Street are taking major flows, as also are the widened shopping streets, Red Lion Street and Prince of Wales Road. Congestion is sufficient to induce traffic to filter through whichever streets promise the shortest journey-time. Consequently the whole street network within the old city is at times used to its maximum traffic capacity.
