Interesting, but I would personally prefer these be left to history. There are some raised walkways similar to these in Toronto as well, near the city hall, and they have been out-of-order more often than not in my lifetime.
One of my fears around self-driving cars is that the tech companies and governments involved will eventually give up on having them safely detect and respond to pedestrians and instead decide to "solve" the problem by relegating non-vehicular traffic into narrow bridges and walkways like these.
These walkways were hidden in plain sight. When I started working in London, where the Barbican now is was a bomb site with just the fire station standing amongst the rubble. Over the decades I've seen these Pedways (great word by the way) all over the City, not realising the plan to link them. Great post.
This would be interesting as an idea for cycle routes if you could get them up onto it. A network with no cars, no pedestrians, few junctions requiring signage, secure bike stands and lifts at major locations - I'd use it! Yes, it would need planning and maintenance but it would be a great way to whizz around London and really nake the idea attractive to those who are too scared of the dangers from road cycling. As a pedestrian I hate the idea. I want to be at ground level experiencing the sights and sounds, noticing an unexpected shop or stopping to buy a snack. And I want to move diagonally sometimes, not be forced to take the same strict path. I don't mind the look of the Barbican, but the pathways drive me nuts 😂
The 1969-74 parts of City University were also built with ped/walkways on ‘level 3’. Despite being some distance from the actual City, the university had (and retains) strong links with it - which apparently extended to the architecture. I don’t know if there are/were any unused ‘connectors’ that anticipated a continuous link to the City…
A fascinating post, thank you. I’ve ended up on random sections of this a few times and wondered about the rationale. When the idea was first proposed was it justified on the grounds of it being a good thing for people or cars? It’s made me think about post-war reconstruction too. I’ve visited lots of places on the continent that were rebuilt to their former selves after being bombed. Was that ever considered for the city?
Thanks Rachel. The pedway scheme was very much driven with car users in mind, freeing up space so the traffic could flow more readily. But it had the happy side effect that pedestrians would be safer and in a more relaxed environment. A win-win, in theory. Because the scheme was never properly knitted together, few people bothered to go up to the higher level and nobody benefited... except perhaps people like me who got an interesting topic to write about decades later.
That's an interesting question about building back the city. I don't know if anyone proposed a full restoration. I'd guess not, though. The vast empty plots gave the City an opportunity to build large office blocks, which had proved successful in America, and could power the economy forward in ways that stumpy old Edwardian and Victorian-style blocks could not. The Barbican aside, much of the ancient road plan was left intact, however.
It seems amazing to me that planners were given such a free rein in the heart of the historic city to pursue such futuristic projects. As you say, they must have been in thrall to the US, and have a very different mindset to many on the continent.
A number of these raised walkways were built in Newcastle upon Tyne in the late 1960s/early 70s. They still exist, but are now largely disused and abandoned. There is one that was abandoned before they even finished building it: it comes to an abrupt halt in mid-air with a walled-off dead end beneath the arch of the Tyne Bridge high above it.
Thank you! I have a bit of a mono-focus on London and don't really have much knowledge about other cities in this respect. Has the local council ever done anything with them, such as opening them up to artists, or adding greenery, or beehives, or solar panels, or anything?
Brilliant read. I went to the Barbican for the first st time, never having heard of it before (I'm a returned colonial, you see) and was fascinated. I was there for a concert so didn't get to explore but I'd love to go back and do so.
Thank you! Definitely return. It's a wonderful place to wander around, with much to discover. Keep an eye out for Friday's newsletter, when I'll be doing a follow-on to this article about the hidden history around the Barbican.
In 1974/5 I worked in Cripplegate Library on a “Podium” as they were called, on London Wall. The Barbican Library hadn’t yet opened and, when it did, Cripplegate Library was subsumed by it. There were 4 staff and a cleaner. It was very small, but we were quite busy with office workers and Barbican residents.
We heard the emergency services rushing to Moorgate when the train crash happened (our cleaner had been on the train behind).
We could also see the dray horses going to and fro the Chigwell Street brewery.
Interesting, but I would personally prefer these be left to history. There are some raised walkways similar to these in Toronto as well, near the city hall, and they have been out-of-order more often than not in my lifetime.
One of my fears around self-driving cars is that the tech companies and governments involved will eventually give up on having them safely detect and respond to pedestrians and instead decide to "solve" the problem by relegating non-vehicular traffic into narrow bridges and walkways like these.
These walkways were hidden in plain sight. When I started working in London, where the Barbican now is was a bomb site with just the fire station standing amongst the rubble. Over the decades I've seen these Pedways (great word by the way) all over the City, not realising the plan to link them. Great post.
This would be interesting as an idea for cycle routes if you could get them up onto it. A network with no cars, no pedestrians, few junctions requiring signage, secure bike stands and lifts at major locations - I'd use it! Yes, it would need planning and maintenance but it would be a great way to whizz around London and really nake the idea attractive to those who are too scared of the dangers from road cycling. As a pedestrian I hate the idea. I want to be at ground level experiencing the sights and sounds, noticing an unexpected shop or stopping to buy a snack. And I want to move diagonally sometimes, not be forced to take the same strict path. I don't mind the look of the Barbican, but the pathways drive me nuts 😂
The 1969-74 parts of City University were also built with ped/walkways on ‘level 3’. Despite being some distance from the actual City, the university had (and retains) strong links with it - which apparently extended to the architecture. I don’t know if there are/were any unused ‘connectors’ that anticipated a continuous link to the City…
Fascinating! I had no idea, thank you. It certainly looks like just the sort of building to be part of the scheme, albeit much further out.
A fascinating post, thank you. I’ve ended up on random sections of this a few times and wondered about the rationale. When the idea was first proposed was it justified on the grounds of it being a good thing for people or cars? It’s made me think about post-war reconstruction too. I’ve visited lots of places on the continent that were rebuilt to their former selves after being bombed. Was that ever considered for the city?
Thanks Rachel. The pedway scheme was very much driven with car users in mind, freeing up space so the traffic could flow more readily. But it had the happy side effect that pedestrians would be safer and in a more relaxed environment. A win-win, in theory. Because the scheme was never properly knitted together, few people bothered to go up to the higher level and nobody benefited... except perhaps people like me who got an interesting topic to write about decades later.
That's an interesting question about building back the city. I don't know if anyone proposed a full restoration. I'd guess not, though. The vast empty plots gave the City an opportunity to build large office blocks, which had proved successful in America, and could power the economy forward in ways that stumpy old Edwardian and Victorian-style blocks could not. The Barbican aside, much of the ancient road plan was left intact, however.
It seems amazing to me that planners were given such a free rein in the heart of the historic city to pursue such futuristic projects. As you say, they must have been in thrall to the US, and have a very different mindset to many on the continent.
Fascinating.
A number of these raised walkways were built in Newcastle upon Tyne in the late 1960s/early 70s. They still exist, but are now largely disused and abandoned. There is one that was abandoned before they even finished building it: it comes to an abrupt halt in mid-air with a walled-off dead end beneath the arch of the Tyne Bridge high above it.
Thank you! I have a bit of a mono-focus on London and don't really have much knowledge about other cities in this respect. Has the local council ever done anything with them, such as opening them up to artists, or adding greenery, or beehives, or solar panels, or anything?
No - sadly, Newcastle city council aren't renowned for creative thinking of that type.
Great read thanks
Brilliant read. I went to the Barbican for the first st time, never having heard of it before (I'm a returned colonial, you see) and was fascinated. I was there for a concert so didn't get to explore but I'd love to go back and do so.
Thank you! Definitely return. It's a wonderful place to wander around, with much to discover. Keep an eye out for Friday's newsletter, when I'll be doing a follow-on to this article about the hidden history around the Barbican.
Love the possibilities of different perspectives and a calmer walk … the name might be a major imPediment though 🤩
Hi Matt
In 1974/5 I worked in Cripplegate Library on a “Podium” as they were called, on London Wall. The Barbican Library hadn’t yet opened and, when it did, Cripplegate Library was subsumed by it. There were 4 staff and a cleaner. It was very small, but we were quite busy with office workers and Barbican residents.
We heard the emergency services rushing to Moorgate when the train crash happened (our cleaner had been on the train behind).
We could also see the dray horses going to and fro the Chigwell Street brewery.
The podium and bridge across have long gone.