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Kerbside management plays a huge role in keeping cities running smoothly, yet some old stubborn myths are still holding councils back. In this article, five experts tackle common myths head-on—from fears about map-based orders creating more work to the untapped power of TRO data. With real-world examples and practical advice, they show how smarter tools and strategies can make a big difference for councils and communities.

Let’s bust some myths and explore how to do kerbside management better in 2025!

 

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“The Essential Digital Traffic Orders Guide”

 

Samuel Kinrade, Product Owner at AppyWay
Myth: “Map-Based Orders Create More Work”

I often hear concerns that switching to map-based traffic orders will create more work for already stretched teams. This couldn’t be further from the truth.

While the initial setup of a map-based record might seem a little overwhelming at first, it ultimately simplifies workflows dramatically. Instead of constantly referencing specific points within lengthy text documents, everything is visually represented on a map. This means that once your map-based system is established, all your written documents simply refer to the map schedule, eliminating tedious text searches. 

While using a smart solution, like AppyWay Traffic Suite’s built-in, you get to use intuitive templates that further enhance this by making updates to text documents much faster and easier, with changes on the map automatically reflecting in your written orders. Even amendment orders are streamlined: map-based schedules simply reflect the changes made rather than generating entirely new map sections. This not only simplifies the process for your team but also makes the information clearer for the public. 

While transitioning to map-based orders is not about more work, it’s about wiser work – and that’s the message I wish to leave you with for this start into the new year.

Stafford as seen trough D-TRO management tool Mapper

 

Jason Butcher, Customer Success Manager at AppyWay
Myth: “TRO Data is Just There for Legal Compliance, Not Strategic Insights”

It’s a common misconception that Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) data is needed solely for legal compliance and has little value beyond that. In reality, TRO data is a goldmine of strategic insights that can drive significant improvements in kerbside management. 

With traditional, text-based orders, gaining strategic insights into how TROs affect the kerbside is indeed difficult. The data isn’t standardised or easily reportable, making effective analysis a challenge. In fact, even organisations that have digitised their orders may not fully realise the potential of using that data for strategic planning.

However, Digital TROs (D-TROs) bust this myth wide open. Their structured data unlocks valuable insights, benefiting various teams, from Highways and Parking  Teams to Sustainable Transport divisions. At AppyWay, our Kerb BI solution offers standardised (or bespoke) reports that empower officers to understand the real-world impact of kerbside restrictions on both the kerbside itself and the wider road network. This is particularly valuable for strategic roles focused on developing and monitoring kerbside strategies. With Kerb BI, you can easily export tables and visuals for inclusion in reports or generate quick snapshots of progress towards key policy targets. This enables data-driven decision-making and clearer communication of strategic outcomes.

Beyond strategic planning, Kerb BI can also support the development of operational KPIs. For example, it can help assess the number of Penalty Charge Notices issued in relation to the length of a specific restriction. By leveraging TRO data in this way, services can optimise officer deployment and gain a deeper understanding of operational efficiency, proving that TRO data is a powerful tool for both strategic and operational improvements.

 

Keith Kelly, Senior Business Development Manager at AppyWay
Myth: “There’s No Value in Using D-TROs Before They Become Mandatory”

I often hear local authorities say, “Yes, we know Digital TROs are coming, but we’ll deal with it when we have to.” While this might seem like a sensible way to manage budgets, it’s actually a costly mistake. Most councils are still wrestling with TROs from as far back as the 1930s, scattered across various systems and buried in PDFs. Every day spent with this fragmented system means more time wasted searching for information and mounting inefficiencies. I recently worked with a council that planned to hire a temp for two years to photograph street signs and gradually update their digital platform – a classic case of the false economy that would have led to project delays, training costs, and the risk of starting over if that person left mid-project.

The councils that have taken the plunge into digitization tell a very different story. They’re completing their entire data transfer in just 2-3 months and seeing immediate benefits – from faster public inquiry responses to more efficient TRO amendments. Most importantly, they’re avoiding what I call the ‘compliance crunch’ – that inevitable bottleneck when legislation kicks in and everyone rushes to digitise at once. With limited suppliers available to handle these projects, waiting means either joining a long queue or paying premium rates for rushed work.

Here’s the simple truth: every month you wait is a month of lost efficiency and missed opportunities to improve public service. The councils that act now aren’t just checking a box for future compliance – they’re investing in years of streamlined operations and better kerbside management. In my experience, they’re the ones who end up wondering why they didn’t do it sooner.

At AppyWay, we regularly hear—directly or indirectly—that hard-pressed councils, constrained by resources and workload, are tempted to wait until D-TROs become mandatory before developing their plans to implement them. 

But what about the quantified benefits of getting onboard the D-TRO train ahead of time? To me, the quote below reminds us to view planning as a means to take action, not a way to justify inaction.

The DfT’s D-TRO Guide for decision makers outlines key benefits for councils already using D-TROs, such as:

  • Easier consultations facilitated by digital maps and online forms
  • Faster TRO approvals, including for electric vehicle parking
  • Cost savings from quicker design and approval processes, with less time spent on checks
  • Fewer rejected penalty charge notice appeals, thanks to improved document availability and alignment with signage
  • Greater flexibility to design, revise, and publish TROs quickly in response to policy needs, while enabling better planning for street works and compliance

Most importantly, councils already working with D-TROs, like Lambeth Council, emphasise the advantages of early adoption. We received a great comment from our customer:

What one piece of advice would you give to councils looking to transition to D-TROs? My answer... I urge other councils to embrace this transition rather than wait for a government mandate or deadline. It can be very tempting to delay… but early adoption has offered Lambeth immediate advantages.

David EagleshamHead of Service Development and Street Management at Lambeth Council

As we move into 2025, please connect with AppyWay to start or advance your D-TRO plans ahead of the mandatory requirement.

 

Mike Potter, Head of Commercial, AppyWay
Myth: “You need to be a platform specialist to generate a traffic order and handle the software”

With AppyWay’s Traffic Suite, that’s simply not the case. The tool is designed to be intuitive and straightforward, so anyone in the team can use it—not just traffic order specialists. Many teams outside traditional traffic management roles find it empowering to have self-service options, making the process more inclusive and accessible for everyone involved.

Gone are the days when only one person on the team could navigate complex software. Modern solutions like Traffic Suite are about simplifying the process for everyone. With its user-friendly interface, minimal training requirements, and easy-to-follow workflows, drafting traffic orders is now something that a wider group of people can contribute to when needed.

Older systems often required specialised knowledge for even the simplest tasks, creating stress for councils if the one person familiar with the software was unavailable or retiring (just imagine!). However, online traffic order solutions eliminate that worry entirely. 

Keep an eye out for an upcoming case study on our blog, where we’ll share how one council onboarded their team in just 8 weeks (including data migration and multiple in-person training sessions) and started using Traffic Suite with confidence.

 

Sarah Sadler, Customer Success Manager
Myth: “Transferring our old TRO data can wait – let’s just digitise the new ones”

I often hear local authorities say, “Yes, we know Digital TROs are coming, but we’ll deal with it when we have to.” While this might seem like a sensible way to manage budgets, it’s actually a costly mistake. Most councils are still wrestling with TROs from as far back as the 1930s, scattered across various systems and buried in PDFs. Every day spent with this fragmented system means more time wasted searching for information and mounting inefficiencies. I recently worked with a council that planned to hire a temp for two years to photograph street signs and gradually update their digital platform – a classic case of the false economy that would have led to project delays, training costs, and the risk of starting over if that person left mid-project.

The councils that have taken the plunge into digitization tell a very different story. They’re completing their entire data transfer in just 2-3 months and seeing immediate benefits – from faster public inquiry responses to more efficient TRO amendments. Most importantly, they’re avoiding what I call the ‘compliance crunch’ – that inevitable bottleneck when legislation kicks in and everyone rushes to digitise at once. With limited suppliers available to handle these projects, waiting means either joining a long queue or paying premium rates for rushed work.

Here’s the simple truth: every month you wait is a month of lost efficiency and missed opportunities to improve public service. The councils that act now aren’t just checking a box for future compliance – they’re investing in years of streamlined operations and better kerbside management. In my experience, they’re the ones who end up wondering why they didn’t do it sooner.

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