New 50mph limit - Lower Earley Way, Reading

New 50mph limit - Lower Earley Way, Reading

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Discussion

flashgit

Original Poster:

57 posts

188 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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Those of you familiar with the Lower Earley Way will know about the new cycle path that is being created.

However, late last week they also changed the limit down to 50mph between the Showcase cinema roundabout, past the Sindlesham Mill hotel, and all the way along to the roundabout that takes you up to the "Asda end" of Lower Earley.

Beware the mobile speed cameras that will no doubt come along to try to fleece some of us of our hard earned beer drinking tokens.

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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I guess it can't be too long before the Showcase - Woodley section suffers the same fate. I'm amazed it's lasted until now really. Still, at least they've gone to 50 and not 40.

wilbo83

1,535 posts

164 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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I heard a rumour of 40 so at least they have been a bit more sensible. Annoying really though, as there was nothing wrong with the road layout, it was just ruined by people that took the middle roundabout (end of Carshalton / Meldreth Way) too quickly ending up in the ditch and also the chavs that used to race their cars up and down it late at night. So they have to spend a fortune and slow down the majority of peoples journey for the stupid behaviour of a few others.

Winky151

1,267 posts

140 months

Monday 11th August 2014
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The thing that gets me is not the cycle path/pavement or reduced speed limit its the fact they've built in 'crossing points' confused. To where exactly? So that people can cross to the motorway? & then what?

MrChips

3,263 posts

209 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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They've changed the council website recently but it originally said:

"Reduce lane widths to promote reduced speeds and increase safety"

Um... moving 50mph traffic closer together... isn't a safer idea confused

The traffic islands are there to prevent overtaking, although I think it may be a matter of time until someone unfamiliar with the road thinks "there wont be any traffic islands on this stretch.. as there's nowhere for pedestrians to cross to, and then go for an overtake.... only to face the traffic island!"

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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The council has spent a fortune looking after cyclists who pay nothing in road tax or have to be insured to use the highway.The police will be out in force catching anyone doing 55mph to help pay for all this.

bigdom

2,072 posts

144 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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Old Merc said:
The council has spent a fortune looking after cyclists who pay nothing in road tax
No such thing as road tax, it's VED - Vehicle Emissions Duty, which by default makes bicycles exempt, unless the rider has a flatulence issue.

Obviously, nobody who rides a bicycle would own a motor vehicle or two as well, would they?

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
quotequote all
Old Merc said:
The council has spent a fortune looking after cyclists who pay nothing in road tax or have to be insured to use the highway.
rolleyesrolleyesrolleyesrolleyesrolleyesrolleyesrolleyesrolleyesrolleyesrolleyes

Fidgits

17,202 posts

228 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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MrChips said:
The traffic islands are there to prevent overtaking, although I think it may be a matter of time until someone unfamiliar with the road thinks "there wont be any traffic islands on this stretch.. as there's nowhere for pedestrians to cross to, and then go for an overtake.... only to face the traffic island!"
Yeah, that was what i had assumed...

I only spotted the new speed limit there monday morning, as i stay in reading a few times a week and bomb down early morning to work... it is suprising they've done it as it used to be a useful stretch of road you could overtake on, and now... well...

Winky151

1,267 posts

140 months

Tuesday 12th August 2014
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Even though I know they're there, I still catch myself thinking 'overtake opportunity smile. Oh, no! frown'

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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bigdom said:
No such thing as road tax, it's VED - Vehicle Emissions Duty, which by default makes bicycles exempt, unless the rider has a flatulence issue.

Obviously, nobody who rides a bicycle would own a motor vehicle or two as well, would they?
OK,I`m an old fart..When I started driving it was called road tax. What ever its called now drivers still have to pay it to use the road.How many other "green" taxes can you think of.
The point I was trying to make was cyclists do not have to pay anything,particularly insurance.How many times have you seen cyclists ignoring signs,lights etc.If one runs his handle bars down the side of your car you have little hope in him paying out.They all get encouraged because its healthy,etc etc.

0000

13,812 posts

190 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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bigdom said:
No such thing as road tax, it's VED - Vehicle Emissions Duty, which by default makes bicycles exempt, unless the rider has a flatulence issue.
I always thought it was Vehicle Excise Duty. i.e. road tax.

Old Merc

3,486 posts

166 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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MX-5 Lazza

7,952 posts

218 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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It's called Vehicle Tax these days. It's a tax for the right to use a motor vehicle on the roads based on emissions. If your car is clean enough there is nothing to pay. Cyclist make no emissions (relatively as has already been pointed out).

Paul v8

756 posts

164 months

Wednesday 13th August 2014
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Personally council and road groups are a bunch of prats and due to a few have taken an easily side step in reducing speed
What happening to our freedom on the road soon the government will set law not to rev over 3k lol and penilise drivers more as were easy targets

outnumbered

4,067 posts

233 months

Thursday 14th August 2014
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I came along the Lower Earley Way this morning to have a look, and I noticed that they've installed hard standing for the scamera van, about 2-300m from the western roundabout.

fletch78

452 posts

219 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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I can only assume it's for the safety of the Dominoes Pizza mules who seem to have cropped up along the route...

Fidgits

17,202 posts

228 months

Friday 15th August 2014
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outnumbered said:
I came along the Lower Earley Way this morning to have a look, and I noticed that they've installed hard standing for the scamera van, about 2-300m from the western roundabout.
There's two, one just down from the moat house roundabout too...

BrightYellowTVR

1,257 posts

266 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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This is as useless as the Bus lane and pedestrian bridges over junction 11. Since that has been completed I have only ever seen 1 bus and 1 pedestrian what a waste of money. I also can't see why cyclists will use this new cycle path as it doesn't really go anywhere? Not normally this negative but unless they actually join up these cycle paths then what's the point. Rant over biggrin just wanted to add there is a cycle path on the a329 from Wokingham to Reading, however the cyclist still cycle on the road, which is actually quite annoying and misses the point, or is it just me!

Edited by BrightYellowTVR on Saturday 16th August 10:16

silverfoxcc

7,683 posts

144 months

Saturday 16th August 2014
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I used the bus lane at J11 and got lost on it!!!