Traffic Chaos in Lodon today (Sunday)
Discussion
Today was the Olympic Cycle Race test from Hyde Park to Richmond Park and back. I, along with 1000s of others had no idea that this was happening.
So while I am at work they have basically cut West and South West London in half all the way to Richmond, so I and many others can't get South of the river.
To top it all, the herberts manning the closed roads have no information on where to tell the drivers to go and the one idiot I listened to told me to head for Battersea bridge, my usual route home.
Turns out that all the bridges were closed all the way out to Chiswick, 6 miles away.
He should have told me to head for the West End.
Took me an hour and a half to cover the 2 miles to Fulham, where I gave up, dumped the car, downed a pint in an empty pub and went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes in Fulham Broadway.
Even after a long film the roads were still closed so I sat in my car for a further half hour when they finally let me cross the Fulham road.
So the 6 mile trip back from work, that normally takes half hour, took 5 hours in the end.
Funnily I was supposed to meet a girl that I had met on a dating site for a cycle ride round Richmond Park, D'oh!
Wouldn't mind but as a Londoner, they could at least have stuck a leaflet through the door for such a major closure of so many roads plus I saw no signs on the way into work apart from a lot of crash barriers, which I presumed were something to do with the football or rioting.
Anyone else get caught up in it?
So while I am at work they have basically cut West and South West London in half all the way to Richmond, so I and many others can't get South of the river.
To top it all, the herberts manning the closed roads have no information on where to tell the drivers to go and the one idiot I listened to told me to head for Battersea bridge, my usual route home.
Turns out that all the bridges were closed all the way out to Chiswick, 6 miles away.
He should have told me to head for the West End.
Took me an hour and a half to cover the 2 miles to Fulham, where I gave up, dumped the car, downed a pint in an empty pub and went to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes in Fulham Broadway.
Even after a long film the roads were still closed so I sat in my car for a further half hour when they finally let me cross the Fulham road.
So the 6 mile trip back from work, that normally takes half hour, took 5 hours in the end.
Funnily I was supposed to meet a girl that I had met on a dating site for a cycle ride round Richmond Park, D'oh!
Wouldn't mind but as a Londoner, they could at least have stuck a leaflet through the door for such a major closure of so many roads plus I saw no signs on the way into work apart from a lot of crash barriers, which I presumed were something to do with the football or rioting.
Anyone else get caught up in it?
Not just London!
Near me, A24 south from M25 past Letherhead, up around Boxhill into Dorking and along the A25 almost to Guildford and then up into the Surrey Hills North downs and off somewhere to annoy lots of other people.
Mind you signs have been up for ages, but the Boxhill bikers were rather upset this morning!
Near me, A24 south from M25 past Letherhead, up around Boxhill into Dorking and along the A25 almost to Guildford and then up into the Surrey Hills North downs and off somewhere to annoy lots of other people.
Mind you signs have been up for ages, but the Boxhill bikers were rather upset this morning!
We drove up the A24 from the south coast this morning heading for the M25. No warning signs, no diversions, just 2 exits closed at the roundabout in Dorking. No warnings for us locally, because we live miles away from it.
Luckily we were early, 7.45 ish so didn't get caught in traffic. It must have been a nightmare for those stuck in it later on. I think I was most annoyed at the lack of warning and diversion signs. They managed to stick plenty of signs up saying we'd be towed if stopped anywhere.
Time to book a holiday for this time next year!
Luckily we were early, 7.45 ish so didn't get caught in traffic. It must have been a nightmare for those stuck in it later on. I think I was most annoyed at the lack of warning and diversion signs. They managed to stick plenty of signs up saying we'd be towed if stopped anywhere.
Time to book a holiday for this time next year!
Just looked at the race route. Now wondering that if I had crawled all the way to Chiswick, I would have had to then travel down past Dorking before I could head in back to Wandsworth. Ridiculous.
Would have caused less chaos, marginally, if they had used the A4, M4 for part of the race so at least the traffic could go under or over the route.
I know that they do plenty of road races abroad but this is one of the busiest cities on the planet. There should have been a massive TV advertising campaign telling people not to drive and maps to show the extent of the closures. I sure would have taken notice of that.
Would have caused less chaos, marginally, if they had used the A4, M4 for part of the race so at least the traffic could go under or over the route.
I know that they do plenty of road races abroad but this is one of the busiest cities on the planet. There should have been a massive TV advertising campaign telling people not to drive and maps to show the extent of the closures. I sure would have taken notice of that.
They made a right Ed Balls of it, closing a lot of roads hours before they should have and taking on stewards who had absolutely no information of which roads were closed or alternate routes.
I'm not sure what they do on the TDF but there was really no need to close the number of roads they did for such a long time. A lot didn't re-open until 3pm when the race was over and done just after midday.
A lot to learn from this I guess, fortunately they were the other side of the Thames from me so I just avoided going that way.
I'm not sure what they do on the TDF but there was really no need to close the number of roads they did for such a long time. A lot didn't re-open until 3pm when the race was over and done just after midday.
A lot to learn from this I guess, fortunately they were the other side of the Thames from me so I just avoided going that way.
Garlick I can't off seen you having much trouble, I can imagine most people would move when they saw a Chim coming at them at a fair rate of knots. 
Talking of cyclists I was watching Mr Bean last night (Wasn't old enough to get it when it was on) and one part a cyclist stopped at traffic lights, got off wheeled his bike round and carried on, I think Rowan Atkinson predicted PH before it was invented he got out and pushed his mini through the lights. Now if that isn't a PH thing to do I don't know what is
Talking of cyclists I was watching Mr Bean last night (Wasn't old enough to get it when it was on) and one part a cyclist stopped at traffic lights, got off wheeled his bike round and carried on, I think Rowan Atkinson predicted PH before it was invented
he got out and pushed his mini through the lights. Now if that isn't a PH thing to do I don't know what is Garlick said:
I was in an 11-plated 911Turbo S, they probably did it out of spite 
Yep that was your problem right there. If you had been in the TiV they would have moved out of pure fear it was going to eat them, I've noticed TVRs are very good at scaring animals, small children, trees, other cars, old people, erm most things. I think its quite funny though when you see people having thought a 10k Chim is worth about 30-40k, I suppose its good if you can get them to buy it thinfourth2 said:
VPower said:
Not just London!
It was hell up hereWe had a tractor in the track I had to drive the dumper truck in the field
http://www.gosurrey.info/
Have to apologise to you all, as I did intend to call Sally Traffic early last week to ask her to start warning people that if Granny lived on the route not to visit today.
Sorry was out playing with the car!
VPower said:
Well you'll just have to check the web site during the OOOlympics!!
http://www.gosurrey.info/
http://www.gosurrey.info/
website said:
Q. My road is on the race route and I usually park my
car on the street outside my house, what do I do on
the day of the race?
A. As the majority of sectors in Surrey will be closing
early in the morning we strongly advise you to park
your car on a road that is not affected by the race
the night before.
If your car is parked on a road that is due to close on
the day of the race, it will be removed.
To claim your car you will need to call Surrey Police
on 0845 125 2222.
Urine temperature rising...car on the street outside my house, what do I do on
the day of the race?
A. As the majority of sectors in Surrey will be closing
early in the morning we strongly advise you to park
your car on a road that is not affected by the race
the night before.
If your car is parked on a road that is due to close on
the day of the race, it will be removed.
To claim your car you will need to call Surrey Police
on 0845 125 2222.
Fekin' Olympics, I have no interest in it yet I'm paying for it and have already suffered for it. What a waste of a lovely day.
Had it all planned, work early, cycle to the park to meet a pretty girl, 1st since break up with wife over 2 years ago and all feked up for something that should have been better sorted. What kind of crap racers were they waiting for that caused them to keep the roads closed for so long.
Was it beyond their imagination to open the roads once the peleton had passed on it's way to Surrey and then close them when they were on the way back.
Whoever organised this is a f
king moronic fecktard of the highest order.
London, can't sort out a riot (mass shop lifting) or a fekin' cycle race. A holes
Had it all planned, work early, cycle to the park to meet a pretty girl, 1st since break up with wife over 2 years ago and all feked up for something that should have been better sorted. What kind of crap racers were they waiting for that caused them to keep the roads closed for so long.
Was it beyond their imagination to open the roads once the peleton had passed on it's way to Surrey and then close them when they were on the way back.
Whoever organised this is a f
king moronic fecktard of the highest order.London, can't sort out a riot (mass shop lifting) or a fekin' cycle race. A holes
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