traffic jams not beaten - Really!

[alextgreen]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4043803.stm

Yes, we know you've been wasting our road tax. Now stop frollicking around and do something about it.

[pdV6]

NAO said:

Although some progressive measures, such as the new M4 bus lane, had been adopted, their use remained limited

Thank god!
M4 bus lane - one of the biggest causes of congestion in that area?

[dougc]

BBC Article said:

Although some progressive measures, such as the new M4 bus lane, had been adopted, their use remained limited, the NAO said.

Eh? Use of measures like the M4 bus lane should be kept as limited as possible IMO.

[JamieT]

I dont know if I like the idea of traffic being able to use the hard shoulder. Firstly, it could really hinder the progress of emergency vehicles. Secondly, it leaves nowhere for vehicles to go should they break down. And finally, the hard shoulder is usually covered in all sorts of debris which could easily casue punctures or accidents.

[The Wiz]

Related Talking Point:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/4044773.stm

[theron]

I too thought the M4 bus lane was a daft idea, until I read this :

www.cbrd.co.uk/indepth/m4buslane/

[swilly]

theron said:

I too thought the M4 bus lane was a daft idea, until I read this : www.cbrd.co.uk/indepth/m4buslane/

And you dont still think it is a daft idea because........?

All the bus lane does is move the bottleneck further West.

Instead of three lanes merging to form two at one point they do it at another point instead. No change to congestion at all.

Whatever traffic leaves at junction 3 leaves at junction 3 and would have no affect further east whether the bus lane was there or not.

That weblink is just a load of pseudo-scientific babble.

[busta]

from the site justifying the M4 bus lane: 'it resulted in more reliable journey times on the M4 for all road users'

They say more reliable, not necessarily shorter.

So basically they have made congestion bad all day, rather than just in rush hour?

Whats the difference between 3000 cars merging into 2 lanes at the viaduct and 3000 cars merging into 2 lanes a few miles before? Other than the fact the cars are in two lanes for longer which obviously increases congestion?

Bernie