Reducing Congestion - how would you do it?
Discussion
Also some kind of chinook type helicopter drone to take trips from a random out of town place such as a field to a city centre and land on top of a building
Would be easy to get to and ease congestion near train stations and stop everyone getting the train - hundreds of people could get in each one and there could be loads
Would be easy to get to and ease congestion near train stations and stop everyone getting the train - hundreds of people could get in each one and there could be loads
teach lane discipline far better and get as many people as we could on motorbikes.
Improve somehow on red lights. The amount of lights i get to as they turn red when there's noone waiting to cross. Maybe 15 seconds later a single car will pass, and our lane will turn to green. Funnily enough, as there's multiple cars arriving from the other road which is now turning to red.
I also think allowing us to turn right on red lights as long as it's clear would help, like some US states. However, this and 'increase the speed limit or remove it all together like Germany wouldn't work, simply because we Brit's can't be f
king trusted because of how low the standard of driving is over here.
Improve somehow on red lights. The amount of lights i get to as they turn red when there's noone waiting to cross. Maybe 15 seconds later a single car will pass, and our lane will turn to green. Funnily enough, as there's multiple cars arriving from the other road which is now turning to red.
I also think allowing us to turn right on red lights as long as it's clear would help, like some US states. However, this and 'increase the speed limit or remove it all together like Germany wouldn't work, simply because we Brit's can't be f
king trusted because of how low the standard of driving is over here. Edited by NooBish AbbZ on Sunday 22 October 22:21
Swampy has a lot to answer for. When he did that protesting in the early 1990's road bulding just about stopped and anyone that protested about anything much had to be listened to. However, road building won't really solve the problem long term. The main issue is there are too many people. Then you have an issue of long term job security. People aren't going to up sticks and move house to be nearer to work when they know they no longer have a job for life. They instead put up with the relatively short term pain of communting.
While I cycle to work everyday, I'm reluctant to cycle further because I don't want my bike nicked. Same with my motorbike, I don't feel safe leaving it anywhere. If more people were on bikes, powered or pedalled, there would be more room on the roads. There has also be a huge amount of engineered in congestion to make travelling by car, or at least road, less actractive with no viable alternative.
If congestion does get eased by what ever magic wand, people with end up filling the road space again unless the alternative to using the roads is significantly easier.
Increasing larger cars with only one person in them must increase congestion by reduciing road space, the issue here is that most people view a large car as a status symbol, so it will be a hard sell to make them switch to a smaller car. As a driver of a small car I can see no advantage in getting anything bigger because I can slip through gaps that simply don't excist to the PH Board Of Directors in the lugzury off roaders, which make crossing town much quicker for me.
There will be no magic bullet to solve this issue, it will be a combination of things.
While I cycle to work everyday, I'm reluctant to cycle further because I don't want my bike nicked. Same with my motorbike, I don't feel safe leaving it anywhere. If more people were on bikes, powered or pedalled, there would be more room on the roads. There has also be a huge amount of engineered in congestion to make travelling by car, or at least road, less actractive with no viable alternative.
If congestion does get eased by what ever magic wand, people with end up filling the road space again unless the alternative to using the roads is significantly easier.
Increasing larger cars with only one person in them must increase congestion by reduciing road space, the issue here is that most people view a large car as a status symbol, so it will be a hard sell to make them switch to a smaller car. As a driver of a small car I can see no advantage in getting anything bigger because I can slip through gaps that simply don't excist to the PH Board Of Directors in the lugzury off roaders, which make crossing town much quicker for me.
There will be no magic bullet to solve this issue, it will be a combination of things.
Johnnytheboy said:
I read somewhere back along that even though congestion is constantly increasing in our major cities, absolute traffic levels haven't gone up. The disconnect is due to things like re-timing of traffic lights and bus/cycle lanes, so even though there aren't more vehicles on the road it feels like there are.
Well that's a load of tosh for a start...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE82FZpq0qM
Centurion07 said:
Johnnytheboy said:
I read somewhere back along that even though congestion is constantly increasing in our major cities, absolute traffic levels haven't gone up. The disconnect is due to things like re-timing of traffic lights and bus/cycle lanes, so even though there aren't more vehicles on the road it feels like there are.
Well that's a load of tosh for a start...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE82FZpq0qM
Willy Nilly said:
Then you have an issue of long term job security. People aren't going to up sticks and move house to be nearer to work when they know they no longer have a job for life. They instead put up with the relatively short term pain of communting.
Yep - coupled with the aforementioned expense of moving house, this is also a biggie.Over the last 20 years my wife has had 10 different jobs and I have had 13, with one permanent position lasting only 3 months! Between us we have been made redundant at least 7 times. We have lived in 6 different properties spread across Cheshire, Manchester, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire and have worked as far south as Central London and as far north as Iceland.
The expense and upheaval involved in buying and selling made moving with work each time quite problematic - especially when you consider that relocation packages (if you get offered one at all) aren't what they used to be. It also assumes we could even afford to buy within walking/cycling distance of where we were working at the time.
Johnnytheboy said:
Centurion07 said:
Johnnytheboy said:
I read somewhere back along that even though congestion is constantly increasing in our major cities, absolute traffic levels haven't gone up. The disconnect is due to things like re-timing of traffic lights and bus/cycle lanes, so even though there aren't more vehicles on the road it feels like there are.
Well that's a load of tosh for a start...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JE82FZpq0qM
You also need to remember that cars to many aren't just a way of getting from a to b. They are much more, status symbols, freedom and so on. How many bus passenger internet forums are there?
You don't just need to replace the convenance of a car but everything else that goes with it. Its going to be a very hard thing to do without making people feel things are worse for them.
You don't just need to replace the convenance of a car but everything else that goes with it. Its going to be a very hard thing to do without making people feel things are worse for them.
Nothing but nothing is going to get me onto a bus; a train at a pinch but buses, not a hope.
As to congestion - get rid of buslanes they just create congestion and the buses themselves just get stuck in it. Get rid of bus stops just after sets of traffic lights. Stop closing so-called "rat runs" - if people are using them it's usually because of all your stupid bus lanes or extra traffic lights. "Children who are playing might get run over" - oh do fk off! Roads aren't playgrounds.
One thing that I think is a game changer for the future are these electric bicycles, especially for places that aren't too well serviced by pubic transport or with hills (eg where I live). I've borrowed one and they are fantastic. They're pretty well as quick as a car for getting around, decent range, no tax, insurance, ride them when you're pissed etc etc. I can definitely see me getting one of these and when I'm in my retirement age we'd drop to one small car and just use electric bikes for local trips. They're brilliant.
As to congestion - get rid of buslanes they just create congestion and the buses themselves just get stuck in it. Get rid of bus stops just after sets of traffic lights. Stop closing so-called "rat runs" - if people are using them it's usually because of all your stupid bus lanes or extra traffic lights. "Children who are playing might get run over" - oh do f
k off! Roads aren't playgrounds.One thing that I think is a game changer for the future are these electric bicycles, especially for places that aren't too well serviced by pubic transport or with hills (eg where I live). I've borrowed one and they are fantastic. They're pretty well as quick as a car for getting around, decent range, no tax, insurance, ride them when you're pissed etc etc. I can definitely see me getting one of these and when I'm in my retirement age we'd drop to one small car and just use electric bikes for local trips. They're brilliant.
J4CKO said:
No, people cause chaos, people trying to get where they want to go, what you mean is a large number of cyclists causes you some minor inconvenience, and if they ride badly then that doesnt help, like when the same person driving a car doesnt make a very good job of it.
If you got all cyclists of the road, the joy would be short lived as those people still need to get about, they would probably drive if able, or take public transport.
Is it just me or is there seems to be some perception that if you have a car you are somehow more important, especially if you have an expensive one and that cyclists, pedestrians and people on public transport are somehow a lower form of life than those with cars, that their journeys are less important, it is coming across in some of the posts, get cyclists of the roads etc ? it is one of those things you may as well not say as it isnt ever going to happen.
Also, there is some that seem to think everyone else needs to change their ways whilst they carry on as before, every single road user needs to think and perhaps pitch in.
What a load of rubbish, I cycle and drive. If you got all cyclists of the road, the joy would be short lived as those people still need to get about, they would probably drive if able, or take public transport.
Is it just me or is there seems to be some perception that if you have a car you are somehow more important, especially if you have an expensive one and that cyclists, pedestrians and people on public transport are somehow a lower form of life than those with cars, that their journeys are less important, it is coming across in some of the posts, get cyclists of the roads etc ? it is one of those things you may as well not say as it isnt ever going to happen.
Also, there is some that seem to think everyone else needs to change their ways whilst they carry on as before, every single road user needs to think and perhaps pitch in.
If you want to Drive from say Milton to Addenbrookes its chaos due to the number of cars, nothing to do with Cyclists.
KillerHERTZ said:
J4CKO said:
No, people cause chaos, people trying to get where they want to go, what you mean is a large number of cyclists causes you some minor inconvenience, and if they ride badly then that doesnt help, like when the same person driving a car doesnt make a very good job of it.
If you got all cyclists of the road, the joy would be short lived as those people still need to get about, they would probably drive if able, or take public transport.
Is it just me or is there seems to be some perception that if you have a car you are somehow more important, especially if you have an expensive one and that cyclists, pedestrians and people on public transport are somehow a lower form of life than those with cars, that their journeys are less important, it is coming across in some of the posts, get cyclists of the roads etc ? it is one of those things you may as well not say as it isnt ever going to happen.
Also, there is some that seem to think everyone else needs to change their ways whilst they carry on as before, every single road user needs to think and perhaps pitch in.
What a load of rubbish, I cycle and drive. If you got all cyclists of the road, the joy would be short lived as those people still need to get about, they would probably drive if able, or take public transport.
Is it just me or is there seems to be some perception that if you have a car you are somehow more important, especially if you have an expensive one and that cyclists, pedestrians and people on public transport are somehow a lower form of life than those with cars, that their journeys are less important, it is coming across in some of the posts, get cyclists of the roads etc ? it is one of those things you may as well not say as it isnt ever going to happen.
Also, there is some that seem to think everyone else needs to change their ways whilst they carry on as before, every single road user needs to think and perhaps pitch in.
If you want to Drive from say Milton to Addenbrookes its chaos due to the number of cars, nothing to do with Cyclists.
I wasnt pointing out cyclists are the problem (I also do both), it is just that people all want to get where they are going and the volume of people ont he roads is the problem.
mp3manager said:
J4CKO said:
Be interesting to see which of us, have in the last month,
Walked a decent distance instead of taking the car
Used public transport
Ridden a bicycle
1. Can't, I have a disability.Walked a decent distance instead of taking the car
Used public transport
Ridden a bicycle
2. Can't, I have a disability.
3. Can't, I have a disability.
HTH
People with disabilities are precluded from using any form of Public transport ? I have a disabled friend who uses public transport extensively, suppose it depends on the specific disability and availability of public transport.
Dog Star said:
Nothing but nothing is going to get me onto a bus; a train at a pinch but buses, not a hope.
As to congestion - get rid of bus lanes they just create congestion and the buses themselves just get stuck in it.
If that is correct you need to do the opposite of your suggestion; a massive increase in bus lanes so there is no possibility of a bus being delayed by the other traffic.As to congestion - get rid of bus lanes they just create congestion and the buses themselves just get stuck in it.
jonah35 said:
Easier and cheaper off road parking
Half of people in city centres are just driving around looking for a space
So make parking far more expensive and reduce the number of spaces.Half of people in city centres are just driving around looking for a space
That way fewer people will bother to drive in.
Edited by PF62 on Monday 23 October 16:52
Dog Star said:
Nothing but nothing is going to get me onto a bus; a train at a pinch but buses, not a hope.
As to congestion - get rid of buslanes they just create congestion and the buses themselves just get stuck in it. Get rid of bus stops just after sets of traffic lights. Stop closing so-called "rat runs" - if people are using them it's usually because of all your stupid bus lanes or extra traffic lights. "Children who are playing might get run over" - oh do fk off! Roads aren't playgrounds.
One thing that I think is a game changer for the future are these electric bicycles, especially for places that aren't too well serviced by pubic transport or with hills (eg where I live). I've borrowed one and they are fantastic. They're pretty well as quick as a car for getting around, decent range, no tax, insurance, ride them when you're pissed etc etc. I can definitely see me getting one of these and when I'm in my retirement age we'd drop to one small car and just use electric bikes for local trips. They're brilliant.
I agree that buses are pretty miserable and that trains are less unpleasant, I think we need to perhaps not rule things out entirely, keep an open mind and get rid of the I am special mentality, I am not thinking anyone should use a bus for the sake of it, or cycle if not physically capable, but within your own life just use the options you have selectively rather than just default to a car for every journey.As to congestion - get rid of buslanes they just create congestion and the buses themselves just get stuck in it. Get rid of bus stops just after sets of traffic lights. Stop closing so-called "rat runs" - if people are using them it's usually because of all your stupid bus lanes or extra traffic lights. "Children who are playing might get run over" - oh do f
k off! Roads aren't playgrounds.One thing that I think is a game changer for the future are these electric bicycles, especially for places that aren't too well serviced by pubic transport or with hills (eg where I live). I've borrowed one and they are fantastic. They're pretty well as quick as a car for getting around, decent range, no tax, insurance, ride them when you're pissed etc etc. I can definitely see me getting one of these and when I'm in my retirement age we'd drop to one small car and just use electric bikes for local trips. They're brilliant.
catso said:
InitialDave said:
PF62 said:
massive increase in bus lanes.
PF62 said:
So make parking far more expensive.
PF62 said:
reduce the number of spaces.
Do you work for a council by any chance?
If you want to reduce congestion you need to reduce the number of cars on the road. The way to do that is make it so horrible to drive that the other options are better.
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