When I come to Power...
Discussion
Well, it's New Years Eve, not a lot going on until tonight and a thought came to me.
On PH we are all perfect
and therefore, if we came to power this country would run like clockwork.
There would be many issues to tackle, however, I wanted to see if PH contains any genius ideas about transport that would change the world as we know it. We can look at it any way we like, driving, trains, planes, infrastructure, laws etc. but lets keep it transport based. No Daily Mail typed shenanigans please.
What would you do if you came to power and ruled with an iron fist? (all those years with Palm and her 5 sisters would develop and mighty strong grip!)
I realise that this is much bigger than "I would change ..." but it's a bit of fun.
One of my ideas and I swear it is absolute genius (in my head), is to build UP. We always hear of how they can't expand our motorways (the M8 for example) because of land they can't get from farmers or houses built right up to the edge of the motorway. Why not have a 2 storey motorway? We could turn current 2 lane motorwys into effectively 4 or 5 lanes each way.
Obviously the view on the ground floor would be impaired by having a roof over you at all times, but the whole network wouldn't need the 2 storey treatment, just the very busy areas.
We could either have ground floor one direction, 1st floor other direction (not my prefered option) or we could have the same layout we have just now, but 2 more lanes up top. Lorries could be restricted to ground floor only, still giving them 2 or 3 lanes to do what they do now, but with far less congestion.
You would then have the option as a car driver to go top or bottom. Double the area of the road and it should reduce congestion. Not only that, but having a motorway that can accomodate far more people would mean the "rat-run" people who take the back roads to avoid congestion could take the motorway and therefore reduce wear and traffic volume on small country roads\villages etc.
Lets face it, motorways are not and never will be fun. So why not have as big a road as possible to get everyone where they are going as efficiently as possible, thus reducing pollution (after all, sitting in traffic for 2 hours doing 0 mpg is wasteful) and saving time.
As a long shot idea, after the hours of say, 11:00pm during the week and maybe, 2:00pm at weekends, the top floor could be derestricted. At that time of night, there are hardly any cars on the road anyway but people would have a choice. Not so confident on the motorway? Take the ground floor and relax. Want to get the foot down and get where you are going? Head up to the top floor sir!
I've had this idea for a while. The Americans do it with their bridges (Verrazano Narrows Bridge as an example) in major cities to deal with the volume of traffic. We all know the way to get around less floor space is to build up, so why not do so with road networks?
There will probably be some architects or structural engineers along shortly to explain to me that there would be no way to build a 1st floor strong enough to take the weight or that the cost would be so astronomical that it would never be possible. It's a far fetched idea but afterall, the Wright brothers had a far fetched idea that would never work, but how did you go off to Majorca this year for some sun?
Can we please hold the abuse back until at least page 2 aswell? I'm fully aware that I am open to tonnes of abuse just becuase I started a thread on a forum but I'm bored today and thought that maybe some people have some great (or hilarious!) ideas.
On PH we are all perfect
and therefore, if we came to power this country would run like clockwork.There would be many issues to tackle, however, I wanted to see if PH contains any genius ideas about transport that would change the world as we know it. We can look at it any way we like, driving, trains, planes, infrastructure, laws etc. but lets keep it transport based. No Daily Mail typed shenanigans please.
What would you do if you came to power and ruled with an iron fist? (all those years with Palm and her 5 sisters would develop and mighty strong grip!)
I realise that this is much bigger than "I would change ..." but it's a bit of fun.
One of my ideas and I swear it is absolute genius (in my head), is to build UP. We always hear of how they can't expand our motorways (the M8 for example) because of land they can't get from farmers or houses built right up to the edge of the motorway. Why not have a 2 storey motorway? We could turn current 2 lane motorwys into effectively 4 or 5 lanes each way.
Obviously the view on the ground floor would be impaired by having a roof over you at all times, but the whole network wouldn't need the 2 storey treatment, just the very busy areas.
We could either have ground floor one direction, 1st floor other direction (not my prefered option) or we could have the same layout we have just now, but 2 more lanes up top. Lorries could be restricted to ground floor only, still giving them 2 or 3 lanes to do what they do now, but with far less congestion.
You would then have the option as a car driver to go top or bottom. Double the area of the road and it should reduce congestion. Not only that, but having a motorway that can accomodate far more people would mean the "rat-run" people who take the back roads to avoid congestion could take the motorway and therefore reduce wear and traffic volume on small country roads\villages etc.
Lets face it, motorways are not and never will be fun. So why not have as big a road as possible to get everyone where they are going as efficiently as possible, thus reducing pollution (after all, sitting in traffic for 2 hours doing 0 mpg is wasteful) and saving time.
As a long shot idea, after the hours of say, 11:00pm during the week and maybe, 2:00pm at weekends, the top floor could be derestricted. At that time of night, there are hardly any cars on the road anyway but people would have a choice. Not so confident on the motorway? Take the ground floor and relax. Want to get the foot down and get where you are going? Head up to the top floor sir!
I've had this idea for a while. The Americans do it with their bridges (Verrazano Narrows Bridge as an example) in major cities to deal with the volume of traffic. We all know the way to get around less floor space is to build up, so why not do so with road networks?
There will probably be some architects or structural engineers along shortly to explain to me that there would be no way to build a 1st floor strong enough to take the weight or that the cost would be so astronomical that it would never be possible. It's a far fetched idea but afterall, the Wright brothers had a far fetched idea that would never work, but how did you go off to Majorca this year for some sun?
Can we please hold the abuse back until at least page 2 aswell? I'm fully aware that I am open to tonnes of abuse just becuase I started a thread on a forum but I'm bored today and thought that maybe some people have some great (or hilarious!) ideas.
I would like to think that Leeds uses this idea to some extent but unfortunately the volume of traffic has now exceeded the capacity available.
That I think is always going to be the problem. Providing solutions to a "enlarging" issue, so the original solution is no longer sufficient.
That I think is always going to be the problem. Providing solutions to a "enlarging" issue, so the original solution is no longer sufficient.
Also on motorways, a solid white line between lanes 2 & 3 past major towns and cities. The 2 junction hoppers could clog their selves up, leaving those on a long journey to breeze by at proper speeds.
Lorries to be banned between 7-9am and 5-7pm from all motorways or if this isn't possible due to tacho limitations, limit their snail-racing antics by forcing them into lane 1 only at these times. If one HGV is then holding up a line of others, he shouldn't be on the motorway in the first place. Also, anyone in a car who is overtaken by an HGV on a motorway is obviously not driving fast enough so shouldn't be there.
I think these changes would save a fortune in fuel waste due to cutting queues dramatically.
Lorries to be banned between 7-9am and 5-7pm from all motorways or if this isn't possible due to tacho limitations, limit their snail-racing antics by forcing them into lane 1 only at these times. If one HGV is then holding up a line of others, he shouldn't be on the motorway in the first place. Also, anyone in a car who is overtaken by an HGV on a motorway is obviously not driving fast enough so shouldn't be there.
I think these changes would save a fortune in fuel waste due to cutting queues dramatically.
57Ford said:
Also on motorways, a solid white line between lanes 2 & 3 past major towns and cities. The 2 junction hoppers could clog their selves up, leaving those on a long journey to breeze by at proper speeds.
Lorries to be banned between 7-9am and 5-7pm from all motorways or if this isn't possible due to tacho limitations, limit their snail-racing antics by forcing them into lane 1 only at these times. If one HGV is then holding up a line of others, he shouldn't be on the motorway in the first place. Also, anyone in a car who is overtaken by an HGV on a motorway is obviously not driving fast enough so shouldn't be there.
I think these changes would save a fortune in fuel waste due to cutting queues dramatically.
I'd force a history lesson on all ignorant car drivers, as motorways were orginally designed for the movement of freight, in order to kick-start the UK economy after WW2. Lorries to be banned between 7-9am and 5-7pm from all motorways or if this isn't possible due to tacho limitations, limit their snail-racing antics by forcing them into lane 1 only at these times. If one HGV is then holding up a line of others, he shouldn't be on the motorway in the first place. Also, anyone in a car who is overtaken by an HGV on a motorway is obviously not driving fast enough so shouldn't be there.
I think these changes would save a fortune in fuel waste due to cutting queues dramatically.
king stupid idea.mp3manager said:
I'd force a history lesson on all ignorant car drivers, as motorways were orginally designed for the movement of freight, in order to kick-start the UK economy after WW2.
..and a jolly good job they do too - allowing the freight to go at snail's pace past each other creating rolling road blocks during peak traffic. That's how it seems to my ignorant small mind anyway, and I just think it might be slightly better for those poor delicate souls to not have to put up with all us losers in our pathetic little tin boxes who also use the motorways.
You run the country your way, and I'll run it mine.
Yes, yes.
Lets ban the lorries from delivering all our stuff on time, and getting food to our supermarkets.
Then we can punish the drivers for not arriving on time with massive fines.
I'm slobbering with glee at the thought of how much faster and more efficient the roads will be so I can drive even faster and closer to the car in front.
I'm getting so excited at the thought, my nostril whiskers are dancing with anticipation!
UND ZEN VE CAN BAN ZE BUSSES IN LONDON TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR CARS.
YA, YA!!!
Lets ban the lorries from delivering all our stuff on time, and getting food to our supermarkets.
Then we can punish the drivers for not arriving on time with massive fines.
I'm slobbering with glee at the thought of how much faster and more efficient the roads will be so I can drive even faster and closer to the car in front.
I'm getting so excited at the thought, my nostril whiskers are dancing with anticipation!
UND ZEN VE CAN BAN ZE BUSSES IN LONDON TO MAKE MORE ROOM FOR CARS.
YA, YA!!!
mp3manager said:
I'd force a history lesson on all ignorant car drivers, as motorways were orginally designed for the movement of freight, in order to kick-start the UK economy after WW2.
Brilliant, except that things change and we no longer live in the 1940's.I'd make all speed limits between the hours of 10pm and 5am advisory only.
Make trains double deckers, a few bridges would need to be changed but it would improve capacity massively.
Compulsory re-tests every 10 years.
Build proper cycle lanes everywhere, this will require the destruction of a few buildings but tough because I'm in power so just get on with it.
Remove all these stupid restrictions around electric vehicles and actually let people use them on roads.
Try to persuade companies to let people work from home more.
Fine the living hell out of all the school rum mums that block area around the schools and scream and shout if you ask them to move. Expscially fine the ones that ignore the 20mph limit around the main school in my town, it's only 20mph during school start and end times yet the mums virtually push you out of the way if you do 20mph despite it being for their own benefit.
Remove road tax.
Remove speed bumps.
Use parking fines to pay for road repairs.
Make the minimum size for parking spaces larger and force supermarkets to have walking areas between the rows of parked cars.
CDD - Continuous Driving Development. Over a period of, say, 5 years every driver has to log a certain amount of time (or credits) of driver training. Training credits/hours would be gained from accredited providers of driving experiences (where there is an element of tuition involved, e.g. track training, rally driving, skid pan etc.) or class room courses (speed awareness, theory tests). If you fail to accumulate the required credits/hours, you have to retake your driving test or lose your licence.
Any estate agent/financial adviser/insurance broker with letters after their name has to prove they have maintained their knowledge each year, why not someone (supposedly) in control of 734kJ of kinetic energy?
Any estate agent/financial adviser/insurance broker with letters after their name has to prove they have maintained their knowledge each year, why not someone (supposedly) in control of 734kJ of kinetic energy?
mp3manager said:
57Ford said:
Also on motorways, a solid white line between lanes 2 & 3 past major towns and cities. The 2 junction hoppers could clog their selves up, leaving those on a long journey to breeze by at proper speeds.
Lorries to be banned between 7-9am and 5-7pm from all motorways or if this isn't possible due to tacho limitations, limit their snail-racing antics by forcing them into lane 1 only at these times. If one HGV is then holding up a line of others, he shouldn't be on the motorway in the first place. Also, anyone in a car who is overtaken by an HGV on a motorway is obviously not driving fast enough so shouldn't be there.
I think these changes would save a fortune in fuel waste due to cutting queues dramatically.
I'd force a history lesson on all ignorant car drivers, as motorways were orginally designed for the movement of freight, in order to kick-start the UK economy after WW2. Lorries to be banned between 7-9am and 5-7pm from all motorways or if this isn't possible due to tacho limitations, limit their snail-racing antics by forcing them into lane 1 only at these times. If one HGV is then holding up a line of others, he shouldn't be on the motorway in the first place. Also, anyone in a car who is overtaken by an HGV on a motorway is obviously not driving fast enough so shouldn't be there.
I think these changes would save a fortune in fuel waste due to cutting queues dramatically.
Banning lorries from lanes is just shifting the problem though, it makes rush hour slightly easier but the rest of the day would be more chaotic. Plus, deliveries have to happen, freight is what keeps the country moving/functioning. A lot of elephant racing problems come from not one standard max speed for trucks, forcing some to overtake at +1mph. The lower limits come from increased haulage cost so trying to cut fuel spending. Is there a more practical solution to help reduce those costs meaning they dont have to skimp on fuel, thus reducing their delivery times and costs.
It is an ever increasing problem with volume of cars on the roads. Some areas have multiple levels as such, but ive only seen it used to allow a motorway to travel over a city/other roads, not to have the mway a dedicated 2 floor.
Or do we create dedicated long distance motorways? They don't go to every junction only 'hubs' but it would mean it removes long distance drivers from short distance junction hopping, it could reduce travel time/cost.
NB. apologies for any typos, sending this from my phone.
I would have continuous driver education, ie you have to sit a driver reassessment test (inc a sight test) every 5 years or so. You would have to prove to be capable of driving to adapting roadways, signs, round about layouts etc.
I would also have a scheme where part of the NI payment (or some other tax, not sure which) goes towards giving everyone with a driving license basic third party insurance cover, And if want more cover ie fully comp just pay for that.
I would have more police on the roads and use them to educate drivers on better driving and much less reliance on speed cameras & people sat in vans picking people off that wander 2 mph above the posted speed limit.
I would spend money on repairing the roads (properly) and look at widening roads that are serious congestion points (not just use the hard shoulder as another lane).
Motorway limit would be increased to 80 mph in the dry and reduced to 60 in the rain bad conditions.
The limit in the rain would be more vigorously monitored / enforced than say the dry limit at night / quite times.
Oh and all lighting would be removed from motorways as I see it as a waste of energy and I just cos I find it more tiring on my eyes harder to drive at night on lit motorways in the wet than unlit ones.
Richard
I would also have a scheme where part of the NI payment (or some other tax, not sure which) goes towards giving everyone with a driving license basic third party insurance cover, And if want more cover ie fully comp just pay for that.
I would have more police on the roads and use them to educate drivers on better driving and much less reliance on speed cameras & people sat in vans picking people off that wander 2 mph above the posted speed limit.
I would spend money on repairing the roads (properly) and look at widening roads that are serious congestion points (not just use the hard shoulder as another lane).
Motorway limit would be increased to 80 mph in the dry and reduced to 60 in the rain bad conditions.
The limit in the rain would be more vigorously monitored / enforced than say the dry limit at night / quite times.
Oh and all lighting would be removed from motorways as I see it as a waste of energy and I just cos I find it more tiring on my eyes harder to drive at night on lit motorways in the wet than unlit ones.
Richard
matthias73 said:
Lets ban the lorries from delivering all our stuff on time, and getting food to our supermarkets.
Truck A travels 100 miles at 56mph, taking 107 minutes to do so.Truck B does the same journey, but gets stuck behind anouther truck (let's call it Truck C) and has to stay at 55mph, becuase the driver is banned from overtaking; Truck B completes the journey in 109 minutes.
2 minutes? I've had to queue longer than that in the supermarket, I'll take the clearer roads, thanks all the same.
xRIEx said:
CDD - Continuous Driving Development. Over a period of, say, 5 years every driver has to log a certain amount of time (or credits) of driver training. Training credits/hours would be gained from accredited providers of driving experiences (where there is an element of tuition involved, e.g. track training, rally driving, skid pan etc.) or class room courses (speed awareness, theory tests). If you fail to accumulate the required credits/hours, you have to retake your driving test or lose your licence.
Any estate agent/financial adviser/insurance broker with letters after their name has to prove they have maintained their knowledge each year, why not someone (supposedly) in control of 734kJ of kinetic energy?
Something very similar to this already exists for those who drive trucks for a living.Any estate agent/financial adviser/insurance broker with letters after their name has to prove they have maintained their knowledge each year, why not someone (supposedly) in control of 734kJ of kinetic energy?
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