Bath Nazi's (very long rant).
Discussion
My home town is Bath in Somerset, which must be one of the most draconian anti-car places in Britain. The local authority has placed a bus gate in the city, forcing traffic to queue for mile rather than simply pass through the centre, some truly ridiculous bus lanes, has imposed huge parking charges, cut back the number of parking spaces and employed a real bunch of privatised Nazi's to impose their "law".
The city does have park and ride facilities that seem to work - the only problem is that they are on the very periphery of the city, which is fine for people coming in to Bath from outside, but Bath residents who live inside the city boundaries are left at the considerable mercy of the bus operators, who charge truly outrageous sums of money for an incredibly unrelaible service. Bath is a very hilly city, and being sited on a hill at the end of the Bristol channel, has a stiff prevailing westerly with plenty of rain.
My aging mother is becoming a virtual recluse in her home and has just decided that she has no option but to leave the city she loves. The local shops have all gone bust because of the death of passing trade and onerous taxes. She can't drive into the city any more (she can't afford to park even if she is lucky enough to find a space). She can regularly wait 45 minutes for a bus, and is then fleeced £1.50 to go the two miles down the hill into the city. You try taking a week's shopping home on a crowded bus in these conditions, let alone a lady of advancing years.
Bath is being turned into a tourist mecca for crusties and cardigan wearing Guardian readers. The local authority has made it absolutely clear that it doesn't give a stuff about the people who pay the taxes and wishes they would all go elsewhere.
I offer this from last night's Bath Evening Chronicle:
Village's 20mph limit shows its teeth
By Kate Tarling
VILLAGERS have welcomed the prosecution of motorists caught speeding through their community.
Over the past few weeks dozens of drivers have been successfully prosecuted at Bath Magistrates Court for breaking the 20mph speed limit in Bathampton.
The limit was introduced seven months ago to try to slow down motorists.
Bathampton was the first village in Bath and north east Somerset to be given the lower limit and more than 100 people have since been caught speeding.
Cllr Ian Dewey said the prosecutions demonstrated that speeding drivers did not always escape with a fixed £60 fine.
"In many respects I'm sad that it's necessary for people to be prosecuted, but sometimes this route has to be followed to let people know there's a limit that needs to be respected," he said.
"People aren't prosecuted for going at 21mph, there's a fair tolerance, but people are abusing it."
Cllr Dewey added that more motorists were now observing the limit.
"But in my view there is still a fair percentage of motorists who are coming through at excessive speeds," he said.
"I still believe we need to find some way of putting down a physical restriction to reduce speed."
Elspeth Wales of Chippenham was one of the motorists caught speeding through Bathampton.
She drove at 32mph during the morning rush hour while taking her children to school.
She was fined £215, ordered to pay costs of £35 and was also given four penalty points.
She said she thought the fine was "draconian".
"I was quite shocked by the severity of the fine," she said.
"I can sympathise with the residents because it is a very busy road during the commuter rush hours. But I don't think that the speed limit works.
"Nobody drives through at 20mph, except me now, and it's quite difficult to drive at 20mph.
"It's the law, and you have to do it, but it's quite hard.
"To reduce speed on a daily basis the best thing would be to put speed bumps down."
To all Pistonheads readers I would say this: if you are planning a shory holiday in a beautiful old Georgian city, go to Cheltenham or York. Bath is dead and you aren't welcome. Go away.
The city does have park and ride facilities that seem to work - the only problem is that they are on the very periphery of the city, which is fine for people coming in to Bath from outside, but Bath residents who live inside the city boundaries are left at the considerable mercy of the bus operators, who charge truly outrageous sums of money for an incredibly unrelaible service. Bath is a very hilly city, and being sited on a hill at the end of the Bristol channel, has a stiff prevailing westerly with plenty of rain.
My aging mother is becoming a virtual recluse in her home and has just decided that she has no option but to leave the city she loves. The local shops have all gone bust because of the death of passing trade and onerous taxes. She can't drive into the city any more (she can't afford to park even if she is lucky enough to find a space). She can regularly wait 45 minutes for a bus, and is then fleeced £1.50 to go the two miles down the hill into the city. You try taking a week's shopping home on a crowded bus in these conditions, let alone a lady of advancing years.
Bath is being turned into a tourist mecca for crusties and cardigan wearing Guardian readers. The local authority has made it absolutely clear that it doesn't give a stuff about the people who pay the taxes and wishes they would all go elsewhere.
I offer this from last night's Bath Evening Chronicle:
Village's 20mph limit shows its teeth
By Kate Tarling
VILLAGERS have welcomed the prosecution of motorists caught speeding through their community.
Over the past few weeks dozens of drivers have been successfully prosecuted at Bath Magistrates Court for breaking the 20mph speed limit in Bathampton.
The limit was introduced seven months ago to try to slow down motorists.
Bathampton was the first village in Bath and north east Somerset to be given the lower limit and more than 100 people have since been caught speeding.
Cllr Ian Dewey said the prosecutions demonstrated that speeding drivers did not always escape with a fixed £60 fine.
"In many respects I'm sad that it's necessary for people to be prosecuted, but sometimes this route has to be followed to let people know there's a limit that needs to be respected," he said.
"People aren't prosecuted for going at 21mph, there's a fair tolerance, but people are abusing it."
Cllr Dewey added that more motorists were now observing the limit.
"But in my view there is still a fair percentage of motorists who are coming through at excessive speeds," he said.
"I still believe we need to find some way of putting down a physical restriction to reduce speed."
Elspeth Wales of Chippenham was one of the motorists caught speeding through Bathampton.
She drove at 32mph during the morning rush hour while taking her children to school.
She was fined £215, ordered to pay costs of £35 and was also given four penalty points.
She said she thought the fine was "draconian".
"I was quite shocked by the severity of the fine," she said.
"I can sympathise with the residents because it is a very busy road during the commuter rush hours. But I don't think that the speed limit works.
"Nobody drives through at 20mph, except me now, and it's quite difficult to drive at 20mph.
"It's the law, and you have to do it, but it's quite hard.
"To reduce speed on a daily basis the best thing would be to put speed bumps down."
To all Pistonheads readers I would say this: if you are planning a shory holiday in a beautiful old Georgian city, go to Cheltenham or York. Bath is dead and you aren't welcome. Go away.
Bugger ! ive got to work there in the summer
We have a 20 limit where i live and i think they are pathetic
i think in dorset we are about 10 years behind everyone else the council have just installed speed bumps in fordington in dorchester so if you have a low car your stuffed and apparently they wil be putting speed calming bumps/chicanes in south walks and the traffic barely flows there at all
councils eh should be renamed zoos because nothing but chimps work there ! :E
>> Edited by ZZR600 on Thursday 7th February 07:33
We have a 20 limit where i live and i think they are pathetic
i think in dorset we are about 10 years behind everyone else the council have just installed speed bumps in fordington in dorchester so if you have a low car your stuffed and apparently they wil be putting speed calming bumps/chicanes in south walks and the traffic barely flows there at all
councils eh should be renamed zoos because nothing but chimps work there ! :E
>> Edited by ZZR600 on Thursday 7th February 07:33
I'm going to give these villagers the benefit of the doubt - let's assume it's a dangerous road, and people SHOULD be sticking to 30 or below through there. Sooo...
Surely if folks are being fined nearly 300 squid with _4_ points, as news seeps around the area people WILL slow down through there. And during busy periods, it only takes ONE victim restricted to 23mph to slow everyone down.
I think 7 months is too early to be thinking about speed bumps. Do they think this will make the road safer? Drivers of suitable vehicles can do any damn speed they want over humps. And the ones that can go fastest are usually the heaviest, and have the worst stopping distances.
Does anyone here think humps are such a geat idea (I mean outside schools etc where there IS a need for cautious progress)?
They've put them in round my way, yet I have never ONCE seen a police speed trap to deter offenders in the two years I've lived here. And yet vans and buses still plough through at a steady 35-40mph.
Someone mentioned during the "Speed Limiters" debate that humps create their own safety problems, due to driver distraction/irritation, and increased suspension damage. Is there any evidence of this?
(I'm ignoring the extra noise pollution effects. And the costs due to vehicle wear'n'tear.)
Surely if folks are being fined nearly 300 squid with _4_ points, as news seeps around the area people WILL slow down through there. And during busy periods, it only takes ONE victim restricted to 23mph to slow everyone down.
I think 7 months is too early to be thinking about speed bumps. Do they think this will make the road safer? Drivers of suitable vehicles can do any damn speed they want over humps. And the ones that can go fastest are usually the heaviest, and have the worst stopping distances.
Does anyone here think humps are such a geat idea (I mean outside schools etc where there IS a need for cautious progress)?
They've put them in round my way, yet I have never ONCE seen a police speed trap to deter offenders in the two years I've lived here. And yet vans and buses still plough through at a steady 35-40mph.
Someone mentioned during the "Speed Limiters" debate that humps create their own safety problems, due to driver distraction/irritation, and increased suspension damage. Is there any evidence of this?
(I'm ignoring the extra noise pollution effects. And the costs due to vehicle wear'n'tear.)
good points Matt. Speed humps are a sh*te idea, and the ones near me mother-inlaw allow the buses to bomb over them at 40, while it is violently bumpy in my car at 20. Hmmm, which stops quicker, I wonder?
'nother point, if you are unlucky enough to have to brake when near a speed bump - be aware that hitting the bump on full suspension compression WILL catch your spoiler / sump / exhaust !!!!
'nother point, if you are unlucky enough to have to brake when near a speed bump - be aware that hitting the bump on full suspension compression WILL catch your spoiler / sump / exhaust !!!!
If speed bumps conformed to some sort of type approval then in certain situations they would be of use.
However, as every road worker seems to have different ideas on measurement most of the damned things are like driving over ornamental walls at best.
I often think the speed bump was invented by Spax or Bilstien or another suspension company, as they must wreck your shocks.
Matt.
However, as every road worker seems to have different ideas on measurement most of the damned things are like driving over ornamental walls at best.
I often think the speed bump was invented by Spax or Bilstien or another suspension company, as they must wreck your shocks.
Matt.
quote:
'nother point, if you are unlucky enough to have to brake when near a speed bump - be aware that hitting the bump on full suspension compression WILL catch your spoiler / sump / exhaust !!!!
Carl,
Try a TVR S series - speed bumps will catch your exhaust / chassis with out the suspension being compressed.
I seem to remember that there is a standard height / width for speed bumps - but the planners round my way can't read.
Re: 20 mph limits, I'm inclined to agree with them in certain places: i.e. housing estates and other densely populated dead end roads.
But roads through villages, from one place to another, that's a different matter. The 30 limit should perhaps be better enforced rather than knee jerking the limit down to 20. Pah.
But roads through villages, from one place to another, that's a different matter. The 30 limit should perhaps be better enforced rather than knee jerking the limit down to 20. Pah.
I can cruise over speed bumps at 40mph in my mum's Freelander almost without noticing them. In my Griff, 15mph is too fast.
Odd really as I actually speed more in the Freelander as it doesn't seem to be going as quickly (no noise, high up and distant from any obstacles/hazards/children, etc).
Odd really as I actually speed more in the Freelander as it doesn't seem to be going as quickly (no noise, high up and distant from any obstacles/hazards/children, etc).
As a an occasional vistor to Bath I tend to get to the hotel, park up the car in their car park, and then walk - driving around Bath always was crap. I'm not surprised its now got worse.
Our lot seem to be intent on screwing up the traffic system in a town DESIGNED FOR THE CAR! (Basingstoke).
Our lot seem to be intent on screwing up the traffic system in a town DESIGNED FOR THE CAR! (Basingstoke).
quote:
Odd really as I actually speed more in the Freelander as it doesn't seem to be going as quickly (no noise, high up and distant from any obstacles/hazards/children, etc).
Cool ! now you're almost getting the point of why people really like 4WD motors. Bet the "Exploder" can cruise over a UK speed bump flat out and not notice (unless it rolls over).
ZZR, yep, bumps can be very hazardous to bikes, eh?
quote:
Carl ive all but decided im going to get the fazer1000 should be able to get some good wheelies off them
Hmmm. XJR1300 for me, or GSX1400. Fazzie is too high a group, and too damn expensive!
BTW: swap the front sprocket for one tooth less, and you get the same accelaration as an R1, despite the weight penalty. Cost = tenner + fitting !
You're gonna lose your license, methinks.
Mail me when you've have a test ride, and tell me what you reckon.
C
Will do carl How can the gsx1400 be cheaper to insure than the fazer ? shurely shome mishtake
Also trawling through MCN last night the 900 Honda hornet doesnt look a bad buy and the pipes are nice and high to stop grounding out (unlike my zzr) and it has the fireblade engine in it !
ive already ridden the fazer 1000 its bloody quick and handles really well alot more confidence inspiring than the zzr so all ive got to do is try and get a decent deal / px on my zzr
Cheers
Denny
>> Edited by ZZR600 on Friday 8th February 07:34
Also trawling through MCN last night the 900 Honda hornet doesnt look a bad buy and the pipes are nice and high to stop grounding out (unlike my zzr) and it has the fireblade engine in it !
ive already ridden the fazer 1000 its bloody quick and handles really well alot more confidence inspiring than the zzr so all ive got to do is try and get a decent deal / px on my zzr
Cheers
Denny
>> Edited by ZZR600 on Friday 8th February 07:34
ZZR600 - I blagged a ride on the 900 Hornet after the Alexandra Palace Superbike Show last week and was very impressed. It's comparable to the Fazer in my opinion. The GSX 1400 and the XJR13 are both very retro in comparison - too much weight and much more showy than go-y!
Still think you should give the big Raptor a chance...I still can't see further than my ZZR1100D6. A love affair that continues after four years!
Still think you should give the big Raptor a chance...I still can't see further than my ZZR1100D6. A love affair that continues after four years!
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