[David9694]

A new catch-all Tea Shop thread for those miscellaneous new stories that don’t quite fit with parking, crashing into buildings or trapped/prisoners in their homes. 

Topic

[David9694]

Absolutely done with

Absolutely done with constantly living my life in a way that doesn’t upset a driver:

“Although few buses use the lane, its arrival has caused problems for motorists – especially at rush hours.”?

 

[David9694]

It’s people’s ability to

It’s people’s ability to blank out things they don’t want to hear that really interests me here – in this case, until the wheels have turned and it’s (probably) too late.

Any species that didn’t react to signs of change in their environment (eg food / water supply, predators) would not be well favoured by natural selection. 

[chrisonabike]

The disabled woman’s quote

The disabled woman’s quote

The bus does not get me to where I need to go, Polsoe train station is not accessible for wheelchairs and although I am quite physically fit the hills in Heavitree are too steep for a manual wheelchair.

Both those concerns are of outside the proposed changes.  She can still drive – they haven’t changed the topology either… Another wheelchair user with ME is saying she has very fragile health (so she literally might be exhausted if a journey by car takes longer than a certain time or even just longer than expected).  Perhaps an exceptional case?

I suspect that for the majority engaging with people individually would show that most issues are summountable.  If we can only cut down on all the other cars driven by people who are actually physically well enough to walk or cycle life would be easier for those whose struggle is this severe.  Additionally those who need some help but don’t need something as big as a car (lots, I suspect) might find it now feels safe and convenient to use one.  Perhaps even more convenient than a car if they can get door-to-door?

The place looks hilly.  I can’t say if it’s possible in a wheelchair (powered / with add-on like this?) for some; clearly it isn’t for some.  However I picked a couple of points which appeared to be the least convenient (opposite sides of the LTN area e.g. Dental Centre, Heavitree to Hospital Lane – Google said for a (fit) cyclist the route would be 1.7 miles / 10 min / loss 92ft gain 112ft (34 metres.  Elevation gain is in about half the distance so 2.5% gradient) Doesn’t seem excessive for those who aren’t severely unfit.  (For reference IIRC 5% is the maximum sustained gradient recommended for Dutch cycle infra – that’s for “everyone” not just for “cyclists”).

LTNs can benefit exactly those with disabilities or otherwise disadvantaged who often appear in the news as “why LTNs are an attack on the weak, old, and poor” – at least in part because traffic evaporation is a thing.  What won’t work is the vast majority of us continuing to enjoy the same elevated level of convenience but at the same time having more drivers and sorting out pollution, our road repair budget, our unpleasant “places”, our health issues…

[chrisonabike]

Maps available from links

Maps available from links here:
https://www.devon.gov.uk/exeterstreets/active-streets-trial-scheme/

On “ambulances won’t get through” / “no-one has been here” – this is not what the council say at least – from the site:

DCC wrote:

Devon County Council are currently engaging with emergency services and healthcare providers on the proposals for a Low Traffic Neighbourhood trial in Heavitree and Whipton. This would involve the installation of modal filters, removing through vehicular traffic whilst allowing the passage of pedestrians, cyclists and (where relevant) buses.

A monitoring programme is also being undertaken to establish baseline walking, cycling and vehicular traffic levels. This will allow the project team to monitor the effectiveness of the scheme should a trial be undertaken.

[chrisonabike]

So many things here. 

So many things here.  Consultation pics show lots of old and disabled people – but given the time of day (or finding the time at all) that could be a selection effect.

The council consultation site says:

The Phase 1 Consultation was held in November and December 2020
577 unique users responded to the consultation, of which nearly 70% lived in Heavitree or Whipton.

(Phase 2) In September and October 2021, we consulted on a range of measures to address the issues raised during the Phase 1 Consultation… Considering online, email, letter and telephone responses, nearly 1,400 people participated in the consultation, of which over 70% lived in Heavitree or Whipton. … A small majority of everyone that responded supported the introduction of traffic filters to reduce traffic.

Now – clearly they didn’t reach people because people were not reached.  But this was over 2 years ago they started this… Are council consultations done well in general, trying to honestly gather opinion?  Quite possibly no.  However the few occasions where I’ve seen that there has been a decent effort to engage with people before time (advertising in the public space, in and around the area affected, letters and leaflets, online comms) 99.9% of people simply don’t engage.  They may do so because they feel it’s a foregone conclusion or they won’t be heard (definitely times this has been true).  Like not voting though their missing view cannot possibly count.

[brooksby]

David9694 wrote:

Clevedon: Somerset motorists slapped with more than 20 fines in seafront parking crackdown

More than 22 parking fines were handed out in two days

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/somerset-motorists-slapped-more-20-8629581

Seems to me that the article could also be headed as “Entitled motorists ignore road markings of which they don’t approve“.

[brooksby]

stonojnr wrote:

[quote=stonojnr]Local paper complains bus lane only used by one bus every 20 mins… https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/23681906.ipswich-west-end-road-bus-lane-used-every-20-minutes/%5B/quote%5D

North Somerset council are doing works on the A369 between Bristol and Portishead.  Adding a completely new bus lane at the Beggar Bush Lane traffic lights and changing the current 2+ lane into a bus lane at the approach to the Gordano roundabout over the motorway.

The road is on one bus route (Bristol—>Portishead—>Bristol) which provides a half hourly service each way.

[stonojnr]

Local paper complains bus
Local paper complains bus lane only used by one bus every 20 mins… https://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/news/23681906.ipswich-west-end-road-bus-lane-used-every-20-minutes/

[HoldingOn]

David9694 wrote:

“When the changes come in we will only be able to turn left and come along Whipton Lane onto the main road to get to Whipton. I go to Whipton two to three times a week and my journey will now be three miles instead of 1.1 miles.”

That journey is still 1.1 miles. It’s only three miles in a car.

[David9694]

Clevedon: Somerset motorists

Clevedon: Somerset motorists slapped with more than 20 fines in seafront parking crackdown

More than 22 parking fines were handed out in two days

https://www.somersetlive.co.uk/news/somerset-news/somerset-motorists-slapped-more-20-8629581

[David9694]

Army of Exeter residents kick

Army of Exeter residents kick off at road closures plan

Point well and truly missed below – although the disabled lady’s story is a challenge.  If only we could set a simple respected rule that allowed her to drive where others cannot. 

“When the changes come in we will only be able to turn left and come along Whipton Lane onto the main road to get to Whipton. I go to Whipton two to three times a week and my journey will now be three miles instead of 1.1 miles.”

https://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/army-exeter-residents-kick-road-8629557

 

[ktache]

Well done Surrey. 

Well done Surrey. 

Though just walking down queues of traffic at the lights would give you more…

[Jogle]

Motorist caught solving Rubik
[b]Motorist caught solving Rubik’s Cube with both hands while driving on M25 in Surrey[/b]

If Mark Cavendish is allowed to solve a Rubik’s cube while on a bike, why can’t someone solve one while driving a car?

That is so unfair!

https://www.itv.com/news/meridian/2023-07-25/motorist-caught-solving-a-rubiks-cube-with-both-hands-while-driving

[David9694]

And as the aggressively

And as the aggressively driven BMW approaches the pelican crossing of time, I see it’s the end of the show…

[David9694]

chrisonatrike wrote:

…unless the Ponders End variation applies?  Or is that only if you’re in Nidd (having taken a wrong turn during an Audax)?

I’ll take that: Ladbroke Grove

[Author]

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