[David9694]

Trapped, I tells ya. 

So whether it’s due to a cycling event, roadworks, or sheer volume, this is the place for your local newspaper stories, stories of car culture.  Also includes “no-one can possibly reach my business” because of a closure/jam. I’ll start:

Sandbanks residents ‘trapped’ due to gridlock traffic

“At peak times it can take an hour or more to get off Sandbanks, imagine adding an extra hour to every journey you make.”

https://www.bournemouthecho.co.uk/news/20223334.sandbanks-residents-trapped-due-gridlock-traffic/

Topic

[chrisonabike]

It’ll be “change” that’s the

It’ll be “change” that’s the problem.  Presumably the locals of Winsley / a few in Bradford on Avon have got very used to this as a direct route.

Although we definitely want to fix stuff like this to get to here:

A huge cycling bridge connecting two tiny towns

… oddly I find I feel a little for them.  No doubt they’ve built their lives around the existence of what sounds like a rather overloaded small country road.  Yes, it’s a short distance but from the centre of Winsley to the Sainsbury’s Google has it at about 2.8 miles.  I and others here probably do that sort of errand every day without thought.  From a standing start though I can imagine that a 6 mile round trip on a bike sounds shocking.  Plus they likely have multifunctional trips so other errands in either place, maybe picking up people…

Sadly they’re probably right about some of the potential traffic nastiness though.  Looking at those lanes they are places to get stuck in or an awful close-pass.

[David9694]

1.7 miles down a largely

1.7 miles down a largely traffic-free and flat road from Winsley Church to the Co-op in Bradford on Avon. “Terrified”: go figure. 

[HoarseMann]

David9694 wrote:

Not everyone can cycle – as you very well know.

Of course, what am I thinking, not everyone is a middle aged man with a penchant for spandex. Some people will also need to go to the supermarket and how on earth could they carry a weeks shopping on a bike?

[David9694]

Not everyone can cycle – as

Not everyone can cycle – as you very well know.

[HoarseMann]

Had to check out the actual

Had to check out the actual impact for motorists driving betwen Bath and Bradford on Avon – a 3 minute delay. Terrifying! 20 mins instead of the usual 17!

Plus the road closure is already on google maps, so you’ve got to work really hard to get caught out by it.

I’m starting to think this is more about the temporary parking restrictions they’re putting in for Turleigh village.

[HoarseMann]

Hilarious! They have a point

Hilarious! They have a point about the diversion route being ridiculously long, but that’s only for motorised vehicles. Cyclists & pedestrians can still use the half-mile section of closed road. They ought to get their bicycles dusted off!

[David9694]

Eyes down for a full house.  

Eyes down for a full house.  

Locals terrified ahead of B3108 Winsley Road six-week road closure

Panic is bubbling as local traders and residents prepare for gridlock on the single-track road, which they fear motorists travelling through Bath to Bradford on Avon and vice versa, will use, cutting off their businesses and trapping residents in their properties.

It’s quite a long read, and seems to pivot between too much traffic going through  (residents, farms) and not enough (businesses).  I guess the moral is that roads run at near 100% capacity there’s no slack to pull in for maintenance. And sat nav equipped drivers are ruthless chancers who’ll barge their way down unsuitable narrow roads, etc. 

https://www.wiltshirelive.co.uk/news/wiltshire-news/locals-terrified-ahead-b3108-winsley-7362643?fbclid=IwAR2doV3v_akfw1PkOKYsRi-ryYna8ONYaUdLmuEUBClWVm_V0gkZmIifN4A

 

[IanMSpencer]

I’ve seen that one before but
I’ve seen that one before but appropriate private for the context – a classic case of motorists who panic at a blue light rather than thinking “how can I best assist the emergency vehicle on its way?” which in this case was simply to keep driving at a normal pace.

[chrisonabike]

A bit off-topic and hopefully

A bit off-topic and hopefully we didn’t already have this (I remember we had one post near to here)?  “Ambulance blocked by cycle lane” turns out to be “because a driver did something weird and got stuck”:

[David9694]

“However the residents are

“However the residents are still faced with VERBAL ABUSE from the people which they politely ask to move from over their drive ways. These residents are unable to leave their homes during these times because other cars have blocked their cars in. Is this Fair?” 

Not from a newspaper, but a story I think is being played-out up and down the land morning and night every school day – I do sympathise with the residents affected. 

https://andrewbond.mycouncillor.org.uk/2017/02/19/we-feel-trapped-in-our-own-homes/

[David9694]

Mum and baby ‘trapped in

Mum and baby ‘trapped in their own home’ due to beach visitors despite lockdown rules

One woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I was literally trapped in my own home.

“There were cars double parked right the way down the street and as I have a baby it meant we couldn’t go out whatsoever on Saturday or Sunday.

https://www.lancs.live/news/lancashire-news/mum-baby-trapped-home-due-19944430

[chrisonabike]

“Locked in” by tram works. 

“Locked in” by tram works.  (Well, there is a cycle path… sort of).  An arts and textiles store so you can see how that would stop walk-ins leaving with a thousand gallons of burnt umber or 100 ells of worsted.

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-shop-locked-tram-works-23997575

To be fair to them the disruption here has been going for years.  Heck, I’d be going postal at the council offices if i stayed there.  Plus their main complaint is people find it confusing to find them – which says more to do with people.

[Author]

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