[hawkinspeter]

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/through-traffic-banned-parts-bristol-8295492

This should be introduced towards the end of this year as an experimental trial – I wish it could happen sooner as it covers where I live. We had questionnaires about it during lockdown, though I think that was just about making Beaufort Rd (by the cemetery) one way to motorised traffic.

Topic

[hawkinspeter]

slc wrote:

slc wrote:

To be fair, humans in general are not big fans of data that might change their mind. How will we react if the data say that NOx has remained constant* in total but increased outside the LTN? *Not sure if BCC have prepared for a difference-in-difference analysis. Fingers crossed.

In general, I’d agree, but for complex, dynamic systems such as traffic flow, the data is the only thing that can really be relied upon as modelling is going to fall short. Certainly, the idea of the EBLN trial is to see whether it works or not. If Church Road becomes even more of a NOx nightmare than it already is, then we have to weigh up whether more tinkering of the scheme is required or whether something more drastic is needed (e.g. trams, underground, flying cars etc).

[slc]

hawkinspeter wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Dnnnnnn wrote:

But it’s already causing traffic chaos! Or so I read.
Most of it has been in place for a couple of months now, and the Beaufort Road bit much longer (as you know) so some effects should be apparent. Given how catastrophic it is/is going to be (or so I read), I’m surprised the antis haven’t been publishing details of displaced traffic, increased delays and journey times, etc. it wouldn’t be hard to collect and they could choose people/locations/times/routes to best illustrate their arguments.

Strangely enough it seems that a lot of anti-LTN protestors aren’t big fans of data and measuring actual effects.

To be fair, humans in general are not big fans of data that might change their mind. How will we react if the data say that NOx has remained constant* in total but increased outside the LTN?

*Not sure if BCC have prepared for a difference-in-difference analysis. Fingers crossed.

[slc]

chrisonabike wrote:

chrisonabike wrote:

Wow – I’ve not seen that anywhere else! 

Now there are quite a few comments below the article-on-comments-article, so the next logical step is ..

[hawkinspeter]

Dnnnnnn wrote:

But it’s already causing traffic chaos! Or so I read.
Most of it has been in place for a couple of months now, and the Beaufort Road bit much longer (as you know) so some effects should be apparent. Given how catastrophic it is/is going to be (or so I read), I’m surprised the antis haven’t been publishing details of displaced traffic, increased delays and journey times, etc. it wouldn’t be hard to collect and they could choose people/locations/times/routes to best illustrate their arguments.

Strangely enough it seems that a lot of anti-LTN protestors aren’t big fans of data and measuring actual effects.

[Dnnnnnn]

hawkinspeter wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Well, the trial is just starting, so it’s premature 

But it’s already causing traffic chaos! Or so I read.
Most of it has been in place for a couple of months now, and the Beaufort Road bit much longer (as you know) so some effects should be apparent. Given how catastrophic it is/is going to be (or so I read), I’m surprised the antis haven’t been publishing details of displaced traffic, increased delays and journey times, etc. it wouldn’t be hard to collect and they could choose people/locations/times/routes to best illustrate their arguments.

[chrisonabike]

Wow – I’ve not seen that

Wow – I’ve not seen that anywhere else! 

[brooksby]

Dnnnnnn wrote:

hawkinspeter wrote:

Here we go!

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/news-opinion/bus-gate-will-kill-neighbourhoods-10221841

Would be nice if the BP or other media actually published some meaningful news about the effects of the EBLN (e.g. case studies, early data), rather than just recycling the usual mindless muppet-baiting content. BCC should really get a cut of the clickbait income.

The BP policy appears to be to publish an article which will rile up the usual suspects, then open it to comments, and then publish another article which is basically “We recently ran an article about <stuff> and BP readers said this…”.

[hawkinspeter]

Dnnnnnn wrote:

Would be nice if the BP or other media actually published some meaningful news about the effects of the EBLN (e.g. case studies, early data), rather than just recycling the usual mindless muppet-baiting content. BCC should really get a cut of the clickbait income.

Well, the trial is just starting, so it’s premature to publish meaningful stats, assuming that they’ve been collecting them during the long roll-out. But yes, that article is just a summary and a few comments – low effort writing.

[mdavidford]

Bristol Post should have

Bristol Post should have wrote:

Frustration is brewing among being brewed by Bristol Live readers over the divisive East Bristol ‘Liveable Neighbourhood’ initiative

[Dnnnnnn]

hawkinspeter wrote:

Here we go!

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/news-opinion/bus-gate-will-kill-neighbourhoods-10221841

Would be nice if the BP or other media actually published some meaningful news about the effects of the EBLN (e.g. case studies, early data), rather than just recycling the usual mindless muppet-baiting content. BCC should really get a cut of the clickbait income.

[wtjs]

It’s entertaining to have it

It’s entertaining to have it confirmed that thick people really are thick

[chrisonabike]

Couple of bright sparks there

Couple of bright sparks there amongst the lovers of common sense and liberty and “but we’ve got more traffic now so we need more lanes not fewer!”:

bristol post commentor wrote:

[amid all the “they’re money gates”]If drivers comply with the restrictions, then the Bus Gates will not generate any income for the Council.

bristol post commentor wrote:

If Bristol City Council actually enforced the 20mph speed limit ,which we’ve had across the city for several years yet everyone ignores, wouldn’t that help make all our neighbourhoods more liveable?

[hawkinspeter]

Here we go!

Here we go!

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/news-opinion/bus-gate-will-kill-neighbourhoods-10221841

[Rendel Harris]

I stand corrected (re

I stand corrected (re geometric sequences). I’d still be wary about starting from low levels because I would fear it might make someone with nothing on their record think sod it, I’m running late, I’ll just go through here and pay the quid; to the pedestrian who is crossing the road expecting there to be no traffic except buses coming it won’t make a difference whether the driver is on their first fine of £1 or tenth of £728. Start big and go bigger, I say!

[slc]

Rendel Harris wrote:

Rendel Harris wrote:

Pedantically, I think you mean exponential fines. Not at all a bad idea but I wouldn’t want to start at £1, that would probably mean for too many people running the gate when they were in a hurry thinking it’s only going to cost them a quid or two. But doubling for every offence starting from a decent level, say £50, would be a great idea.

That’s the beauty of the geometric sequence (and exponential growth:): it doesn’t matter if you start small. You get to £64 in a mere seven transgressions, so daily abuses will be quickly painful, probably before you get the first fine in the post, but if you make the odd error you get an opportunity to improve first.

[Author]

Replies