Lord Adonis - Traffic/congestion Report

[10ClarionSt]

The problem for most areas in this country is that we are struggling against history. In this area, the vast majority of roads are still the same width as when they were built for horse drawn transport. Most modern vehicles have the characteristics of sports cars from the 60's and 70's. The answer to this for transport regulators is to slow traffic down by road narrowing even more; speed bumps; bus lanes; traffic islands and bollards; reducing speed limits to 20 mph. All of this causes congestion. Bus lanes should be eradicated, as in Liverpool, where their removal has improved traffic flow. Lots of pavements could be narrowed to allow for road widening, as there are hardly any pedestrians. Just two suggestions.

[jno]

another problem is all these flaming SUVs, which are that much wider.

I wouldn't remove bus lanes in London, buses are heavily used and should take precedence over one man ina motor. I don't know about the rest of the country.

[Buenchico]

I'm sure that Sherrardk (the mother of twins, who used to have to struggle with a double buggy) wouldn't support the narrowing of footpaths. I doubt that Woodelf (who's totally blind and who has to navigate his way around other pedestrians, street furniture and advertising signs) would be too keen either.

The mathematics involved in studying traffic flows is incredibly complex. (I've got a maths degree but some of the research on the subject published in the journal of the Institute of Mathematics and its Applications sends my head into a spin). However experience has shown that lowering traffic speeds can often result in a reduction in congestion. (e.g. the use of variable speed limits on the M25). Reducing speed limits to 20mph in built-up areas (and then rigorously enforcing such limits) can significantly improve road safety and again (as research has shown) REDUCE congestion.

[sapelesam]

It's going to get a lot worse with all the abandoned electric only cars when they run out of power.

[Hopkirk]

If you want to get more space on the road, stop the on street parking.

[Cloverjo]

Re: saplesam's post. I think if electric cars catch on companies will start up to provide charged batteries in exchange for a depleted one. No need to abandon a car or charge it from a lamppost for hours. You don't see loads of cars on the road that have run out of petrol. It could work.