Safe Speed Forums

Wa-hey! A fight that doesn't involve me for once!

*Fetches popcorn!

What on earth has become of the forum recently?

Let's remember that we're all on the same side even though we have different viewpoints.


Please all take a time-out, let's not get this thread locked.

I appreciate you may be trying to play devils advocate, but if you can give nothing but the NIMBY's emotional responses, rather than any rational or logical argument, debating with you is pointless, especially when you turn to personal insults.



If you aren't prepared to defend your posts in all or part, why post?.

Rigpig and Jet noise = The sound of hot air leaving from the rear.

fatboytim

This thread has probably run its course, it’s open again in case someone was itching to add something.

Please remember that negativity doesn’t do well for our growing community (and the external perception of it) – there are other forums better suited for biC+kering
We’re all more or less on the same side here, which perhaps is part of the problem. I for one am thankful that people make the effort to test us with opposing arguments, even if only playing devil’s advocate, otherwise we risk using unsound reasoning when pushing our case (and the forum would soon become bloody boring!)



On that note I shall leave you with this:





Thread unlocked.

I wonder how many of the problems with 'rat runs' now are the result of attempts to avoid previous rat runs by blocking off minor through routes etc, and by the deliberate clogging of main roads by adding bus lanes, fiddling with light sequences etc.?

Anyway, I think there have been some good points re. the way people approach rat runs, expecting to make up time rather than taking into account the type of road they are.

Round me (Surbiton, SW London) they are just in the process of converting a second significant non-artery road (i.e. not the official route, but a wide and obvious alternative) into a 20 mile an hour zone. So you have the bizarre situation of a mainish route with speed bumps and a reduced limit, and carte blanche to go 30 when you turn off into a cul-de-sac.

On the first road they did this too, they have undone some of the more dangerous fiddling (trees etc. plonked in the roadway with a kerb round a couple of yards from junctions, so that in one place traffic turning right off the main route has to do so from the right hand side of the road, and in another traffic turning left onto the main route has to cross to the wrong side of the road to do so) - but you still have the weird experience of signs derestricting access to 7.5t lorries ON THE WAY INTO A CUL-DE-SAC!

I'm sure this kind of thing wasn't the point of 20 mile zones?!

Ian

Exactly my point of view, and posted earlier!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

I know, but I couldn't be bothered to go back and quote you!

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Science won over religion when they started installing lightning rods on churches.

a video game follows the whims of it's programmers, and can be as relevant to real life driving as carmageddon.


I live in camden town, which for those of you that have not had the pleasure is more of a maze than a one-way system. you have to know where you're going and how to get there or 5 minutes becomes 35. and due to the number of banned right/left turns, one way streets, and other obstructions, "rat runs" actually make up essentual links in this maze. If a rat run is being over used the council/residents need to look at why people aren't using alternative routes instead- I'm sure the residents would be just as fed up if all the rat run traffic, forced onto the main roads & junctions they were trying to avoid then increased congestion and pollution in their area, making it more difficult to evan pull out of their own streets. Instead, once again, everyone seems to want to jump on his back with a "the motorist is doing it out of pure selfish bloody-mindedness" attitude.

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

Just out of interest (sad, I know) I watched a junction in West Bromwich town centre the other day. This junction used to be free-flowing, no problems etc...

The LA have now forbidden all road-users except buses and taxis to use this particular junction. In the ten minutes I spent watching, 8 out of 10 vehicles (cars, lorries etc) completely ignored this rule. There is no 'safety' issue here.

I was quite pleased to see democracy in action.

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Pecunia Prius Equitas et Salus

there'll be a "right turn offender" camera on it soon no doubt to catch these despicable criminals.

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Fear is a weapon of mass distraction

It's late in the debate but as far as I can see most 'rat runs' are caused buy development or are unintended consequences resulting from highway authorities reacting to local opinion.

Cardiff is a good case in point. There are large areas of terranced 'grid' most of which have been blocked off by bollards and so on. This has resulted in a number of very quiet roads and some (equally residential) taking all the burden. Is this right? or is it better that all roads take their share of the burden?

Can you 'overplan'?

BTW - roads are maintained from Council Tax paid by the house owner
Car Tax (VED) is just another tax paid to the Govt

Council services are also paid for by Central Gov't Grants (which includes income from motoring taxes) not just the Local Council Tax.

fatboytim