Stuck at a newly installed set of traffic lights this morning, I had a brainwave.
If most A and B roads were made one-way, then
* all the traffic would move a lot faster
* distance travelled may increase, but fuel consumption would be little different due to less acceleration and braking
* a large number of road junctions, traffic lights and roundabouts could be removed or reduced in complexity
* road safety would dramatically improve - fewer junctions, less traffic moving on roads at high closing speeds
* most roads would then have at least two lanes, meaning easier overtaking ? lorries, caravans, tractors
* less road signs would be required
Eventually, once most roads are made one-way, the choice of LHD or RHD vehicle would be relatively immaterial...
I couldn't really see much of a downside to this, am I missing something?
Your thoughts?
|
|
brilliant - bit like motorways really !
|
|
If they were all made one way which way would you choose? would we all end up in Lands End or John O Groats?
|
lets go north on the right hand side of uk up to john O
then back down left hand side south thru lake district and wales back to lands end, then back using the 303 to london.
nice.
good thinking (rubbing my hands thinking of 18p a mile and tax rebate!)
|
|
What if you miss your turn, or go past the right house? you'd have to go 7 miles round again. I would scrap most traffic lights and replace Pelicans, Puffins and other daft PC schemes with good old fashioned Zebras.
|
|
|
|
If most A and B roads were made one-way, then
I hope you don't mind me asking, but how come you got to use Manchester as the testing ground for this plan?
|
*Racks brain trying to think of a single A or B road outside of Manchester City Centre which is one way*
*Fails*
(Unless I'm misreading this original post of course which seems to suggest roads other than the ones where it makes perfect sense to have as one-way)
Oh, and does this mean we have the pleasure of your company in Manchester, NW?
|
best solution is not to outprice the car (typical reactionary short minded left wing approach) but to make public transport sao attractive that trains, trams and buses are by far the best option.
maybe even build specific train lines along motorways - with trans connecing their departures to main locations (eg, buisness parks, towns and citys)
a transport system designed purely for industry.
|
|
|
*Racks brain trying to think of a single A or B road outside of Manchester City Centre which is one way*
When I driving in Manchester I take hours to escape from the city centre, cos I get caught in a mad one-way world. Even where the roads are two-way, most of the junctions don't let you turn the way you want to.
So I'll have to take your word on what it's like elsewhere in Manchester :)
Oh, and does this mean we have the pleasure of your company in Manchester, NW?
Not often, I'm afraid. I do visit occasionally, but I try not to go by car, even tho the buses there are awful.
I reckon it's not so much a city as a device for getting lost in. If only it had as many road signs as it has one-way systems ...
|
"make public transport so attractive that trains, trams and buses are by far the best option."
May be possible in cities (though I doubt anyone would enjoy lugging 10 Sainsbury's bags plus your weeks supply of beer on to any bus or tram) but virtually impossible in rural areas.
Anyway, isn't everybody's preferred mode of transport one that takes you from your door to exactly where you want to go and back again at exactly the time you want to go? The mere thought of queueing for a bus on a cold wet November evening depresses me immensely.
Solution is to update our road system to cope with modern traffic levels.
We have done it with commununications (telephones, internet etc) We seem to be able to do it with air traffic (?) - why can't we do it with roads? We pay enough tax.
|
|
|
When I driving in Manchester I take hours to escape from the city centre, cos I get caught in a mad one-way world.
Yeah, it takes a bit of knowing the centre. My point though is that in cases like that sometimes a one-way system is unavoidable anyway, mainly for the reasons the OP suggested - to keep traffic flowing.
Not often, I'm afraid. I do visit occasionally, but I try not to go by car, even tho the buses there are awful.
Depending where you are coming from (and whether NR have decided to deprive us again that day) you are far better getting the train in. I've lived in Stockport 7 years and have driven in to Manchester less than 20 times - otherwise it's been bus or train and mainly train.
I reckon it's not so much a city as a device for getting lost in. If only it had as many road signs as it has one-way systems ...
TBH in the case of city centres I'm in favour of banning all bus essential traffic anyway. Build car parks on the outskirts and plenty of park and ride provision in the suburbs and by rail lines and keep the centre free for pedestrians. Very few are designed for the car at all, let alone the volume of traffic that is around these days.
|
I think the idea is great .
I think a further improvement is to use an old fashioned warning device which will categorically prevent all traffic accidents caused by motor vehicles. Studies when it was in universal use showed it was 100% effective. Only concentrated lobbying by the extremists of the motoring lobby lead to it being revoked.As a result thousands have died unneccesarily on our roads. And unemployment rose significantly after the law was withdrawn. In addition strain on drivers is reduced and the need for a gearbox is removed thus simplifying car construction and reducing costs.
SO bringing back this law will:
increase employment
reduce accidents
cut car costs
and reduce pollution.
By any measure this law is a MUST.
I refer of course to the man walking in front of a car carrying a red flag limiting speed to 4mph.
:-)
madf
|
There is another possible solution that is already available in most of the country - except my corner of Salisbury Plain!
The use of broadband to work from home on a regular part time basis.
Just think if everyone could work only one day out of five at home, then traffic would fall by one fifth.
I realise there are some exceptions, but the technology is there, computers are cheaper than ever, it just requires a change of mind set by many employers.
Whoops! Forgot the lost revenue from one fifth of fuel that would be saved. The Treasury would have to tax internet use to compensate!
|
Ah yes, the old Working at Home routine. Now lets see what son today, re run of Quincy or Charlies Angels.
Now how does this working at home bit go for, Tesco Shelf stackers, checkout girls, my sons teacher, the baker, the candle stick maker.
|
You've hit it on the head, RF. I work from home every Wednesday. So far today I have watched the US elections, switched PC on, had a breakfast break then a fag break. Tricia was on when I finished so I got stuck on that. Tea and a fag after, then set the PC up to do some printing. Got bored so had a look on here, sent some funny emails to people and before you know it, it was time for lunch.
The pm is set to continue in the same manner, except I am nearly out of cigarettes so I will pop out for a while. Probably take the bike which will need a clean after. I dare say I will buy a paper as well, so that will need to be read.
Bliss, unproductive bliss.
|
This idea of having lots more one-way roads has occurred to me too although I'd been thinking more in terms of country lanes. On the face of it the idea seems safe - no oncoming traffic to worry about. But what about old Farmer Giles who's chumbled into town on his little grey Fergie each market day for the last 50 years and, rather than go 3 miles further round, ingnores the one way rule?
I've heard of a case of a farmer who was caught driving a Range Rover the wrong way along a newly opened stretch of dual carriageway in Suffolk to get from one of his fields to another. His view was that just because the government decided to dual the road he didn't see why he should have to make a detour.
Cheers, SS
|
"There is another possible solution - work from home"
It would certainly work - especially if you made all bus, truck and taxi drivers do it.
|
|
even tho the buses there are awful.
really? I think that the public transport here is quite good actually. mind you, there is a bus stop 20 yards from my house and the service runs every 20 mins, and drops off at the train stations I use.
|
|
|
|
|
|
