Why ruin a serviceable Bristol road junction?
Can anyone explain to me the benefit derived from the money spent installing traffic lights at the Hicks Gate roundabout?
At peak times, queues in all directions are worse than they ever were. The yellow box markings take up so much of the roundabout that it is almost impossible to be on the roundabout without being in one.
Was it not obvious to all that while there are traffic lights by the park-& -ride junction, the traffic will always back up to Hicks Gate, no matter what "improvements" are made there? More accidents will happen here because drivers get frustrated at queue jumpers getting in the wrong lane and "pushing in" (particularly the park-&-ride/bus lane).
I have been travelling across Bristol every day for the last 15 years, my route encompassing 10 'proper' roundabouts, i.e. those with traffic joining from at least four directions. Of these, seven now have traffic lights, the latest, nearly completed, addition being at the Hartcliffe roundabout.
Why? In all those years I have never seen a problem here with traffic flow or accidents. Watch that change now.
I hope the recently appointed traffic 'tsar' has the common sense and nerve to see what any Bristolian will tell him and return to the old fashioned concept of a roundabout OR traffic lights – NOT both.
I would love him to join me one day on my commute to and from work, to see for himself what the real issues are and the daily frustrations faced. I do wonder if those responsible for traffic 'management' do ever sit in a car and cross town in the rush hour. Do they really think that sitting at their desk with their modelling tools gives them the same insight and knowledge?
And don't even get me started on the 2+ lanes...
C Rose
by email
3 Comments
by Pete, Brislington
Monday, October 12 2009, 11:49PM
“The whole issue of roundabouts in Bristol appears to be to slow down the traffic flow and encourage people to leave their cars at home and take to public transport or pushbikes.
As soon as the Hicks Gate system was installed and switched on, it just compounded the problems on the A4 Bath Road. There are now talks of widening the section of road between the Park & Ride and Hicks Gate to make it Dual Carriageway throughout. Compulsory Purchase Orders will be needed to achieve this no doubt?
But going back to the traffic lights, I used to work in an office near the Temple Circus roundabout. Invariably, when the lights failed on the roundabout the traffic flowed perfectly, proving that there was no need for them in the first place!
Carbon Neutral - Nah! More lights, more power, more CO2!!!”
by gerry, bristol
Wednesday, October 07 2009, 4:02PM
“Safety comes to mind.”
by Oliver Tunnah, St. Annes
Tuesday, October 06 2009, 5:45PM
“I agree, Roundabouts are proven to be quicker and aid traffic flow better than traffic lights. So why replace the roundabout with traffic lights to clear congestion? It makes no sense.”