Coronavirus: Private and Commercial transport
Moderator: Site Management Team
Coronavirus: Private and Commercial transport
I know that there’s already a thread in Unleashed re the Coronavirus but as my question is roads related, I hope that it’s appropriate to post it on the main board.
I wondering if the spread of the Coronavirus and the increasing numbers of people working from home is having any noticeable impact on traffic volumes, particularly during the morning and evening peaks. Speaking for myself, the roads I usually travel on are quiet anyway so I haven’t noticed any difference as yet.
I suppose that the numbers of trucks on the road could actually increase as they're needed to constantly transport fresh supplies of toilet rolls, pasta and hand gel!
Ian (M5 Driver)
I wondering if the spread of the Coronavirus and the increasing numbers of people working from home is having any noticeable impact on traffic volumes, particularly during the morning and evening peaks. Speaking for myself, the roads I usually travel on are quiet anyway so I haven’t noticed any difference as yet.
I suppose that the numbers of trucks on the road could actually increase as they're needed to constantly transport fresh supplies of toilet rolls, pasta and hand gel!
Ian (M5 Driver)
AKA M5 Driver
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I like you travel mostly on quiet roads so it's hard to tell - schools closing (if they ever do) will make a difference. Although one particular morning bottle neck on an adjacent road I pass by seems quieter this week.
- FosseWay
- Assistant Site Manager
- Posts: 19718
- Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2006 22:26
- Location: Gothenburg, Sweden
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I've noticed a clear reduction in the number of people on public transport. I don't know whether all these people are driving instead or staying at home, as this week I've either cycled to work or I've been going home at irregular times of day when there's not that much traffic in any case.
Did you know there's more to SABRE than just the Forums?
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
Add your roads knowledge to the SABRE Wiki today!
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Try getting involved!
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I'd say yes, this week has been noticeably quieter on the roads - I did the A40/M40 the other evening from Cheltenham to High Wycombe, and there weren't any of the usual hold ups.
Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Cant say I have noticed but then there is little sign of it locally. On Teesside there are 2 cases in Stockton and 1 in Redcar and they self isolated after returning from Italy.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Conversely, it could be that a number of folks who would usually take the bus or train will want to avoid unnecessary contact and take the car instead
Built for comfort, not speed.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Quite the opposite in Cardiff at the moment, I think, as more people are going to work in the car while avoiding public transport. Almost useless measures as they will then spend the day in their offices with lots of other people, but hey ho. I suspect we will see the M4, A470 and A4232 get quieter over the coming weeks.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
As I wrote on the other thread, at Canary Wharf in London our school has seen an increase in children being brought by car, instead of Underground/DLR/Bus.
So yesterday, guess what, a traffic warden was sent down on a motor bike at 0850, first time one ever seen there, to give out tickets. Not move people on or direct traffic/help in any way, just give out tickets. It's in a dead-end street, by the way. Well done Tower Hamlets council for making a revenue opportunity out of the situation.
So yesterday, guess what, a traffic warden was sent down on a motor bike at 0850, first time one ever seen there, to give out tickets. Not move people on or direct traffic/help in any way, just give out tickets. It's in a dead-end street, by the way. Well done Tower Hamlets council for making a revenue opportunity out of the situation.
- Mark Hewitt
- Member
- Posts: 31443
- Joined: Fri Dec 17, 2004 12:54
- Location: Chester-le-Street
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
On commutes to work over the past two weeks I’ve noticed a marked *increase* in traffic.
- ellandback
- Member
- Posts: 1367
- Joined: Thu Sep 08, 2005 08:48
- Location: Elland, West Yorkshire
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
No noticeable difference on my stretch of the M62 but as others have suggested I do wonder if that's because people are switching from public transport.
- haymansafc
- Member
- Posts: 4808
- Joined: Sun Mar 19, 2006 16:52
- Location: Ellesmere Port, Cheshire
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I never really see the typical school-run traffic as I'm usually on the road by 7:20am most mornings, so I can't comment on that front.
I'd say I've seen an increase in traffic over the course of this week if anything – as people who would usually take public transport are understandably taking their cars. The A494 (D3 section at Deeside) is notably busier than it usually is during the morning peak and there's two particular sets of traffic lights I come across – one on the A5117 and the other on the B5129 which there's a much larger than usual queue waiting at the red light.
There's usually a bit of a queue on the A494 offslip (eastbound) to the A540/A5117 junction as the traffic lights here hardly let anyone out at the best of times. However for the last two evenings in a row, the queue has been back almost as far as the mainline. This only ever happens if there's been a major problem on the A550 towards Two Mills and motorists coming from Wales divert further along the A494 to the next junction to effectively 'double back' on themselves and approach Two Mills from the A540 instead.
The other routes I use in conjunction with my daily commute are about the same as usual, though.
I'd say I've seen an increase in traffic over the course of this week if anything – as people who would usually take public transport are understandably taking their cars. The A494 (D3 section at Deeside) is notably busier than it usually is during the morning peak and there's two particular sets of traffic lights I come across – one on the A5117 and the other on the B5129 which there's a much larger than usual queue waiting at the red light.
There's usually a bit of a queue on the A494 offslip (eastbound) to the A540/A5117 junction as the traffic lights here hardly let anyone out at the best of times. However for the last two evenings in a row, the queue has been back almost as far as the mainline. This only ever happens if there's been a major problem on the A550 towards Two Mills and motorists coming from Wales divert further along the A494 to the next junction to effectively 'double back' on themselves and approach Two Mills from the A540 instead.
The other routes I use in conjunction with my daily commute are about the same as usual, though.
The journey is never over until the arrival.
-
- Member
- Posts: 135
- Joined: Tue Jul 19, 2016 15:31
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I haven't noticed any reduction on the trains, there are actually more. Something to do with Cheltenham.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Trains seem variable here, so not sure if it's people switching to driving or just absenteeism.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Yes, The Travelodge wanted almost £200 for a night when I was looking for a hotel earlier in the week. Needless to say that I stayed further afield....linuxrocks wrote: ↑Fri Mar 13, 2020 13:40 I haven't noticed any reduction on the trains, there are actually more. Something to do with Cheltenham.
Is there a road improvement project going on near you? Help us to document it on the SABRE Wiki - help is available in the Digest forum.
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
Have you browsed SABRE Maps recently? Get involved! - see our guide to scanning and stitching maps
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
We're ramping up our "work from home" provisions at my firm, so its possible that a lot of folks have stayed at home and telecommuted
Built for comfort, not speed.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
It'll be interesting to see how many micromanagers are sidelined by this crisis - they must be losing bucketloads of sweat to the idea of workers being allowed to be at home.
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Its certainly refocussing managers to see what can be done to facilitate rather than stop home working. From an IT perspective it all depends on how easy it is to provide external access to work documents and phone calls without overly compromising security.
Built for comfort, not speed.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
You never know, it might finally highlight the weaknesses of rural infrastructure too...
Bryn
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Terminally cynical, unimpressed, and nearly Middle Age already.
She said life was like a motorway; dull, grey, and long.
Blog - https://showmeasign.online/
X - https://twitter.com/ShowMeASignBryn
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@BrynBuck
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
The company I work for have been sorting out our BR plan over the past couple of years, which has included ensuring that we get rid of stuff that can't be used remotely.
We, coincidentally, did a full denial of access test about a month back with no issues, seems we timed that well.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I'm in the centre of Congleton right now and it is gridlocked but that will be normal until the bypass opens. When I was out the other day it was just as busy as usual.
I suspect Haymans may have a point about some public transport users driving instead to avoid possible contact.
I suspect Haymans may have a point about some public transport users driving instead to avoid possible contact.
How would you like your grade separations, Sir?
Big and complex.
Big and complex.