Coronavirus: Private and Commercial transport
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Something relevant to roads: it may be anecdotal, but I've noticed and others have noted that of what traffic there still is right now a significant proportion seems to be (mainly) younger (mainly) men in high powered/modded cars "taking advantage" of clear roads. I've even seen police twitter cccounts noting they've been to quite a few single car collisions involving this demographic and street furniture.
Mindyou, it's not just the young men- I was out for government permitted exercise today and doing 20 (32km/h on the GPS) cycling along in a 20 zone, was passed by a middle aged man in a very normal car who was doing 32mph (according to the handily placed sign). As ever, although he did that on an entirely clear road I caught up at the next lights.
Mindyou, it's not just the young men- I was out for government permitted exercise today and doing 20 (32km/h on the GPS) cycling along in a 20 zone, was passed by a middle aged man in a very normal car who was doing 32mph (according to the handily placed sign). As ever, although he did that on an entirely clear road I caught up at the next lights.
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
My next door neighbour is one of the 1.5 million extremely vulnerable people so spent the day in his garden painting the fence, he's always enjoyed sitting in his garden but may get fed up of the same view for three months - I'm in the slightly less restricted simply vulnerable group so can still leave the house for exercise, fortunately I live next to a local nature reserve and get a long walk as long as the weather holds.
I wonder if C19's effect on passenger air travel has given us a beneficial effect on our weather.
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Epping High Street reminded me of a 1990 Sunday afternoon today, the sort of days when I wanted a cold drink and the only place was the off-licence or the newsagent! Less than a dozen cars parked with about that many people walking around and half of them lined up 2m apart to get into M&S.
Got some nice photos of the empty roads while I could. Very few shops open and those that were had limits on who could get in.
It's interesting to read and compare all the different notices on shop fronts. Some read like business statements and some are basic "We are now closed. See you later". You get the personal messages and the disinterested corporate guff.
Tesco had a line outside as they were letting people in on a 1 in, 1 out basis. The manager said it wasn't a fixed number allowed in but more a gut feeling as to crowd levels and spacing. Was still quiet inside as I got bread and milk.
Got some nice photos of the empty roads while I could. Very few shops open and those that were had limits on who could get in.
It's interesting to read and compare all the different notices on shop fronts. Some read like business statements and some are basic "We are now closed. See you later". You get the personal messages and the disinterested corporate guff.
Tesco had a line outside as they were letting people in on a 1 in, 1 out basis. The manager said it wasn't a fixed number allowed in but more a gut feeling as to crowd levels and spacing. Was still quiet inside as I got bread and milk.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Presumably now is a good time to do a lot of roadworks? even major things like the Huntingdon flyover removal.
I've noticed a few sprung up all over town on the ring road, although of course it is March so the usual "spend the budget before the FY finishes" could also be responsible!
I've noticed a few sprung up all over town on the ring road, although of course it is March so the usual "spend the budget before the FY finishes" could also be responsible!
- roadtester
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Comedian Lee Mack has the virus, so he's Not Going Out. That will be one less person out on the roads.
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- the cheesecake man
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Here traffic on Tuesday morning was back up to school holiday levels, but was down to eeriness again by the afternoon.
While it's much harder to judge from home than the motorway, traffic now seems to be right down to volumes normally only seen on Christmas Day, except for the pointless empty buses.
Why are we still wasting diesel running these empty buses, even at half their previous frequency? Has anybody considered stopping them and providing a dial-a-ride service for those who really need it?
Like many people, including all of my colleagues, I went to work on Tuesday despite what Boris said. For most people it is "absolutely essential" to go to work or else you will get sacked (which would mean you won't be getting 80% of your wage paid by the government, nor a redundancy payment, nor benefits). Plus the controlled closure we were able to enact is clearly better for everyone than simply disappearing and leaving staff and clients not knowing what was going on.
If there's too many people travelling it's the non-essential businesses still operating that need to be dealt with. Moaning at the workers already in an impossible position won't help.
While it's much harder to judge from home than the motorway, traffic now seems to be right down to volumes normally only seen on Christmas Day, except for the pointless empty buses.
Why are we still wasting diesel running these empty buses, even at half their previous frequency? Has anybody considered stopping them and providing a dial-a-ride service for those who really need it?
Like many people, including all of my colleagues, I went to work on Tuesday despite what Boris said. For most people it is "absolutely essential" to go to work or else you will get sacked (which would mean you won't be getting 80% of your wage paid by the government, nor a redundancy payment, nor benefits). Plus the controlled closure we were able to enact is clearly better for everyone than simply disappearing and leaving staff and clients not knowing what was going on.
If there's too many people travelling it's the non-essential businesses still operating that need to be dealt with. Moaning at the workers already in an impossible position won't help.
Yep. Sheffield City Council have taken the opportunity to extend overnight roadworks on the Inner Ring Road to daytime to get the job finished quicker (or to move to daytime instead of night to reduce costs).marconaf wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 23:55 Presumably now is a good time to do a lot of roadworks? even major things like the Huntingdon flyover removal.
I've noticed a few sprung up all over town on the ring road, although of course it is March so the usual "spend the budget before the FY finishes" could also be responsible!
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I've just checked out live camera photos of the M50 from just now (2AM) and there is practically no traffic on the motorway at all aside from the occasional lorry that may pass every 30 seconds or so. (I chose to look at it since I know it's among Britain's quietest motorways).
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I suppose setting up a dial-a-ride service at short notice would involve organising a phone line/email address and getting hold of some cars or minibuses. There's also the issue of social distancing. On a bus it is easier to be 2m away from anyone else for most of a journey.the cheesecake man wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 00:13 Here traffic on Tuesday morning was back up to school holiday levels, but was down to eeriness again by the afternoon.
While it's much harder to judge from home than the motorway, traffic now seems to be right down to volumes normally only seen on Christmas Day, except for the pointless empty buses.
Why are we still wasting diesel running these empty buses, even at half their previous frequency? Has anybody considered stopping them and providing a dial-a-ride service for those who really need it?
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Our local bus company (Lloyd Coaches) has asked key workers to contact them so they can tailor their reduced timetables to their shift patterns. They've already gone from using double deckers on the route past my house to much smaller vehicles.trickstat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 09:16I suppose setting up a dial-a-ride service at short notice would involve organising a phone line/email address and getting hold of some cars or minibuses. There's also the issue of social distancing. On a bus it is easier to be 2m away from anyone else for most of a journey.the cheesecake man wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 00:13 Here traffic on Tuesday morning was back up to school holiday levels, but was down to eeriness again by the afternoon.
While it's much harder to judge from home than the motorway, traffic now seems to be right down to volumes normally only seen on Christmas Day, except for the pointless empty buses.
Why are we still wasting diesel running these empty buses, even at half their previous frequency? Has anybody considered stopping them and providing a dial-a-ride service for those who really need it?
Built for comfort, not speed.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
At least he has a garden, I live in a first floor flat with only a car park at the rear. That should be my only trip outside for the next few months as I will still need to take the rubbish out to the bins.Ruperts Trooper wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 22:10My next door neighbour is one of the 1.5 million extremely vulnerable people so spent the day in his garden painting the fence, he's always enjoyed sitting in his garden but may get fed up of the same view for three months - I'm in the slightly less restricted simply vulnerable group so can still leave the house for exercise, fortunately I live next to a local nature reserve and get a long walk as long as the weather holds.
I wonder if C19's effect on passenger air travel has given us a beneficial effect on our weather.
I cannot remember, but what was the weather like during the Eyjafjallajökull volcanic eruption? Although I suppose the ash in the atmosphere which stopped a lot of air traffic probably makes the two periods incomparable.
That was the largest air shut down since WWII, but we surely must now have the lowest air pollution levels since at least then between both traffic reduction reduction and factories being closed. A lot of local reports show the significant effect it has had in regions which have been locked down.
One academic report from Italy has suggested a link between air pollution and COVID-19 deaths. Those living in highly polluted urban areas have poorer health because of it, putting them at greater risk to the effects of the virus. Although this has been criticised by another group who say such claims are premature and more research is needed.
To me it seems a logical conclusion, though. The effects of localized air pollution on public health is not disputed. That people with certain conditions are at a higher risk of the virus seems to be accepted. The only way there is no link is if the effects of pollution which cause ill health also cause an immunity from the virus, which is possible but would be a theory that needs to be proved rather than the default position.
I can just about see the A23 High Road from my window, and it still seems to have Sunday levels of traffic. After last month's terrorist incident you could hear the silence whilst it was still closed off by the police. It currently does not sound any different to normal.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I was looking at the Thameslink website yesterday. They are going to be switching to a Sunday timetable but say that rail services will start earlier and finish later than a standard Sunday timetable because key workers often work unsociable hours.rhyds wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 09:20Our local bus company (Lloyd Coaches) has asked key workers to contact them so they can tailor their reduced timetables to their shift patterns. They've already gone from using double deckers on the route past my house to much smaller vehicles.trickstat wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 09:16I suppose setting up a dial-a-ride service at short notice would involve organising a phone line/email address and getting hold of some cars or minibuses. There's also the issue of social distancing. On a bus it is easier to be 2m away from anyone else for most of a journey.the cheesecake man wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 00:13 Here traffic on Tuesday morning was back up to school holiday levels, but was down to eeriness again by the afternoon.
While it's much harder to judge from home than the motorway, traffic now seems to be right down to volumes normally only seen on Christmas Day, except for the pointless empty buses.
Why are we still wasting diesel running these empty buses, even at half their previous frequency? Has anybody considered stopping them and providing a dial-a-ride service for those who really need it?
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
roadtester wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 00:05 Comedian Lee Mack has the virus, so he's Not Going Out. That will be one less person out on the roads.
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
I would have put that in the crap joke thread, but apparently he really has got it!avtur wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:22roadtester wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 00:05 Comedian Lee Mack has the virus, so he's Not Going Out. That will be one less person out on the roads.
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Would you Lie to Us?roadtester wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:43I would have put that in the crap joke thread, but apparently he really has got it!avtur wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 12:22roadtester wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 00:05 Comedian Lee Mack has the virus, so he's Not Going Out. That will be one less person out on the roads.
Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Middlesbrough Highways dept have been busily fixing potholes.marconaf wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 23:55 Presumably now is a good time to do a lot of roadworks? even major things like the Huntingdon flyover removal.
I've noticed a few sprung up all over town on the ring road, although of course it is March so the usual "spend the budget before the FY finishes" could also be responsible!
- roadtester
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Ha ha - no, but apparently the joke is wearing a bit thin!
https://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/cele ... 97846.html
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Traffic levels on the A174 Cleveland Parkway are way down on normal. I was sitting in the garden yesterday and couldn't work out what was different (apart from being warm and sunny). Then I realised the noise of the traffic was almost non existent, Its never really bad as I am 400 m from the road which is in a cutting but it is always there and there is usually a police car with siren going down it from time to time.
- roadtester
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
This is interesting - detailed research shows that 'crazy selfish stockpilers' are only a small percentage of the population and the temporary shortages are mostly down to people responsibly adding a few extra items to their shop as a precaution:
https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/opi ... seems/3483
https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/opi ... seems/3483
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Unfortunately, the 'just in time' method for selling supermarket goods means that they are unprepared for a sudden surge in demand.roadtester wrote: ↑Thu Mar 26, 2020 13:21 This is interesting - detailed research shows that 'crazy selfish stockpilers' are only a small percentage of the population and the temporary shortages are mostly down to people responsibly adding a few extra items to their shop as a precaution:
https://www.warc.com/newsandopinion/opi ... seems/3483
Ian (M5 Driver)
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Re: Is Coronavirus Reducing Levels of Traffic?
Isn't it wonderful? Hearing nature instead of the perpetual sound of the human race.
Fair point.
Perhaps it's time to stop feeding the troll and save the food for a more deserving consumer of valuable oxygen?Bryn666 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 25, 2020 14:34Given that a lie has to be a proven falsehood, I think it is a bit of a gung ho accusation to say people are lying when the reality is these are unknown variables.
Another reminder that the best course of action sometimes is to just sit down and be quiet perhaps.