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Cutting traffic queues at Blossom Street

9:57am Friday 12th March 2010 in


I attended the mobile council offices in Nunnery Lane showing the proposed changes to Blossom Street.

The options stated they could cause delays in entering York. This would mean vehicles queuing with motors running, creating more pollution.

Would it not be better to find ways of speeding up traffic without long queues?

If one metre was taken off the footpath on the cinema side of Blossom Street it would leave three lanes for vehicles and provide a cycle lane.

On the opposite side, remove the cobbles from Nunnery Lane to Scarcroft Road, helping buses to be closer to the footpath to collect passengers, and again traffic flows would be faster. Better still, rid York of bendy buses.

The cycle lane at Clifton Green causes more havoc, as do the bus stops sticking out into traffic on Fulford Road, with more hold-ups and pollution. The lights at Bootham need reassessing.

I could go on, but am I being cynical in suggesting City of York Council wants excuses for a congestion charge?

Bob Allison, Hawthorn Grove, Heworth, York.

Comments(9)

sheps lad says...
2:37pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Bob, you are not being cynical. Well spotted!

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greenmonkey says...
7:48pm Fri 12 Mar 10

Dont think the Lib Dems are interested in a congestion charge, but they dont have any other solutions either, other than letting the whole place grind to a halt. How does Bob propose to 'speed up' traffic? A pedestrian bridge over the road and lots of barriers blocking the view of Micklegate Bar? Perhaps close the Bar to traffic and make everything flow one way round the city centre?
The basic problem Bob is that too many people want to drive when they could walk cycle or catch a bus. That may or may not apply to you, but over 50% of journeys are about 3 miles or less - easy on a bike if there is a safe route.. which brings us back to doing something serious at Blossom St that makes it safe to be on a bike or on foot!

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fenderbassman says...
8:37pm Fri 12 Mar 10

i agree with Bob, most or all of the congestion is council created, open a few of the streets they have blocked off ,get rid of bendy buses, poorly thought out bus stops, chicanes etc, etc and things might start to move then, but that not what the anti car brigade want , its all leading up the congestion charge route

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retrorigg says...
11:14am Sat 13 Mar 10

and also sort the traffic lights out around the city and ya wouldnt have anywhere near the amount of standing traffic as we do presently , the timings and lengths that they are on red is ridiculas

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old_geezer says...
9:08pm Sat 13 Mar 10

retrorigg: when you're waiting at red, what do you think the lights are showing for the people coming the other way? Now, take this one sl-oo-w-ly ... could it be ... let's see now ... green?

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moneyforwhat says...
7:05pm Sun 14 Mar 10

So much sense here Mr Allison, I hope I don't badmouth you by suggesting you couldn't possibly work for the council!! So what is the future for York. A city which is presently operating on traffic lights which are programmed to create nuisance by nonsensical timings (they may be on green for another traffic flow, likely a pedestrian crossing with no pedestrians or a cycle lane with no cycles). A city where a council wants a congestion charge, a council set to increase business rates (quote double for Rumours on Micklegate), a council who is now placing an obstacle on the road in from Fulford to prevent two lanes from operating with mediocrity to goodness knows what in future. So what's the story - create havoc by design, then find it is possible to synchronise traffic lights and claim a victory. It'll be too late by then, there will be no shops, people will have seen the Minster on-line, they will have remained home as the coffee shops are all the same at home and they will wonder if we have had an outbreak of anthrax having viewed all the TO LET, Closing down sale signs or simply I'm so sick of this I'm letting it all out to students. Dangerous ground here, empty properties and/or students don't pay council tax....so what is to be done to promote this city which in the past was it's own advertisement. The pope has likely heard about the congestion charge, so his cancelled visit won't promote the city in the way the previous pope's visit did. Yvette, can you come and do another Most Haunted, you'll have freedom of the city and the only activity will be the paranormal. (Oh, the other spectre may well be he who should not be named riding his trust steed. Ride on two wheels, ride like the wind).

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pedalling paul says...
10:00am Mon 15 Mar 10

Syurely he can't be referring to me.....?

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sheps lad says...
10:39am Mon 15 Mar 10

pedalling paul wrote:
Syurely he can't be referring to me.....?
Referring to your letter in Sat's press you give the impression that a lot of congestion has been alleviated by SCOOT. Merely quoting verbatim from their website does not make you an expert.When the FTR first made its appearance much was made of the technology which would enable it to cross York without being held up at traffic lights etc. I use this service a lot and have never noticed any difference to my journey.Also the cycle referred to in SCOOT is not the two wheeled love of your life!P.S.How come you get on a panel to discuss congestion charging and yet other interested bodies e.g. taxi drivers,white van men etc do not? Loaded dice?

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sheps lad says...
3:03pm Mon 15 Mar 10

PPS I see cllr Merrett is also on the panel. Double loaded??

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