John Spellar (Warley, Labour)
To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what change there has been in levels of traffic congestion in the 10 largest urban areas of England in the last three years.
Rosie Winterton (Minister of State, Department for Transport; Doncaster Central, Labour)
The following tables show morning peak period speeds across the 10 largest urban areas in England in 2004 and 2006, based on surveys conducted by the Department and Transport:
Bristol
2002 – 23.2
2004 – 19.0
2006 – 20.2
The trend seems to be that traffic congestion is improving in Bristol!
I’m sure BCC will find a different “angle” on the figures to justify their plans for a congestion charge. Like to see the Gov figures after the opening of the Cabot Circus though.
Yes, I’ve noticed a huge difference in traffic light timings causing longer delays (as well as additional traffic lights around Cabot Circus as Archie mentioned) but it has only been in the last year – 2 years. The latest figures would be very intersting. As would BCC’s SCOOT software configuration.
One of the things that we tried to rectify when in office was that there was nobody tasked with actually helping to make the traffic flow better. As a result very little thought had been put into matters like coordinating sets of traffic lights or thinking through the consequences that a particular traffic measure would have further on in the route.A start was made on that but a lot more remains to be done.
By the time the traffic lights around Cabot Circus are operating, there will be 20 ‘stop lights’ between Newfoundland Road and Hotwell Road – distance of barely 1.5 miles. The resulting jams allow plenty of time to count them. Meanwhile, road surfaces around the city deteriorate, Ashley Down Road now being so bad as to be positively hazardous.
I’ve recently started cycling to work, trying to do my bit. I must say I’m bloddy knackered everyday now.
Yes, ‘bloddy’ is a real word, it means short-assed bird watcher off the tv who used to be funny.