And today's commuting highlight is...

[black-k1]

While there was an accident on the A12 past Stratford, I think yesterday afternoon was the first time I've seen traffic levels on the London commute back up to the worst of pre-pandemic levels.

[SteelerSE]

black-k1 said:

While there was an accident on the A12 past Stratford, I think yesterday afternoon was the first time I've seen traffic levels on the London commute back up to the worst of pre-pandemic levels.

The worst I've seen was a couple of weeks back with the torrential rain and multiple accidents. Took me over two hours to get home - grisly.

[Tribal Chestnut]

Traffic into town from up here got noticeably worse Jane the train strikes started last year and has maintained higher levels, but with a pronounced peak on strike days. It’s as if some people have realised that they can drive in and now prefer it to the train.

[DirtyHarley]

Traffic seemed particualrly awful today, even getting into London about 0520 traffic on the M2 was crawling when its normally clear! Way home out of London was jammed up too; definitely at or worse than pre-lockdown levels!

[stu67]

Yep rail strikes aside I think the traffic into London from where I am in Welwyn Garden City is just as bad as pre-covid to be honest. The exception generally is Friday where the whole world is "WFH", including myself on the rare occasion I can get away with it. I really don't think people have got back on trains in the numbers that were expected, they've realised that driving is probably cheaper and they can bear doing it 3 days a week. The only real change I've noticed is that the evening "rush hour" has sort of shifted forward by an hour or so. I must admit I'm an early starter so try to leave work by about 4.30pm and it's always busy, last night had to stay around for a few calls until 6pm and very light traffic.

[Fastdruid]

stu67 said:

I really don't think people have got back on trains in the numbers that were expected, they've realised that driving is probably cheaper and they can bear doing it 3 days a week.

I wonder if that is related to the prices of a season ticket relative to the numbers of trips. 3 days a week is too many for a Flexi Season ticket (8 days in 28) but you're wasting 2/5ths of a season ticket (even if it's probably still cheaper to buy a season ticket than pay for 3 trips).

[black-k1]

Fastdruid said:

stu67 said:

I really don't think people have got back on trains in the numbers that were expected, they've realised that driving is probably cheaper and they can bear doing it 3 days a week.

I wonder if that is related to the prices of a season ticket relative to the numbers of trips. 3 days a week is too many for a Flexi Season ticket (8 days in 28) but you're wasting 2/5ths of a season ticket (even if it's probably still cheaper to buy a season ticket than pay for 3 trips).

I suspect this has a lot to do with it. I seem to remember that my season ticket for the 5 months over winter cost, per week, just a little over 3 days "buy it on the day" tickets. By the time you add getting to/from the station and parking at the station it's cheaper to just drive in.

[Sea Demon]

When my bike was off the road, was costing me £42.50 for Maidstone to Blackfriars just for the train - parking for the day at the station was £6.50, I walked the 3 miles each morning to keep it as cheap as possible & the mrs picked me up, I couldnt get the train every day - to me, the cost of it is ridiculous.

[stu67]

Yes the cost of the train is one of the biggest issues along with a few subtle ticket changes. Wife gets the train into town and gets some type of electronic batch of tickets now rather than the old school "carnets" that you used to get and write your own date on them. I know the old carnets used to last or be valid for 3 months, the new digital card ones are valid for a month or even less as I understand it so you can easily loose a couple of trips if you are travelling the odd day.
As said the cost of rail against the car doesn't add up and with regards to bikes there is an even bigger difference. Think people also just got used to their own space during covid, lets be honest in your own car you can vape, make telephone video calls and catch up on the latest Netflix series! Wife says if she is on the train on a Friday you may be the only one in the carriage, back in the day it could be 2-3 deep at WGC station. No wonder they've cancelled HS2

[KTMsm]

Unfortunately the Govt "solution" to expensive public transport is to increase the cost of motoring

Those poor Train Drivers can't live on an average salary of £67k in London - look at the years of training it takes to push a lever

[HairyMaclary]

Today's commuting highlight after not being in London for a couple of weeks is the new 20mph section between Kidbrooke and New Cross.

I was overtaken by some hippie on an electric scooter right under a camera on Eltham Road. 20mph seems to make all the busses bunch up and a nightmare to get past.

2 and 3rd gear all the way makes for a very hot Super Adventure.

Honestly made me sad.

[DirtyHarley]

Decided to take the A20/M20 route today to drop in on the A249 Detling Hill Diner.... bloody new speed limit changes in new Eltham / Sidcup may have caught me out! Formerly 50mph fixed camera appears to now be a 40 zone (which I sailed past at 47/48) and then the formerly 70mph is now an average 40mph from crittals corner to the MaccieD's on the A20 - which I fortunately had wised up to the 40mph through!

Seems I'm not the only one though:

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/uproar-over-drastic-spe...

Anyone know if the fixed camera has had its speed updated/recalibrated? Either way, a 2 week wait now for the naughty note!

[HairyMaclary]

DirtyHarley said:

Decided to take the A20/M20 route today to drop in on the A249 Detling Hill Diner.... bloody new speed limit changes in new Eltham / Sidcup may have caught me out! Formerly 50mph fixed camera appears to now be a 40 zone (which I sailed past at 47/48) and then the formerly 70mph is now an average 40mph from crittals corner to the MaccieD's on the A20 - which I fortunately had wised up to the 40mph through!

Seems I'm not the only one though:

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/uproar-over-drastic-spe...

Anyone know if the fixed camera has had its speed updated/recalibrated? Either way, a 2 week wait now for the naughty note!

Just got home and came to post this. Can't believe it! The 40mph now goes from Dinogolf all the way to Maccas on the Sidcup bypass. I noticed the sign had changed from 50 to 40 before the (new) speed camera on the hill so chucked the cruise control on expecting it to go to 70 where it always has but no a 40mph average bloody speed zone!

No idea about the calibration but I'm 7 days into a 14 day wait for pulling off my drive in a 30 and accelerating up to 40 just before the sign as I always do only to notice a mobile camera van 200 yards up the road.

I'm starting to buy all this war on motorist stuff..

[Kawasicki]

Life affirming commute yesterday, glorious weather, my old Ducati lolloping along empty, camera free, country roads.

[Gixer968CS]

mikey_b said:

Sea Demon said:

Was nice & quiet on the way in to Blackfriars this morning, dont know if it was beacuse I left Maidstone at 9am or people not driving due to ULEZ etc

I came from Tonbridge to City this morning, wasn't especially quiet. Usual long queues before Fiveways on the A20, and again for the Blackwall Tunnel. I was passing through those at about 8.10 to 8.30, so peak rush hour. Probably would be much quieter 90 minutes later though. There will be no drop in traffic due to ULEZ, because as has been done to death, an overwhelming majority of cars are compliant already.

I imagine we must see each other sometimes, as I travel the same route from Sevenoaks. Grey GS1200 NL13TXU. Always with an stylish top-box

[Gixer968CS]

HairyMaclary said:

DirtyHarley said:

Decided to take the A20/M20 route today to drop in on the A249 Detling Hill Diner.... bloody new speed limit changes in new Eltham / Sidcup may have caught me out! Formerly 50mph fixed camera appears to now be a 40 zone (which I sailed past at 47/48) and then the formerly 70mph is now an average 40mph from crittals corner to the MaccieD's on the A20 - which I fortunately had wised up to the 40mph through!

Seems I'm not the only one though:

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/uproar-over-drastic-spe...

Anyone know if the fixed camera has had its speed updated/recalibrated? Either way, a 2 week wait now for the naughty note!

Just got home and came to post this. Can't believe it! The 40mph now goes from Dinogolf all the way to Maccas on the Sidcup bypass. I noticed the sign had changed from 50 to 40 before the (new) speed camera on the hill so chucked the cruise control on expecting it to go to 70 where it always has but no a 40mph average bloody speed zone!

No idea about the calibration but I'm 7 days into a 14 day wait for pulling off my drive in a 30 and accelerating up to 40 just before the sign as I always do only to notice a mobile camera van 200 yards up the road.

I'm starting to buy all this war on motorist stuff..

It's a nightmare - over 4 miles of 40mph on a large, open dual carriageway. The temporary road sign that they've erected says the reduction from to 50mph to 40mph is "to improve safety". I'd love to see the evidence for that - has anyone EVER crashed on that piece of road due to excess speed??? Anyway, I think the average speed check will only catch cars as the cameras face the on-coming traffic. I did slow for the fixed camera as I assume that has been re-calibrated

[ChocolateFrog]

Now I'm very much a fair weather biker my bike has been put into winter storage at the inlaws as their garage is bigger and has less TVR in it.

There's a little bit of shame I'll admit but atleast half my commute is always either early hours or late at night and I'm finding I'm not enjoying night riding as it is.

Using some of that STA-BIL fuel stabiliser for the first time now even S/UL has ethanol in it.

Edited by ChocolateFrog on Wednesday 11th October 15:19

[GSA_fattie]

third day of riding/working the rain

fkers who drive around in their bedrooms at 35mph admiring the scenery oblivious to the traffic behind
by all means but fking pull over and let people past -

[3DP]

Gixer968CS said:

HairyMaclary said:

DirtyHarley said:

Decided to take the A20/M20 route today to drop in on the A249 Detling Hill Diner.... bloody new speed limit changes in new Eltham / Sidcup may have caught me out! Formerly 50mph fixed camera appears to now be a 40 zone (which I sailed past at 47/48) and then the formerly 70mph is now an average 40mph from crittals corner to the MaccieD's on the A20 - which I fortunately had wised up to the 40mph through!

Seems I'm not the only one though:

https://uk.style.yahoo.com/uproar-over-drastic-spe...

Anyone know if the fixed camera has had its speed updated/recalibrated? Either way, a 2 week wait now for the naughty note!

Just got home and came to post this. Can't believe it! The 40mph now goes from Dinogolf all the way to Maccas on the Sidcup bypass. I noticed the sign had changed from 50 to 40 before the (new) speed camera on the hill so chucked the cruise control on expecting it to go to 70 where it always has but no a 40mph average bloody speed zone!

No idea about the calibration but I'm 7 days into a 14 day wait for pulling off my drive in a 30 and accelerating up to 40 just before the sign as I always do only to notice a mobile camera van 200 yards up the road.

I'm starting to buy all this war on motorist stuff..

It's a nightmare - over 4 miles of 40mph on a large, open dual carriageway. The temporary road sign that they've erected says the reduction from to 50mph to 40mph is "to improve safety". I'd love to see the evidence for that - has anyone EVER crashed on that piece of road due to excess speed??? Anyway, I think the average speed check will only catch cars as the cameras face the on-coming traffic. I did slow for the fixed camera as I assume that has been re-calibrated

...and the 40 signs are tiny compared to previous 50s. It was too slow at 50. Zero pavements, junctions or houses on a dual carriageway with barriers to the other lanes. Ridiculous. Totally safe piece of road with no accidents.

If it's any consolation above, since it went in, on my commute from edge of Sevenoaks to City, I've seen several vehicles go through it at 50 without slowing down and not seen a flash. Not sure if it is a camera that does flash, but if it should, then it's not been recalibrated yet.

I'll be back to commuting the winter on the train, but I'm sure by March the other direction will all be 40 too. Joy.

[mikey_b]

3DP said:

...and the 40 signs are tiny compared to previous 50s. It was too slow at 50. Zero pavements, junctions or houses on a dual carriageway with barriers to the other lanes. Ridiculous. Totally safe piece of road with no accidents.

If it's any consolation above, since it went in, on my commute from edge of Sevenoaks to City, I've seen several vehicles go through it at 50 without slowing down and not seen a flash. Not sure if it is a camera that does flash, but if it should, then it's not been recalibrated yet.

I'll be back to commuting the winter on the train, but I'm sure by March the other direction will all be 40 too. Joy.

Someone posted a link above which included a quote about why it was done - to do with the frequent flooding in the dip before BP/McDonalds, and that the limit would remain until the drainage was sorted. Now TBF that is a genuine issue - in heavy rain you do get deep water across the carriageways and aquaplaning/accidents are an issue. That isn't an issue on the London-bound side, so hopefully won't be 40 both ways.

With my more cynical hat on, they have simply spent a couple of grand on new signs rather than fixing the actual problem of a poor quality section of high speed road, and the drains will never be improved as there won't be any reason to now.