Been hearing rumours there's to be a big clampdown on cars (ab)using the tram gate at Bradfield Road junction.

On Thursday they were putting new video cameras up on a lamp standard near the bottom of Forbes Road.

Anyone know anything definite ?

Originally posted by Greybeard
Been hearing rumours there's to be a big clampdown on cars (ab)using the tram gate at Bradfield Road junction.

On Thursday they were putting new video cameras up on a lamp standard near the bottom of Forbes Road.

Anyone know anything definite ?

Yeah what' s with al the cameras on Eyre Street and Arundel Gate ? Big Brother outside ? we're live on channel4 please don't swear in City Centre

Theres nowt down for the stupidity of the council shuving these cameras up everywhere...The tram gate should be operated like bus lanes ie closing to traffic at certain times...I've been told that the guys stood with the camera opposite the Hills.bus station are doin a survey on the amount of traffic goin through Hills.

If they're gonna start enforcing it really strictly, then lets have it, as said above, operating only at neccessary times.

Having to weave your way around tiny little back streets at 8pm, just to avoid the tram gate - a time when it is not at all needed - is absolutely ridiculous.

I understand the reasons for it at peak times. Hell, even throughout the entire working day. But 24/7? Come on!

I've been through town (and Hills tramgate!!) this morning...the cameras on Eyre St look like cctv as they were'nt pointing at Just the bus lanes....

The cameras are being put up in preparation for a new law coming into force in November I think. The new law will give the council the power to fine drivers who use the tram gate.

I believe I read that the fines would be £50 a time. Meaning that the selfish commuters that do it every day will be paying an extra £2000 or so a month!

Quite right too, as I'm reasonably sure the drivers who do drive through it trigegr the under-road sensors, causing the phasing of the lights to have an "incorrect" bias and show red to those drivers on Bradfield Road. This makes the jams there much, much worse for everyone, expecially those that obey the regulations.

Originally posted by hotphil
The cameras are being put up in preparation for a new law coming into force in November I think. The new law will give the council the power to fine drivers who use the tram gate.

I believe I read that the fines would be £50 a time. Meaning that the selfish commuters that do it every day will be paying an extra £2000 or so a month!

Quite right too, as I'm reasonably sure the drivers who do drive through it trigegr the under-road sensors, causing the phasing of the lights to have an "incorrect" bias and show red to those drivers on Bradfield Road. This makes the jams there much, much worse for everyone, expecially those that obey the regulations.

What jams they are at 6am!! I deliver in an around Hills early morning time and its such a pain with restictions and not being able to park outside where i'm delivering to cos of the tramlines.Fair enough close the gate to traffic at 7.30am or something. Everyones complaining about more pollution but by closing roads (to which i pay for to run on not go round) you use more petrol and emit more emissions....but then again more petrol usage just means more tax for them to collect.

custardcream

A bit of a tall order that...expecting politicians to apply common sense to a problem. And don't forget they'll want to use the scheme as a cash generator!

I've said it before on this forum that the Tram Gate is the most pointless and irritating traffic measure I've seen in Sheffield.

It wouldn't be so bad if the actually properly signposted the car route, but as soon as you turn off the main road you're totally lost with no signs to show you the way through.

Why did they put it there in the first place?

Originally posted by Ravenger
I've said it before on this forum that the Tram Gate is the most pointless and irritating traffic measure I've seen in Sheffield.

It wouldn't be so bad if the actually properly signposted the car route, but as soon as you turn off the main road you're totally lost with no signs to show you the way through.

Why did they put it there in the first place?

I couldn't agree more. What's the point of a traffic measure if it's not enforced? Hopefully, when the cameras are in place it will become a proper tram gate.

Agreed - if it's enforced then it will be good thing. If people don't agree with the tram gate that's their opinion and they're entitled to it. But, it has been put in place by their democratically-elected representatives, and by selfishly ignoring it they cause queues on Bradfield Road and Holme Lane for those who decide to obey the rules. Such selfishness is extremely irritating. And as I've said, it's not people "occasionally" or "accidentally" going through it that cause the delays, I see the same cars at the same time day in, day out.

I sympathise with anyone who has to make deliveries in that area as the traffic regulations are a complete nightmare. If the tram gate was only in operation during peak hours it may assist the non-peak traffic flow, but the few selfish motorists would continue to break the rules.

I wonder how the drivers who go through the tram gate would feel if the next time I'm sat at the red light on Bradfield Road I decide that the traffic lights don't apply to me and so just pull out into the junction? Surely in the event of a shunt the police would have to charge either both of us or none of us with an offence?

If your goin towards Malin Bridge you can pull out on me if you want cos i turn that tight left (that your not supposed to do)....but if your goin other way forget it!!



Who et all the Creams,Who et all the Creams,




ME!!

I agree with the folks that want a visible, stringent and effective enforcement of the Tram Gate at Hilsborough Corner. For years I stood at the lights, waiting to get within 200 feet of the platform while car after car carrying one person wound its merry way past me and I missed my tram as a result.

Some drivers may argue that they have always been able to take that route in the past, but things change and the volume of traffic is always rising and sooner or later you're going to have to accept measures that limit your choice of routes if alternatives such as car-pooling and public transport are not for you.

Originally posted by Carmine
I agree with the folks that want a visible, stringent and effective enforcement of the Tram Gate at Hilsborough Corner.

What they need is a pedestrian-friendly layout. At the moment, pedestrians have to either cross three roads in order to cross one, or walk further up to a crossing away from the junction. Meanwhile, traffic is diverted past the school entrance at school times. And without a crossing patrol at the moment too I believe!

Originally posted by Squiggs
What they need is a pedestrian-friendly layout. At the moment, pedestrians have to either cross three roads in order to cross one, or walk further up to a crossing away from the junction. Meanwhile, traffic is diverted past the school entrance at school times. And without a crossing patrol at the moment too I believe!


yeh good idea lets pave all of Hills and ban cars all togther!!
although saying that,my deliverys would be easier cos i could drive straight through like i do on Fargate n the Moor.

Not at all.

Just why not have a straightforward crossroads with filter signals and pedestrian crossings on each road. And keep the cars on the main road and off the school road.

Hillsborough corner is currently stupid, one side you're diverted past a school entrance, the other side you're diverted through residential side streets.

Today's there's planning proposal notices up:
gate to be extended to Ripley Street (just a few metres) and reduced from 'at all times' to 07:00 thru 19:00 (still includes the rush hours). No details of if this can/will be enforced though.
I can't see this improving things myself.

i dont know much about the law but isnt there something about " by usage" which i take to mean, that as the roads at hillsborough have been used for years by wheeled and foot traffic then the council can not close them to prevent wheeled traffic

i do know the law extends to foot paths but not sure about roads, might be interesting to find out, if there are any lawyers on here that is..

Originally posted by hotphil
Today's there's planning proposal notices up:
gate to be extended to Ripley Street (just a few metres) and reduced from 'at all times' to 07:00 thru 19:00 (still includes the rush hours). No details of if this can/will be enforced though.
I can't see this improving things myself.

I saw the legal notices for this in the back pages of the Star last Friday, I think it was. At least 7 til 7 is a bit better, but stupidly this also includes weekends so although the tram isn't even operating at 7:30 on a Sunday morning, the tram gate will be. Ridiculous.

Hope they will use any money generated to resurface the awful state of the back streets round hillsborough that we are being forced down...

But i'm all for peak hour enforcement, fed up waiting 10 mins to get through hills corner on the tram

If one is caught in the act by the traffic cops using the tram gate, what penalty notice could they issue? Is there a generic failure to observe road sign or something they would issue?

Think there was some talk of it being unenforcable as the restriction is a recommendation imposed by the council rather than a traffic regulation. Hence it's widely flouted.

Originally posted by hotphil
Think there was some talk of it being unenforcable as the restriction is a recommendation imposed by the council rather than a traffic regulation. Hence it's widely flouted.
Failure to observe traffic signs is all the same offence, doesn't matter wether it's "keep left" (at a traffic island), "double white lines", "no entry" or "buses only". These are not recommendations, they are instructions, and you can be done for them.

IIRC they normally only do a fine for bus lane abuse, but the others can be points too, don't know what's proposed for this situation though.

Where's Saxon when you need him, he might have a better idea...