£65m ring road not working

[Grazzer]

That's the problem but it will come for sure as central funding is squeezed

[Cyclone]

This is down to the council preparing for congestion charging in the city, its son to come

 

The council have no power or authority to introduce congestion charging.

[geared]

It's been talked about in other cities?

 

Manchester and Cambridge spring to mind, Bristol perhaps too?

[L00b]

To be fair, what volume of traffic is on the M1 at the time, and what would be the consequences of more traffic trying to merge?

All factors considered (additional volume at peak hour, A57 roadworks) it's never as bad as since the pattern changed, about 3 weeks ago. There's been an extra 10-15 minutes on my commute ever since, regular as clockwork.

 

Used to be, until just before the A57 roadworks started, I could tell if the lights were borked or not at peak hour before even seeing the junction, as that would be the only time the ramp would back up.

Timing that doesn't favour you isn't always bad timing, the IRR is special in that the timing is bad for every direction and everyone, there is no route that can flow.

True, however (IMHO) the exiting motorway traffic should be prioritised over the junction straight-crossing A57 traffic, to keep the ramp as clear as possible: more lanes, higher relatives speed, <etc.> on the motorway, so higher potential for worse accidents.

We're not talking about peak times though - we drove along towards the Parkway on Saturday afternoon and still got stopped at both sets of lights at the Meadowhall turnoff and at the Wicker. Which happens to be a road that the council has already largely closed off to normal traffic.

Same experience Friday before last, early-ish evening (but well past peak times), from M1 then Parkway to Mugla's (sp?) on Spital Hill: should have been a shoe-in, yet was anything but...we hit e-v-e-r-y light. Won't be going back, we'll elect a more local alternative for the next group outings. Less business still for Sheffield.

[alchresearch]

This is down to the council preparing for congestion charging in the city, its son to come

 

August 2013:

 

Congestion charges plan opposed in Sheffield

 

Plans to extend congestion charges to major cities around the UK have been given the thumbs-down by Sheffield councillors and business leaders.

 

Backbench Liberal Democrat members had raised the possibility of extending a London-style charge to other large cities such as Sheffield.

 

They have also raised the idea of banning petrol and diesel cars by 2040 and forcing people to switch to electric-powered vehicles.

 

But Deputy Prime Minister and Hallam MP Nick Clegg’s office has said the ideas are not coalition Government policy.

 

Coun Bryan Lodge, Sheffield Council cabinet member for finance and former cabinet member for transport, said: “We have no proposals for congestion charging in Sheffield. What we are trying to do is strike a balance between the needs of motorists, cyclists, pedestrians and bus passengers

 

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/business/congestion-charges-plan-opposed-in-sheffield-1-5937878

 

In order words, the Lib Dems mulled it over for other large cities, mentioning no names.

 

Someone thought "ooh, Sheffield is a large city"

 

Next thing its on the front page of The Star "Sheffield to get congestion charge".

 

Nothing more than a rumour but it sells more papers.

[dawny1970]

All electric cars by 2040, looks like there are going to be lots of dead electric cars on IRR due to the amount of time waiting on lights lol

[metalman]

What you need is a recharging point built into every set of traffic lights. Then while you were sat at each one you could plug in for a bit. Would be better if it was a Tesla-type contactless energy transfer, but at least you'd never be far away from one in Sheffield.

[L00b]

All electric cars by 2040, looks like there are going to be lots of dead electric cars on IRR due to the amount of time waiting on lights lol

Err...you do realise that, when it is stopped, an electric car does not use any electricity, right?

 

Other than any headlights/stop lights/car radio/heater/etc. that may be switched on, it does not 'idle' like a combustion-engined car.

 

No pressing the go pedal = no using any juice.

[WallBuilder]

The stop start might not be apreciated by some drivers who want to get from A to B as quickly as possible and sod everyone else wanting to use the road. I assume the lights allow traffic to merge on to the road or allow pedestrians to cross or holds traffic back so you don't get a lot of vehicles trying to use the same junction at the same time a bit further on. It is odd though that no-one wants to just accept the fact that a great many of our roads are reaching capacity and so in effect will at times resemble a car park, after all try driving on the N25 at times, it's horrible or look at the plans to convert hard shoulders into travel lanes I assume that is because the number of vehicles has and is increasing

[dawny1970]

Like you said, radio heater, lights all use juice even when not moving!!