The build up of traffic approaching the roundabout at the bottom of Kirkdale is often ridiculous.
Why can traffic lights not be installed there?
traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
That would make it worse. The roundabout isn't the problem. The amount of cars is.
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Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
i think i recall they were going to be installed there as part of the Sydenham Road improvements.
ho hummm
ho hummm
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
It is too many cars and very bad driving. Entering the roundabout the vehicles from West Hill have priority over those from Kirkdale.
Problem often is that these cars the insist on driving on and blocking the roundabout even though traffic ahead at a standstill.
Traffic from Kirkdale cannot then turn right which includes 3 bus routes.
I wonder how many of these incompetants have ever taken a UK driving test.
Cannot see lights would assist. What we need is for people to OBEY the law, and show consideration to others . Something that is sadly lacking in todays society
Problem often is that these cars the insist on driving on and blocking the roundabout even though traffic ahead at a standstill.
Traffic from Kirkdale cannot then turn right which includes 3 bus routes.
I wonder how many of these incompetants have ever taken a UK driving test.
Cannot see lights would assist. What we need is for people to OBEY the law, and show consideration to others . Something that is sadly lacking in todays society
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Traffic lights were included in an early version of the Sydenham Road plan. It then reverted to a roundabout as the traffic model showed they were no improvement. Of course what we end up with ...
The problem is the exit over the bridge blocks. Traffic lights can only control entry to the junction, not exit. The advantage of a roundabout is that even when it is blocked two wheeled vehicles can filter through rather than contributing to the jam.
My wicked plan is to put a toll gate on the bridge. That'll sort it
Stuart
The problem is the exit over the bridge blocks. Traffic lights can only control entry to the junction, not exit. The advantage of a roundabout is that even when it is blocked two wheeled vehicles can filter through rather than contributing to the jam.
My wicked plan is to put a toll gate on the bridge. That'll sort it
Stuart
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Yellow box junctions after each exit enforced by cameras and hefty fines would sort it.
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
I don't see what difference yellow boxes would do at this junction. The problem is exiting down Sydenham Road. Holding them back just makes it worse. The problem is rarely blocking on the roundabout itself. The problem is getting a quart into a pint pots.
Unless you can increase the flow down Sydenham Road its just going back up. When they put in extra lights and an extra sequence for pedestrians at Newlands Park junction it may be a lot worse.
Stuart
Unless you can increase the flow down Sydenham Road its just going back up. When they put in extra lights and an extra sequence for pedestrians at Newlands Park junction it may be a lot worse.
Stuart
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
I find the problem is that without properly timed traffic lights, you simply can't get out of Kirkdale unless you barge your way in. Personally, I think traffic lights would be much better but, Oh for a rusty old Land Rover, or a chariot with spikes on the wheels ... or a policeman on a box wearing white gloves.
What I end up doing when driving down Kirkdale is dog legging it down Jew's Walk, so that I can approach Cobb's Corner from Westwood Hill.
What I end up doing when driving down Kirkdale is dog legging it down Jew's Walk, so that I can approach Cobb's Corner from Westwood Hill.
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Putting traffic lights there will do very little if not nothing at peak periods. It cannot increase the flow of traffic. Whereas traffic lights will impede traffic flow for the other 20 hours a day making it worse overall.
Tackling car use at peak periods is the most obvious if difficult solution. We could start with the parents who are killing their kids by driving them to school. Yes I know that's a bit provocative but how else can you get people to think through the implications of their behaviour?
If you have to travel at rush hour - have you thought about making it easier for yourself and others by walking or using a bike/scooter/bus?
Stuart
Tackling car use at peak periods is the most obvious if difficult solution. We could start with the parents who are killing their kids by driving them to school. Yes I know that's a bit provocative but how else can you get people to think through the implications of their behaviour?
If you have to travel at rush hour - have you thought about making it easier for yourself and others by walking or using a bike/scooter/bus?
Stuart
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Have you been on a bus lately during the school run? I've travelled more comfortably crammed into the back of a flat-bed truck in Africa. (It was much cleaner too!)
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Buses not great in hours when school children are occupying the bus but still better than blocking the roads with more cars.
Ideally children should go to a school 1 mile or less from their home and they can WALK.
Not sure what this has got to do with the infamous roundabout but as usual topics deviate from the original subject.
How about making the main road from the roundabout to The Dolphin bus only. This could help to also bring a cafe culture to the coffee shops etc where the intelligentsia of Sydenham can discuss the finer point of life etc.
Ideally children should go to a school 1 mile or less from their home and they can WALK.
Not sure what this has got to do with the infamous roundabout but as usual topics deviate from the original subject.
How about making the main road from the roundabout to The Dolphin bus only. This could help to also bring a cafe culture to the coffee shops etc where the intelligentsia of Sydenham can discuss the finer point of life etc.
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Eagle - luv it. Always thought we should have one of those chess-board-drop-in parlours too, though probably not a paying proposition, tsk.
Seriously though, traffic only backs up when it can't progress (stating the obvious). I'm sure we've all tried to take short cuts to get one step ahead in the queue, but that all that's happened - i.e. in real terms it doesn't change the number of vehicles trying to progress, just puts them in a slightly different order. I'm not sure sure how traffic lights would help Kirkdale "exiters" as there's nothing more infuriating than waiting ages for a green light, then cannot progress, then it turns red again. That to me would induce traffic light road rage of the 'n'th order (i.e make me feel even more frustrated).
Cars used for school runs and beyond won't magically disappear, because it might take two-buses-and-a-long-walk to get to school; the relatively ludicrous amount of books and sports kit kids are meant to carry (so not even bike-able with that lot) or being dropped off and parent continuing on his/her own way to another location. Besides which, as all vehicles have equal right to road space, if people don't like school run traffic, why not set off earlier or later to avoid it? Something not possible for delivery and collection of offspring to/from school.
Seriously though, traffic only backs up when it can't progress (stating the obvious). I'm sure we've all tried to take short cuts to get one step ahead in the queue, but that all that's happened - i.e. in real terms it doesn't change the number of vehicles trying to progress, just puts them in a slightly different order. I'm not sure sure how traffic lights would help Kirkdale "exiters" as there's nothing more infuriating than waiting ages for a green light, then cannot progress, then it turns red again. That to me would induce traffic light road rage of the 'n'th order (i.e make me feel even more frustrated).
Cars used for school runs and beyond won't magically disappear, because it might take two-buses-and-a-long-walk to get to school; the relatively ludicrous amount of books and sports kit kids are meant to carry (so not even bike-able with that lot) or being dropped off and parent continuing on his/her own way to another location. Besides which, as all vehicles have equal right to road space, if people don't like school run traffic, why not set off earlier or later to avoid it? Something not possible for delivery and collection of offspring to/from school.
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
My daughter goes to school in Steatham. She has a 10 minute walk to the bus stop, takes two buses and has a further short walk to school. The school has no lockers so she carries everything, including on some days both her PE kit and trumpet. It takes her an hour. I could drive her there in 20 minutes, but I don't, on principal. Am I a bad parent or a good citizen, or both?
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Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Good parent but could you not have found a closer school. Cannot believe there is not one closer.
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Have you been through secondary school applications recently, Eagle? I suspect not - if you had, you wouldn't be asking me that question. Our local secondary school (Sydenham) is heavily oversubscribed. It's the lucky few who don't have a commute to school, especially when you factor in that it can be hard to get a direct bus route to many places in South London from Sydenham / Forest Hill.
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
My sincere apologies.
If your child lived near Sydenham School should have priority. Many young ladies you see boaring buses for long journies.
If you live in SE26 then your child should have got a place.
If your child lived near Sydenham School should have priority. Many young ladies you see boaring buses for long journies.
If you live in SE26 then your child should have got a place.
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
That's a whole other thread, Eagle. To be fair, I think secondary school children have always been expected to travel somewhat to school. I know I did in the 1980s.
I'll say no more, to let the thread get back to the original subject,
I'll say no more, to let the thread get back to the original subject,
Re: traffic lights at kirkdale roundabout
Hi. This should probably be a new thread. It's another traffic light query.
Today, whilst crossing on foot at the lights to the Co-op from the bakers on the corner, the "Green Man" displayed on the Co-op side of the road and a car shot past. The green man disappeared very quickly indeed.
I wonder if the lights are out of phase for pedestrians there - i.e. the car could have gone through a red light showing to him I suppose but that wouldn't explain why the pedestrian green man was displayed so briefly that if you'd blinked, you'd have missed it, or if you saw it it would have been bad news to rely on it as two us almost did. Any knowledge on those lights please?
Apologies and back on the Kirkdale roundabout....
Today, whilst crossing on foot at the lights to the Co-op from the bakers on the corner, the "Green Man" displayed on the Co-op side of the road and a car shot past. The green man disappeared very quickly indeed.
I wonder if the lights are out of phase for pedestrians there - i.e. the car could have gone through a red light showing to him I suppose but that wouldn't explain why the pedestrian green man was displayed so briefly that if you'd blinked, you'd have missed it, or if you saw it it would have been bad news to rely on it as two us almost did. Any knowledge on those lights please?
Apologies and back on the Kirkdale roundabout....