Gelderd Road.....Dangerous?????

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Tue 03 Nov, 2009 12:50 am

Its interesting that you bring this up, as a bus driver who travels up and down this stretch of road on a regular basis I have to agree with what is said in this thread.Interestingly though, the two fatalities that have happened in recent times, whilst being due to excess speed, have only involved a single motor vehicle and not been due to closing speeds in the three lane section.Personally I think the more dangerous section of this road is closer to town where it is single lane in both directions with a large area of hatching in between, the number of times I have seen people overtake slower vehicles on the hatching, in both directions, leading to some very near misses is more often than I can count - this section of road is crying out for some traffic islands.The second most dangerous section is passing the travellers sites at the bottom of the hill when heading away from Leeds, there is a short section here that is two lanes wide when Gildersome bound but becomes single lane as you approach the left hand bend at St Bernards mill (as was). The number of drivers who think this is continued as two lanes all the way round the bend and up the hill is frightening, with many trying to overtake more vehicles than is possible or commencing to overtake just as it becomes a single lane again.Thirdly, the left hand bend half way down from Gildersome towards leeds often catches people out, apart from the fact I often come round this corner to find an overtaking vehicle coming up the hill, straddling the white line between his lane and mine - there is an area immediatly after the bend where there is an uneven road surface and natural seepage of the water table in the middle of the road, leading to a wet surface all year round.This is ok when its raining but when the weather is fine this sudden damp patch, coupled with the kick of the uneven road catches many a speeding motorist out if they are not careful.I notice that, at long last, the remaining eyesore that was St Bernards mill remains has been cleared and re-development is taking place. I have no idea what is planned for the site but if it is housing then perhaps this will lead to a speed reduction on this stretch or even a speed camera in either direction.On a slight aside to the topic -When I first became a bus driver one of my first trips on my own was on a route that came down Geldard Rd, I was driving a Dennis arrow double decker and these were well known for being able to get a shift on.They were also notorious for their soft suspension and tended to roll and wallow like an artic trawler in a force ten.I had a fair load on as I hit St Bernards at around 45 miles an hour and as i took the right hander I was convinced I was going over and we were going to end up on our side in the farm house at the bottom, of course we held the road like we were on rails but it wiped the smile off my face and certainly quietened the passengers down - they say the best way to learn is on the job and I certainly learned a thing or two that day LOL

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Tue 03 Nov, 2009 3:24 pm

BIG N wrote: Its interesting that you bring this up, as a bus driver who travels up and down this stretch of road on a regular basis I have to agree with what is said in this thread.Interestingly though, the two fatalities that have happened in recent times, whilst being due to excess speed, have only involved a single motor vehicle and not been due to closing speeds in the three lane section.Personally I think the more dangerous section of this road is closer to town where it is single lane in both directions with a large area of hatching in between, the number of times I have seen people overtake slower vehicles on the hatching, in both directions, leading to some very near misses is more often than I can count - this section of road is crying out for some traffic islands.The second most dangerous section is passing the travellers sites at the bottom of the hill when heading away from Leeds, there is a short section here that is two lanes wide when Gildersome bound but becomes single lane as you approach the left hand bend at St Bernards mill (as was). The number of drivers who think this is continued as two lanes all the way round the bend and up the hill is frightening, with many trying to overtake more vehicles than is possible or commencing to overtake just as it becomes a single lane again.Thirdly, the left hand bend half way down from Gildersome towards leeds often catches people out, apart from the fact I often come round this corner to find an overtaking vehicle coming up the hill, straddling the white line between his lane and mine - there is an area immediatly after the bend where there is an uneven road surface and natural seepage of the water table in the middle of the road, leading to a wet surface all year round.This is ok when its raining but when the weather is fine this sudden damp patch, coupled with the kick of the uneven road catches many a speeding motorist out if they are not careful.I notice that, at long last, the remaining eyesore that was St Bernards mill remains has been cleared and re-development is taking place. I have no idea what is planned for the site but if it is housing then perhaps this will lead to a speed reduction on this stretch or even a speed camera in either direction.On a slight aside to the topic -When I first became a bus driver one of my first trips on my own was on a route that came down Geldard Rd, I was driving a Dennis arrow double decker and these were well known for being able to get a shift on.They were also notorious for their soft suspension and tended to roll and wallow like an artic trawler in a force ten.I had a fair load on as I hit St Bernards at around 45 miles an hour and as i took the right hander I was convinced I was going over and we were going to end up on our side in the farm house at the bottom, of course we held the road like we were on rails but it wiped the smile off my face and certainly quietened the passengers down - they say the best way to learn is on the job and I certainly learned a thing or two that day LOL Hi Big N. As an ex LCT YR and Metro driver I'm glad we didn't have to drive down this road ,It sounds very hairy! I have driven down private and did not notice it was so bad.You certainly paint a great picture of it's shotcomings.

BIG N · Post by **BIG N** » Tue 03 Nov, 2009 9:44 pm

stutterdog wrote: Hi Big N. As an ex LCT YR and Metro driver I'm glad we didn't have to drive down this road ,It sounds very hairy! I have driven down private and did not notice it was so bad.You certainly paint a great picture of it's shotcomings. Nahh mate, but you guys have to put up with Dewsbury Rd and thats scarey enough, for entirely different reasons LOL

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Wed 04 Nov, 2009 11:02 am

BIG N wrote: stutterdog wrote: Hi Big N. As an ex LCT YR and Metro driver I'm glad we didn't have to drive down this road ,It sounds very hairy! I have driven down private and did not notice it was so bad.You certainly paint a great picture of it's shotcomings. Nahh mate, but you guys have to put up with Dewsbury Rd and thats scarey enough, for entirely different reasons LOL Well,I was lucky as I was Out of Bramley and so didn't do much mileage down Dewsbury Rd unless I was spare and got sent acroos to Middleton Grg.I do remember one or two scary moments on Stanningley Rd though.I was going down the dual carriageway nr Moorfield Rd heading to Leeds on the 83 Colton and the road was wet.I wasn't going very fast, maybe 15mph.I applied the brake as I approached the back of the queue of traffic.I had a full load plus 10 standers.The wheels locked and the bus started to slide and go slightly sideways! Luckily the outside lane wasn't as long as the one I was in so I took my foot off and manage to steer down the outside lane and the bus stopped! Some of the passengers were screaming mainly women.It certainly put the wind up me! I was driving one of those 5006 types I think it was an Olympian and it was fairly new.I seem to remember we had a bit of bother with these vehicles.They would rear up when brakes were applied and seem to pick up speed ,very scary.They didn't do it all the time but they could catch you out. I think it would be late 80's when we had these vehicles at Bramley.

Terrym · Post by **Terrym** » Tue 10 Nov, 2009 3:30 pm

Slightly off the original topic but I thought you would appreciate this little story.In the mid 70s I was working the famous WYPTE having transferred to Headingley from Bramley.One of our spare duties involved running a morning bus from Becketts Park through tto Hunslet, before going on to a school run and then taking the bus into Torre Road.Now the bus we used for this was a Torre Road bus, and on this particular icy morning myself and my conductor were given one of the single door atlanteans.Leaving Becketts Park terminus the road drops with a slight bend to the right at the bottom.Also at the bottom is a bus stop.Now with the roads like skating rinks I was driving nice and slow down the hill, but trying to stop was impossible at the bottom of the hill.As I got nearer to the bus stop I admit to panicking a bit because the bus was sliding towards the passengers, who numbered about 6 workmen, all with the woodbines puffing away.You would not believe that they all stood there as the bus slid directly past them, missing them by about 6 inches.I stopped a good few feet past the bus stop, opened the doors, and breathed a sigh of relief.The workmen sauntered up the side of the bus, got on, one said " I thought thee wern't gonna stop lad". Then just sat down as though it was a regular event to them.I sat there totally gobsmacked, my conductor was in fits of hysterics.

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Tue 10 Nov, 2009 5:10 pm

Terrym wrote: Slightly off the original topic but I thought you would appreciate this little story.In the mid 70s I was working the famous WYPTE having transferred to Headingley from Bramley.One of our spare duties involved running a morning bus from Becketts Park through tto Hunslet, before going on to a school run and then taking the bus into Torre Road.Now the bus we used for this was a Torre Road bus, and on this particular icy morning myself and my conductor were given one of the single door atlanteans.Leaving Becketts Park terminus the road drops with a slight bend to the right at the bottom.Also at the bottom is a bus stop.Now with the roads like skating rinks I was driving nice and slow down the hill, but trying to stop was impossible at the bottom of the hill.As I got nearer to the bus stop I admit to panicking a bit because the bus was sliding towards the passengers, who numbered about 6 workmen, all with the woodbines puffing away.You would not believe that they all stood there as the bus slid directly past them, missing them by about 6 inches.I stopped a good few feet past the bus stop, opened the doors, and breathed a sigh of relief.The workmen sauntered up the side of the bus, got on, one said " I thought thee wern't gonna stop lad". Then just sat down as though it was a regular event to them.I sat there totally gobsmacked, my conductor was in fits of hysterics.You've just summed up the average bus passenger! They have no idea whats going on most of the time. Where was the terminus at Becket Park? I dont recall driving or knowing much about this route. Also from a previous thread the garage manager when I started at Bramley was Sen.Insp.Hawkshaw

Terrym · Post by **Terrym** » Tue 10 Nov, 2009 7:57 pm

Hi,The Becketts Park terminus was at the top end of Spen Lane, I understand there is now a mini roundabout there.Inspector Hawkshaw was the father of Colin Hawkshaw who was a driver at Bramley.He and his wife were good friends of my parents, his wife lived in the same street as my parents before she married Colin, and she used to spend hours at our house with my sister.The senior inspector during my time at Bramley was Sam Clayton.

stutterdog · Post by **stutterdog** » Tue 10 Nov, 2009 9:15 pm

Terrym wrote: Hi,The Becketts Park terminus was at the top end of Spen Lane, I understand there is now a mini roundabout there.Inspector Hawkshaw was the father of Colin Hawkshaw who was a driver at Bramley.He and his wife were good friends of my parents, his wife lived in the same street as my parents before she married Colin, and she used to spend hours at our house with my sister.The senior inspector during my time at Bramley was Sam Clayton. I knew that Colin was the son of the Boss at Bramley. Colin was the first driver I went out with as a conductor.