Traffic Census

[Steve Jones]

The electronic scanning posts needed to start charging traffic coming into Leeds are already in place. They were fitted last year.You can see one set on Haigh road at rothwell just before the famous "Jawbones". I know because I pass them on the way too and from work each day.They are the large poles with purple lights on.They will be able to clock each car going through.I know other sets were erected at the same time last year.

[raveydavey]

chameleon wrote: raveydavey wrote: They are out today on the A64 York Road inbound near the Old Red Lion (and the census takers cars were all illegally parked up near the pub, causing more congestion / disruption...) and on Barwick Road near the Church Lane junction.As has been said, you are legally required to stop if ordered to do so by the constabulary, but you are not obliged to co-operate with the nosey civil servant in the hi-viz who has held you up in a traffic jam for 30 minutes, to quiz where you may be going on a major aerterial route in the morning rush hour... Yes, at one of the most dangerous parts of the A64 in the area, on the brow of a blind hill with the road changing from single to dual carriage way and vise-versa, cars trying to make what are very awkward and dangerous right turns at the best of times. A spot so bad, it has warranted the need for not one but three saftey cameras over a quarter mile stretch.Let's hope more thought goes into the interpretation of the results than the forethought which went into choosing this location.     I couldn't agree more. But aren't there now 4 cameras on that section (two each way)? It must be incredibly dangerous to warrant four cameras, especially the two that are positions at the last available / first available overtaking opportunity between there and the A1 (depending which way you are travelling). chameleon wrote: electricaldave wrote: Hmmph, the only purpose is to find out if road charging in Leeds is viable - they've committed to doing the studies some time ago. I suspect that what ever we are told, that you are correct.One suggestion is to follow the regime operated elsewhere with one charge for crossing over the outer ring road and a second charge when traversing the inner ringroad. That could prove to be an expensive journey from the outer areas to go just accross the road to Tesco... or taking children to school.... or even a visit to the quacks for many! In the current climate, any political party publically stating they will introduce such charges will be committing electoral suicide.It was (in my opinion) the zeal of the then incumbent Labour adminstration to bring in the charges that resulted in them losing seats and us ending up with the present coalition. Public transport is a monopolistic disgrace, with one company runing far too many of the buses in Leeds and being able to charge what the heck they like as a result. If (for example) road charging was set at £5.00 a day do you think the buses would get any cheaper? Would they heck!

[chameleon]

Steve Jones wrote: The electronic scanning posts needed to start charging traffic coming into Leeds are already in place. They were fitted last year.You can see one set on Haigh road at rothwell just before the famous "Jawbones". I know because I pass them on the way too and from work each day.They are the large poles with purple lights on.They will be able to clock each car going through.I know other sets were erected at the same time last year. Leeds University received significant funding to research this Steve, the gantries for the number plate recognition systems sprung up around the southern approaches to Leeds.It will come. There will be more public transport, it might not be better, I'm sure it will be dearer but, like so many things these days, it is likely to be the few relied upon by the many, who make the representations against such a stratergy, but all will feel the effects and often restrictions this could bring.

[sundowner]

chameleon wrote: Steve Jones wrote: The electronic scanning posts needed to start charging traffic coming into Leeds are already in place. They were fitted last year.You can see one set on Haigh road at rothwell just before the famous "Jawbones". I know because I pass them on the way too and from work each day.They are the large poles with purple lights on.They will be able to clock each car going through.I know other sets were erected at the same time last year. Leeds University received significant funding to research this Steve, the gantries for the number plate recognition systems sprung up around the southern approaches to Leeds.It will come. There will be more public transport, it might not be better, I'm sure it will be dearer but, like so many things these days, it is likely to be the few relied upon by the many, who make the representations against such a stratergy, but all will feel the effects and often restrictions this could bring. Lets hope they stop charging for parking in Leeds if not it will cost a fortune to travel into Leeds then park. I for one dont go into Leeds as often has i used to one reason is parking charges.York has got the right idea with there park and ride free parking and a good bus service. I would think if Leeds dont go along the same lines they will loose out with visitors going else where.Iknow Leeds has park and ride for the Christmas rush they will have make them a permanent fixture.

[LS1]

raveydavey wrote: chameleon wrote: raveydavey wrote: They are out today on the A64 York Road inbound near the Old Red Lion (and the census takers cars were all illegally parked up near the pub, causing more congestion / disruption...) and on Barwick Road near the Church Lane junction.As has been said, you are legally required to stop if ordered to do so by the constabulary, but you are not obliged to co-operate with the nosey civil servant in the hi-viz who has held you up in a traffic jam for 30 minutes, to quiz where you may be going on a major aerterial route in the morning rush hour... Yes, at one of the most dangerous parts of the A64 in the area, on the brow of a blind hill with the road changing from single to dual carriage way and vise-versa, cars trying to make what are very awkward and dangerous right turns at the best of times. A spot so bad, it has warranted the need for not one but three saftey cameras over a quarter mile stretch.Let's hope more thought goes into the interpretation of the results than the forethought which went into choosing this location.     I couldn't agree more. But aren't there now 4 cameras on that section (two each way)? It must be incredibly dangerous to warrant four cameras, especially the two that are positions at the last available / first available overtaking opportunity between there and the A1 (depending which way you are travelling). chameleon wrote: electricaldave wrote: Hmmph, the only purpose is to find out if road charging in Leeds is viable - they've committed to doing the studies some time ago. I suspect that what ever we are told, that you are correct.One suggestion is to follow the regime operated elsewhere with one charge for crossing over the outer ring road and a second charge when traversing the inner ringroad. That could prove to be an expensive journey from the outer areas to go just accross the road to Tesco... or taking children to school.... or even a visit to the quacks for many! In the current climate, any political party publically stating they will introduce such charges will be committing electoral suicide.It was (in my opinion) the zeal of the then incumbent Labour adminstration to bring in the charges that resulted in them losing seats and us ending up with the present coalition. Public transport is a monopolistic disgrace, with one company runing far too many of the buses in Leeds and being able to charge what the heck they like as a result. If (for example) road charging was set at £5.00 a day do you think the buses would get any cheaper? Would they heck! Ravey, you make a good point about the A64 and the A1 and there being nowhere to overtake. I know it's a bit off topic but this serves to highlight how rubbish our road system really is. If we were in America for example the freeway system would have a nice dual carriageway connecting the roads together. The problem we have is though that England is so old that many roads originate from dirt tracks, cities were often built round theses and there is nowhere to expand. A64 from Leeds to Scarbrough is terrible, you feel like your getting somewhere only all of a sudden to feed into a single lane carriageway where you can be stuck for ages behing a long line of traffic with no way to overtake.

[LS1]

Whatever happened to those gantries that were down near Thwaite Mills, on Low Road i think they were. Last time I went there they had disappeared???

[chameleon]

LS1 wrote: Whatever happened to those gantries that were down near Thwaite Mills, on Low Road i think they were. Last time I went there they had disappeared??? Those will be the ones I referred to yesterday, used for early 'research'. But then, by the time it's in, who knows what technology will bring forth in the future for tracking us all - probably all have to have an RFID chip implanted like our cat!    

[LS1]

chameleon wrote: LS1 wrote: Whatever happened to those gantries that were down near Thwaite Mills, on Low Road i think they were. Last time I went there they had disappeared??? Those will be the ones I referred to yesterday, used for early 'research'. But then, by the time it's in, who knows what technology will bring forth in the future for tracking us all - probably all have to have an RFID chip implanted like our cat!     Yeah but they're not there anymore

[60081 50B]

LS1 wrote: chameleon wrote: LS1 wrote: Whatever happened to those gantries that were down near Thwaite Mills, on Low Road i think they were. Last time I went there they had disappeared??? Those will be the ones I referred to yesterday, used for early 'research'. But then, by the time it's in, who knows what technology will bring forth in the future for tracking us all - probably all have to have an RFID chip implanted like our cat!     Yeah but they're not there anymore I can confirm that the gantries are no longer over Low RoadOn a separate point: Stage 7 of Leeds Inner Ring Road opened this week - the carriage way towards Leeds on Monday 13.10.2006 - and the carriage way away from Leeds today Saturday 18.10.2008 - both carriage ways cross Hunslet Road on a viaduct - the Southbound carriage way links directly into the M621

[Steve Jones]

I was wrong about the gantries still being on Haigh Road , they have been removed so I apologise for misleading people.Must be because I am usually half awke going past that I hadn't noticed they were gone<LOL>!