Forum Topic

Rat-running

The new antirat-running measures have led to a massive increase in rat-running up our road in Grove Park. Classic example of law of unintended consequences.

James Tickell ● 2266d41 Comments

It sounds more like a classic example of LBH not knowing what they are doing. Which road is yours ?

Richard Greenhough ● 2266d

I'm astonished by the reported numbers using Hartington Road as a rat-run. I often walk down there en-route to Dukes Meadows, and rarely see more than one or two cars. Is rat-running restricted to a small time-window in the day?

Robert Fish ● 2266d

The traffic volumes were measured in November 2019. There were of course particularly busy times of day. The closure of Hammersmith Bridge had made things much worse with long queues of traffic heading to the A316 along Hartington Road.Since the pandemic struck traffic volumes have much reduced but residents living on Hartington Road may like to comment on their current experience.Would it not be sensible for fresh data to be collected before most of these traffic management measures are introduced? Experts fear "Carmageddon" but where is the evidence.The new school streets are a sensible idea and should be implemented. Head Teachers and Governors agree,

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2266d

I am repeating the new thread I have just posted - it should have gone here originally I think so ..."Thank you to our 3 Riverside Councillors for taking up the cudgels on behalf of we the beleaguered residents of Grove Park & S ot G.    Renamed South Chiswick by Hounslow Council - that's presumably because they have split us into 2 separate areas in order to prevent the eastern end of GP to access and leave via Strand on the Green and visa versa.Anyway I wish our local Councillors every good luck and hope they can negotiate a sensible solution to the mad road closures due to be foisted upon us here.  Heavy good vehicles can be prohibited from entering if over a certain weight with signs at all entry points.  Also rush hour traffic can be prevented with signs and cameras too which will obviate the need to close roads to residents.Thank you Cllrs Hearn, Gilles, and Denniss." The full story is on the front page here.  I also agree with your comments about rat running being  restricted to a small time-window in the day and that's M-F. 

Jennifer Selig ● 2266d

Watching cars doing 40mph+  along Grove Park Terrace. Racing past the school or tearing round past the shops / heading to Sutton Court Road. Steve Curran needs to come and see what his ‘traffic experts’ have created before some kids get hurt. He said ‘we’re not idiots’. I’m not convinced.

Russell Pearson ● 2266d

I tell you what these Clowns have not got any Panache thats for sure.

Mick Collins ● 2266d

What these morons never seem to understand is that traffic is like water, block it one place and it will find another way through. Roads surely are meant for traffic. Merely saying you are going to bring in all these measures such as access only and planters etc. in an effort  to encourage people onto bikes is just going to displace that traffic so someone else gets it instead, as we know only too well in Isleworth. And it isn't rat running - these roads are alternative routes or filter roads no-one who uses them is doing anything illegal, so is not a rat.

Vanessa Smith ● 2266d

Has someone blocked your favourite rat-run Vanessa?

Rob Reynolds ● 2265d

That ship sailed some years ago - and it wasn't a rat run and had nothing to do with any other kind of rodents. What I do find infuriating is that all this closing of roads and pinch points, access only nonsense, is being done and Covid used as the excuse, no consultation, no care for any inconvenience for people who are trying to get to work, pay their council tax, and vote.Highways are for vehicles - simples, and you cannot remove them from one area and expect them to evaporate into thin air, it just doesn't happen, they find another route, what's so difficult to understand about that?

Vanessa Smith ● 2265d

You need to look further than Steve Curran.  This comes ultimately from Govt and the funding comes from Govt.  The fact is that there are always some selfish morons who insist on speeding whenever there is any space.  Isn't there a 20mph limit which the majority of drivers adhere to?  The sooner that the fines go out to these drivers the better - or even better still take them right off the road altogether before they take other people as well as themselves off it.

Philippa Bond ● 2265d

Well, in that case how about cyclists having to, a) Use a cycle path where one is provided, b) Always have and use a bell, c) Cycle with consideration at a reasonable speed where they share spaces with pedestirans?As for the farcical 20.m.p.h.limit, these are only enforced on main roads with heavier traffic flows, no-one's interested in bothering with small residential roads, because there's no money to be made there.

Vanessa Smith ● 2265d

"This comes ultimately from Govt and the funding comes from Govt." Whilst this is true, in London it is down to TfL to approve the schemes that will be funded. Hounslow Council does not have to implement flawed schemes if it does not want to. 

Cllr Sam Hearn ● 2265d

b) and c) fine. a) no, because cycle paths aren't always the safest way to cycle.

Andrew Jones ● 2265d

Exactly Cllr Hearn and well said !

Loraine Pemberton ● 2265d

https://road.cc/content/buyers-guide/12-best-bicycle-bells-get-you-heard-road-224430

Philippa Bond ● 2265d

TfL Govt's scapegoat.

Philippa Bond ● 2265d

Agree with that - TFL holding The Mayor to ransom, as a condition for funding - part of Bozza's plan to take power away from London's representative. It's O.K. when the Mayor is a Tory but not if they are Labour - pathetic and vindictive and also typical.

Vanessa Smith ● 2265d

Cyclists should never need to use a bell, if approaching someone from behind they should take appropriate avoiding action - or dismount and walk past.

Vivienne Cox ● 2265d

If you were in a car and a pedestrian or other road user looked like they were going to walk in front of you, one of the things you’d probably do is sound your horn to warn of your presence - doesn’t give you carte Blanche to carry on regardless but I doubt you’d say a car driver shouldn’t sound their horn. There are plenty of unaware pedestrians- I’ve been guilty myself of not paying attention - and as a cycle is quieter than a car, it makes sense to be able to indicate your presence to pedestrians you think are about to walk into your path.What a cycle bell shouldn’t be is a ‘get out of my way signal’ because you don’t want to lose momentum.

Andrew Jones ● 2265d

But Vivienne has a point. All too often pavement, or river path, cyclists come up behind pedestrians and pass within inches, even where there's enough space to leave a couple of yards. Why?

Robert Fish ● 2265d

'Cyclists should never need to use a bell, if approaching someone from behind they should take appropriate avoiding action - or dismount and walk past.'Well, what they should do and what they do in reality are poles apart!

Vanessa Smith ● 2265d

Agree but doubt many of these bullies on bikes ever read this forum - oh, wait a minute ....!

Jennifer Selig ● 2264d

I have been cycling at a reasonable speed along the road when I have seen a pedestrian about to step out into the carriageway, and have used my bell to warn them of my approach. What do you suggest - that I shout at them ?

Richard Greenhough ● 2264d

I imagine Vivienne was referring to cyclists on pavements, shared paths, etc, not roads.

Robert Fish ● 2264d

"cyclists come up behind pedestrians and pass within inches, even where there's enough space to leave a couple of yards. Why?"Err - because they are morons?

Steve Taylor ● 2264d

Oh but they do Jennifer one in particular who shoves his beer laden belly into his lycra shorts like a kangaroo loading up her joeys...he must be on a cycling trip somewhere

Mick Collins ● 2264d

Yes, I mean shared places and, also, pedestrians might try to keep to one side or the other rather than wander aimlessly in the middle.

Vivienne Cox ● 2264d

Sorry, are you saying pedestrians shouldn't use the centre of a pavement or path?

Micki Hawkes ● 2264d

"pedestrians might try to keep to one side or the other rather than wander aimlessly in the middle."Pedestrians have every right to walk in the middle of a path and most would courteously move to the side when when approached by a pedestrian coming the other way, more so now with Covid-19. It is common decency. Cyclists have a legal duty to steer well clear of pedestrians so that their vapours and sweats don't put others at risk.

Steve Taylor ● 2264d

"Err - because they are morons?"Takes one to know one.

Richard Greenhough ● 2264d

😉🤣😉🤣

Loraine Pemberton ● 2264d

The cyclist has a better chance of steering well clear if the pedestrian isn't in the middle of the path.

Robert Fish ● 2264d

You do wonder if the powers that be that have come up with all these LTNs that mix cyclists and pedestrians have really thought this through, at least with cars you know they drive on the road.

Vanessa Smith ● 2264d

I wonder who that is Mick 😉

Loraine Pemberton ● 2264d

Surely the relevant point is that cyclists should NOT be using pavements, especially now when vehicles on roads are vastly reduced

Loraine Pemberton ● 2264d

Cyclists should not be on pavements unless  signage says otherwise

Loraine Pemberton ● 2264d

"The cyclist has a better chance of steering well clear if the pedestrian isn't in the middle of the path."Diddums - then the cyclist must learn to cycle!!

Steve Taylor ● 2264d

Welcome back little Dickie

Steve Taylor ● 2264d

gIVE IT TIME - SOON THERE WON'T BE ANY CARS ON ANY ROADS!  sORRY DIDn't notice caps lock - yet again.

Jennifer Selig ● 2264d

Indeed he is. Wondered where you'd been, Silly Steve. Sadly, wherever it was, it still hasn't taught you manners or common sense.

Richard Greenhough ● 2264d

Oh dear! The new anti-rat measures haven't stopped Dickie Greentrough from stalking and trolling the cyberspace of W4.

Steve Taylor ● 2263d