The woman who stops traffic

dirk_van_gently

http://www.channel4.com/lifestyle/green/woman_stops_traffic/series.html

This may have been postrd elsewhere, but thought it was very much of interest to commuters

mailmannz

The solution to getting people out of cars is quite simple. Increase frequency and reliability of public transport, make it affordable and, quite importantly, make it safe!

Of course local councils could afford thiis simply be diverting funds from translation services and human rights activities!

Oh, and dont forget to close off high streets and central city blocks so that you HAVE to walk.

Mailman

don_don

Well, I have to say I'm gobsmacked at how successful the Marlow experiment was

Doesn't look like things are going to be so easy in Boston though... :roll:

mm1

Great TV, though shallower than the Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall "eating happy chickens in Axminster" experiment. I bet that Marlow was as conjested as ever once the camera crews had departed (in their 4 wheel drives), anyone local care to update?

I don't drive at all and don't commute by bike (get the train or work at home), but have ridden to Cambridge from Huntingdon on a few occassions recently. Mostly ok until you get to within 3-4 miles of the city centre, when nothing moves at all. The first time I saw this (nearlly 10 years after leaving London) I was shocked...it's complete madness, but hundreds (thousands?) of peope seem to think it's acceptable to sit in stationary traffic for hours on end - you would think that some would realise that medieval street plans and motor cars don't mix? The funniest bit of trying top pick my way through the traffic into the city was the woman walking her dog who shouted at me to ride on the pavement...that was a first!

karl j

Yes great TV

Above all i really admire this woman (forgot her name now) for sticking to the task. I'm pretty sure if i'd been met with the same attitudes from councils / locals / gobby mothers on the school-run i'd have told the whole lot to go F00k themselves, and let them carry on sitting in the sh1tty congested traffic, while i whizzed past on my bike (in fact i might even have had a couple extra whizzes up & down to take the pi.... er, make the point)

But it proved what can be done with just a little effort all round, and it got across the fact that it does need to be effort "all round", not just other people.

(can anyone update on the current situation, once the cameras left ?)

alfablue

mailmannz wrote:

The solution to getting people out of cars is quite simple. Increase frequency and reliability of public transport, make it affordable and, quite importantly, make it safe!

Of course local councils could afford thiis simply be diverting funds from translation services and human rights activities!

Oh, and dont forget to close off high streets and central city blocks so that you HAVE to walk.

Mailman

I agree, I would add that I think congestion is necessary to make other forms of transport more attractive, make it less congested and the attraction of driving increases. So whilst enhancing public transport simultaneously squeeze the amount of road available to cars.

amircp

Not sure that it is always about better public transport. We've got a fine service where I live but plenty don't use it. It is more about changing attitudes - most people do not see the big picture.

alfablue

I agree that it is about attitude change, the way to change attitude is not to plea to the reasonable side of motorists, suggesting they could act altrusitically to save the planet, but to make public transport many times more attractive to use (on cost, comfort and efficiency) than private car travel (cost, comfort, efficiency).

This would take public subsidy, revised road policy (cease road expansion except for that dedicated to public or non-private car forms of transport) and tax.

Haynes

Seemed to suggest that a lot of motorists were quite inflammed by the request not to drive, like its a major infringement of their civil liberty and that the presenter represented an interfering dictatorial nanny state rather than an individual putting forward a common sense proposal.

Interesting too that venimous hatred, as illustrated by the email refering to running cyclists over in a challenger tank.

The reality of the programme maybe quesitonable but its a worthy attempt to illustrate the point about the senslessness of taking the car on a 1 mile journey.

BentMikey

That was awesome, I just finished watching the programme!! I take my hat off to Kris, well done.

prj45

Haynes wrote:

Seemed to suggest that a lot of motorists were quite inflammed by the request not to drive

It is quite scary.

I would love to get to speak to one of these rabid pro car types to try and work out their motivation. Its like even the thought of OTHER people riding cycles makes them a bit murderous.

You see a similar sort of reaction when diet people of the TV ask people who stick to chips and burgers to try a salad, sometimes the look of violence int he persons eyes is quite astounding.

karl j

Just finished watching it again (and the brilliantly funny Shameless that was on after, the wonders of dvd recorders eh)

Fascinating - there must be enough material there to keep psychologists busy for years. There just seemed to be so much resentment, almost a willingness for it all to fail. And for what reason ?
I was quite struck by the scene of a meeting with some local (councillors? - a middle-aged+ male bunch, whoever they were) where she was trying to arrange advertising for the event, when one of them mumbled out the line "you won't get it because the Town Council are very picky and choosy about posters on the side of the road"

Whilst at the same time, presumably, it's ok for the same road to be chocked full of traffic and the town to grind to a halt.

But, obviously i've missed the point somewhere

alfablue

People are always ready with "you can;y do that" for me it is like a red rag to a bull when I hear that!

This woman persisted against the apparent odds and turned "can't do" into "will do" - fabulous!

prj45

karl j wrote:

Fascinating - there must be enough material there to keep psychologists busy for years.

I'm thinking now how I'd react if I was told that I couldn't ride my bike on the roads.

I'm pretty sure I'd get very militant about it actually.

I wouldn't mind so much if I got told I couldn't drive my car on the roads at certain times, or had to pay to do so.

Parkey

Grrrr!

Why do I always find out about these programs after they've been on, and why is there never a repeat?!

Does anybody know if there's a torrent of this available?

Eat My Dust

alfablue wrote:

People are always ready with "you can;y do that" for me it is like a red rag to a bull when I hear that!

This woman persisted against the apparent odds and turned "can't do" into "will do" - fabulous!

I particularly liked the bit with the mums(at least they showed up to the meeting) who were saying that because of all the cars around the school it was too dangerous for their kids to walk/cycle. Nealry all of the cars belonged to.........them!!!

Bassjunkieuk

I did watch this as I was actually quite surprised how well the no car day went! It really did look like a quite village rather then a car park! I can't say I'm surprised by most of the drivers suggestions that you actually don't use the car - most of them seemed to think she was taking some god given right away from them tho!

I think the worst comment (asides from the hideous challenger tank e-mail) was the person who asked if they'd get a refund on their insurance and road tax for the day they didn't use their car! I guess this person drives everywhere to make the most of those "charges".

Looks like we're in for a few of these, as going by the end of the show she's moving to Britains fattest town next week - lets just see how successful she is there as the teaser's didn't look very promising!!

alfablue

C4 does have the 4 on Demand service, you may be able to view the programme this way.

Better Transport: Jess

That was a really inspiring show. Particularly the bit where hundreds of cyclists took to the streets!

Showed that people will choose to get out of their cars if they have good information and decent alternatives (bike lanes, pedestrian crossings, reliable public transport).

Bassjunkieuk

It sorta reminded of the Hovis Freewheel from last year when I saw all the people on their bikes! It's amazing how much fun it can be when you have the no (or in this case very few) cars on the road at the same time and instead loads of other cyclists!

Just a shame I don't see it becoming the norm :-(

bornagainbiker

Would she have gotten the same result if it had been raining or was a bit nippy?

It seemed like a very mild Feb day didn't it.

I had alot of respect for the mum who was most vocal at the meeting as to why they couldn't/wouldn't do it and then had a complete change of view and was well up for the task.

niblue

It was an interesting program - I was surprised how well the day went in the end, and did wonder just how much of that was down to the presence of the cameras.

The Sustrans girl came over really well and clearly knew what she was doing including how to respond to the various objectors.

neilwragg

Thanks for your comments, myself and the owner of the local bike shop started a campaign over a year ago to get some safer cycling routes in Marlow (there is one cycle route in the town and it is actually 2 metres long, no joke!). Then a tv production company turned up shortly after and came up with an idea.
There were a lot of people that did all the donkey work on the program behind the scenes. The 'Car Free Day'was decided on by the program and then they gave the town's residents about 10 days to organise it!
In fact we got 200 cyclists to participate in a mass bike ride through the town centre which didnt get much airing but was brilliant to see, especially with just a few days notice, we even got TImmy Mallett involved woohoo! The council havent done much since but we have constantly applied pressure to get them to act. In fact we have a public consultation leaflet coming out this month highlighting our proposed cycle routes to the schools and town centre so hopefully we will get something but it takes ages, a year to get to a leaflet!
Any help advice is welcome, I created the website for the program http://www.changegearforaday.comand got loads of abuse because people thought it was the council telling them what to do and ranted and raved. When they found out it was me (a dad, mountain biker, resident etc etc) and just a few other people who just cared enough to do something once the program makers had landed this on our laps, they went quiet!
As for the town reverting back to normal, yep. But it certainly has altered people's automatic thought of getting in the car without thinking, 'is there an alternative' or 'will walking take any longer'?
When I take my son to school we use the tandem. The day after the program was aired I saw a neighbour actually walking her son to school, she has always used the car before then.

Parkey

alfablue wrote:

C4 does have the 4 on Demand service, you may be able to view the programme this way.

It is indeed available on 4oD and I've just watched it. Thanks for the pointer!

Best point of it I thought was that it wasn't "anti-car", just about pointing out the bleedin' obvious about how pointless most short car journeys are.

BentMikey

Yes, I really liked how it wasn't anti-car at all. That's very good IMO, because it's less confrontational and extremist, and because the car is still a necessary part of life for many people. Just less necessary than most people imagine, as put forward in the programme!

The only bit that worries me was the mention of cycle lanes. I'm pretty against cycle lanes because I don't think they promote cycling, and they reduce safety for cyclists:

http://www.londonskaters.com/cycling/sa ... -lanes.htm

neilwragg

pretty against cycle lanes because I don't think they promote cycling, and they reduce safety for cyclists:

You should try cycling your 6 year old to school every morning in Marlow! I'm in the middle of the road on a tandem with traffic either side trying to make right turns and cross busy roads.
I know what you mean though about cycle lanes, I'm not after cycle lanes for confident, speedy commuters, I'm one of those and am happy to use any road but I want ones in the town that avoid cycling on the roads for the mums, the young kids and also, for show, ie: while you sit there in traffic jam in your car (a regular occurance in Marlow) if you see a clear cycle lane on a road or shared one on a pavement you might have a ponder.....[/quote]

Parkey

I think the best, safest cycle route is on the road, on quieter roads. Find a quieter route to make the same journey. Read cyclecraft, and/or get some cycle training.

As for cycle facilities, quiet roads can be made out of busy roads by installing bollards. :P

BentMikey

neilwragg wrote:

pretty against cycle lanes because I don't think they promote cycling, and they reduce safety for cyclists:

You should try cycling your 6 year old to school every morning in Marlow! I'm in the middle of the road on a tandem with traffic either side trying to make right turns and cross busy roads.
I know what you mean though about cycle lanes, I'm not after cycle lanes for confident, speedy commuters, I'm one of those and am happy to use any road but I want ones in the town that avoid cycling on the roads for the mums, the young kids and also, for show, ie: while you sit there in traffic jam in your car (a regular occurance in Marlow) if you see a clear cycle lane on a road or shared one on a pavement you might have a ponder.....

To be fair, I've taken my then 4y/o in Central London on a tag-along quite a few times, which is essentially a tandem, plus done a load of riding in Beckenham and Bromley with him. I was quite worried before the first time I did this, but it's actually easier and safer than going solo on the bike. It's not an argument for cycle lanes.

If cycle lanes create danger for me, why would I want to expose my kid to one?

dirk_van_gently

I have only just got around to watching this, but what an exellent program. It really showed what can be done with just a little effort.

I did find many parts hilarious too, like the Chamber of Commerce leader who walked out of the meeting without really knowing what it was about. The idiot who wanted a Road Tax refund for the day they would not be using the car, and the female driver of an immense "Chelsea Tractor" who accused Ms Murrins of "abusing her" because she was asked could she not use her car for a day.

Thankfully it didn't come over "anti-car", or "tree hugging eco-warrior", just clear information that there is a better way.

karl j

Parkey wrote:

I think the best, safest cycle route is on the road, on quieter roads. Find a quieter route to make the same journey...

that was one point she made in the programme, when discussing cycling with kids to school and her own experience of doing it in central London. I think her exact words were something like "find a quieter route / back roads and be careful"

Dirk, didn't that Chamber of Commerce bloke leave saying he thought the meeting was going to be about transport, and then his mate piped up and said he was concerned about planning issues. Which all sort of confused me.

alfablue

karl j wrote:

Parkey wrote:

I think the best, safest cycle route is on the road, on quieter roads. Find a quieter route to make the same journey...

that was one point she made in the programme, when discussing cycling with kids to school and her own experience of doing it in central London. I think her exact words were something like "find a quieter route / back roads and be careful"

Yes, it's stunningly simple and obvious, but some don't want to hear that.

Dirk, didn't that Chamber of Commerce bloke leave saying he thought the meeting was going to be about transport, and then his mate piped up and said he was concerned about planning issues. Which all sort of confused me.

I think they were just making excuses for him, probably just afraid that the retailers would suffer with a reduction in traffic (bizarrely), I think they were just trying to make excuses for him.