I'm reeling in shock after reading a story that
Obnoxio has picked up on, because finally my suspcions have been proven, in black and white, in the
Telegraph. What will the green lobby make of
this one?
The move will allow authorities across the country are set to introduce "green wave" schemes.A motorist approaching the first traffic light at the speed limit or just below would trigger a succession of green lights and travel down the road faster.
The schemes are already in use in cities including Amsterdam and Copenhagen, the scheme use sensors in the road to keep the traffic moving.The introduction of "green waves" will help to cut carbon emissions and traffic noise.
All sounds good so far, right? But then it gets interesting:
Up until now the Department for Transport discouraged such schemes, increasing motorists' frustration at being met by a succession of red lights.
It was because the Government feared motorists who were travelling smoothly, rather than stopping and starting, would use less fuel and pay less to the Treasury in duty as a result.
What the
FUCK? So this was
official CENTRAL government policy? I always thought it was local government doing it to increase support for a congestion charge. Same thing really, I suppose.
I cannot believe that the government has the temerity to have such a recommendation in place. Nothing could be clearer proof that the govenrment are just intent on fucking the motorist up the arse. And they even get the green lobby and militant-wing cyclists' approval and support with most of their schemes.
Fuck me, I'm angry now. Bristol City Council has some of the most blatantly rigged traffic lights I've ever come across, and now we know the official reason. A shining turd of an example is
these bastard lights on Redcliffe Way approaching the Temple Circus Gyratory. You'll notice there are two individually traffic-light-controlled lanes - the left-hand lane is a bus lane, and the right-hand lane is for normal traffic. Traffic lights that let traffic through constantly (as there's no marked pedestrian crossing there) until a bus arrives where it's given priority - good idea right?
Wrong. These traffic lights don't work on proximity sensors but a
fixed timer that just swaps between the two lanes, regardless of whether there's actually a bus or taxi waiting in the bus lane or not. Often, you'll be sat there on a red, whilst the next set of lights along are green, allowing no cars through. Also, in rush hours, the timings change - during the day (when the google car was there) they are pretty much a "green wave" with the lights
further down the road. But during rush hours, it's completely the opposite. The lights on the roundabout stay green, but the ones just behind will go red, but (and this is the key) the lights for next exit along do not change, so they are sat there waiting for nobody to go through. It's a fucking joke, and couldn't possibly be designed in such a poor way
unless it was deliberate.
Exactly the same system operates at the
lights on the roundabout at J2 of the M32, where they'll go green, but you can't go anywhere because the
lights round to the left on Muller Road are still red, and the traffic backs up onto the roundabout.
I'm determined to get hold of Bristol City Council's
SCOOT configuration to see if I can confirm my suspicions.
A fiver says nothing changes though.
