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The
proposals are contained in a major report commissioned by the Government
to tackle one of the most congested stretches of road in the country.
More
than 185,000 vehicles use the M60 between Junctions 18 and 12 each
day. The proposals, which will now be considered by ministers, include
a fourth lane added between Junctions 15 and 13 and an M60 bypass
at Junction 12.
Is this the answer? Should we be building
new roads? Or providing better public transport to get people out
of their cars? If you're a commuter, tell us your drivetime experiences.
Have Your Say >>>
From
Mr J W Moran in Bolton/England
Extend the bus pass beyond the region or make it free as in wales!
From
Michael Millis in Kilmarnock
Cars worked when they first came out. Hardly any of them on the road
but now they don't. I don't drive and I still manage to get around
easily using a combination of walking, cycling and public transport.
Now many people complain about the buses not getting them into work
on time and indeed I too have been late many times but the fault is
not with the buses. Stuck in a traffic jam I look out the window and
what I see are two buses slightly ahead and one several cars behind
me. All over the whole road in both lanes are cars all with only one
person, the driver, in each. I think, pretty much all of these people
are going into town to work. I count the cars that I can see, around
20. If those twenty people went on a bus, which they could fit on
easily, this whole stretch of road would be clear apart from 3 buses,
or maybe a 4th one if the current 3 are already full. Now if this
was to happen all along the road the buses would just wizz past and
the journey into work would be cut down dramatically. When I was going
to college it used to take me about an hour to get there. When the
fuel crisis was going on a couple of years ago and there was hardly
a car on the road I got there in 20 minutes. Sometimes a car is essential
but most of the time it isn't. Before you go to drive think, do I
need to drive a car for this journey? The only way to cure conjestion,
accidents and global warming is to cut down on car usage, in particular
unessesery ones.
P.S One whole car (5 seater) per person is greedy. Could you not drive
your friends to work with you?
From
A Rigby in Leigh, Lancs
I get on the M60 at Worsley every day, driving from Leigh to Stockport.
Why is there no junction from the East Lancs to the M60 eastbound?
You have to turn right at that terrible junction where the right filter
is on green for about 5 seconds, and then it's about another 4 minutes
before green again. My journey to work regularly takes almost 2 hours
in the morning, yet if I start at 11am I can get there in 35 minutes.
The east lancs has the worst traffic, and the small road (don't know
what it's called) past the manchester marriott and 'the cock' pub
is so busy it takes half an hour to go the 1 mile. The M60 needs another
junction at the wast lancs. also when you do get on there you have
to get over 2 lanes which causes traffic problems in itself. also
3 lanes at least are required all the way round
From
Robert Illing in Manchester
I sincerely hope that the people of Manchester resist plans to Congestion
Charge their roads. Manchester is not London, and such a scheme would
further impoverish the poorer people of an already underpriveliged
region. It's about time motorists were given something in return for
the enormous punitive taxes they pay. Tax cars by the distance they
travel? We already do that when we pay extortionate fuel duty!
From
scott mills in manchester/england
I use the M60 every week day from Ashton to the M62, travelling
anticlock wise, then returning clockwise. I find, in general there
is a huge reluctance of drivers to use the inside lane. Even though
the inside lane does not become a filter lane at most of the junctions
the signage seems to suggest it is. Change the signs and get rid of
any inside-lane-becoming-filter junctions and you won't need another
lane. The signage is absolutely atrocious on most of the M60 actually.
Particularly heading towards the M62 east, there is just not enough
time to get into the right lane. This slows down traffic leaving the
M60 to the M602 and M62. The major problem with junctions 18 to 12
is the that some bright spark decided that it would be a good idea
to share the ring road with the country's busiest motorway (M62).
And just to completely throw a spanner in the works the traffic from
the M602 is forced onto the M60 at Worsley before any traffic can
leave to the M602 or M62. The mind boggles at how the planners came
to that solution. the M60 M62 M602 junction is where the worst bottleneck
occurs and this has a knock on effect back across the busiest stretch.
Absolutely astoundingly bad planning. What do we pay these people
for.!!
From
Andy in Phildelphia, USA
Im from Altrincham, now living in the Philly suburbs and working 35
miles away. I wouldnt dream of living that far away from my place
of work back in England, but unless its raining (not very often, but
Americans seem to forget how to drive in the rain) my morning commute
is a little over a half hour in my car. I take the turnpike for 20
miles, which is effectively a toll motorway, and it costs me $1.10.
3 Lanes, speed limit of 55 mph barely enforced, so traffic normally
easily flows between 70 & 80mph. Its funny, but little things help
move along the traffic. Constantly worrying about being pulled over
for going 72mph in the UK takes peoples concentration off driving
properly; undertaking is legal, and regularly done, you arent going
to be able to get rid of the idiots who cant drive, but at least you
can get round them; speed cameras (non-existant here) deliberately
placed, not for safety, but to make money cause awful traffic problems,
as people slam on their brakes to way below the speed limit; completely
under-used bus and cycle lanes which reduce the road space for existing
traffic. One idea which works really well here, is to enable you to
pass through a red traffic signal if you are turning right (equivalent
of making a left turn in the UK). Think about it - you're sat in traffic
at a set of lights, you want to turn left, as do many people infront
of you, there are no cars taking that route, you could go. If you
stop when you get to the light, look, and turn, there is no problem.
It really helps traffic flow here. And finally, if you must get stuck
in traffic, buy an automatic car (most here are), its so much easier!!!
From
Geoff in Bury
I work near Swinton but live [ my choice ] on the outskirts of Bury.
It can take me up to 90 minutes to get to Swinton normally, but only
25 minutes if the school holidays are on. Should we therefore not
have school buses running alongside motorways, thereby getting the
children to school that bit faster and easing the never ending congestion
on the main roads
From
Paul O'Sullivan in Manchester
For Anton in Chorlton: Being a business driver covering 50000 miles
per annum and taking into account the high level of duty paid on fuel,
I'd love to know exactly how you non-drivers are subsidising my travelling.
Moreover, I pay 40% tax on top of this and am taxed for the element
of the (compulsory) car use that is considered a business benefit.
I agree that we should have better public transport. I agree that
we all should pay for it. I don't agree with congestion charging and
I believe that there are too many people who use their cars unnecessarily
(school runs, shoppers, etc.). Despite the 2 mile, ten minute walk
to my local station in Oldham, I frequently travel by train into town
as I don't see the point in driving unnecessarily. More people really
need to ask themselves - must I make the trip by car or is there a
better way. What we certainly don't need is the kind of daft comment
you made about non-drivers. Besides, the myth that cars are the greatest
cause of pollutants in the atmosphere is ill-informed. But don't take
my word for it - do your own research
From
Andrew Smith, Manchester
To Ted in the UK Whereabouts in the UK. If you are in an area where
the trains run reliably and stop where you need them. Congratulations.
If I worked in central Manchester and had a job based in one office
I would happily use the trains. I can get a train into manchester
and walk to virtually any central location easily and cheaper than
by car. I hear your points and I agree. If I just had to carry a laptop
I may consider it. Its a bit different with a 100KG server and 17"
monitor though.......! I cycle in my spare time and it is not unusual
for me to cycle 30 miles in one trip. I could even cycle to a train
station and hop on with my bike. If the trains stopped at the stations
I needed. Which they don't. Add to this the distances involved when
I travel to customer sites and the image that must be portrayed when
visiting those sites and it soon becomes apparent that a car is a
necessity for me. If I could use public transport I would. There isn't
a train service that i can use easily. I live 5m mins walk from a
railway station. I work 5 mins walk from a station. Both these stations
are on the same railway line. Trains go through every 15 mins or so.
But even with connections there is no route between the two as trains
just don't stop at the stations involved. Until a system is developed
where the trains (and buses) are cheap, reliable and cover the entire
network of stations it will not be an alternative to driving. Further
to Paul O'sullivans points. I agree totally with the School Bus idea
and the third test idea for motorway driving sounds good. I am fed
up of people who believe they shouldn't be in the inside lane because
they are driving too fast for it.... On most motorways the outside
lane is forever braking and slowing down and the inside lane is totally
clear.
From
Martin Usher, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
I can't think why everyone wants to copy the US. Did anyone seriously
think that people here like to sit in traffic for hours just to go
shopping or go to work? We do it because we have to, not because its
fun. Planners made mistakes years ago -- road transport, big malls
and the like -- and we're paying big bucks to fix the problems caused
by them. M/Cr used to be small enough to get around by bus or bike
a few years ago. Its tiny compared to LA so develop solutions appropriate
for the size -- and use them. You can start by making public transportation
affordable, its a rip-off at the moment. (I always get "sticker shock"
at the prices you get gouged for stuff, its silly, things need to
be affordable, not priced just at breaking point all the time.)
From
Anton, Chorlton
I wont go on, but to expand roads without concentrating investment
on improving essential public transport services will only serve to
make our roads bussier, air more poluted, increase global warming,
divide our society into the have's and have not's. Destroy the earth
for our future generations, deplete fossil fuel stock, damage our
health through accidents and asthma etc.. etc.. We need cheap efficient
rail and bus systems to make this country work in the long term. Time
for those of us who don't drive to stop subsidising those who do.
From
Paul O'Sullivan in Manchester
Having read (and agreed with) many of the points on here, I thought
I would offer my suggestions to cut down the problem:
1 Set up a national School Bus Service (like America) with both a
driver and supervisor/matron that collects kids from their doorstep
and drops off the same. If you sat and calculated the cost of wasted
petrol/diesel burned whilst stationery (not to mention the environmental
effect) it would easily outweigh the cost at local/central government
level when they charge the taxpayer for the service.
2 If the government wishes to reduce drivers, instead of congestion
charging (discriminating against less affluent people) they should
consider a radicla change to driving tests. In addition to the existing
test (theory and driving) there should be a compulsory advanced driving/motorway
driving test before you can drive unaccompanied. This should also
be retaken every 5 years to ensure you are competent, which should
in itself remove the idiots and ensure that we all drive properly.
3 Congestion charging should be exempt for people who have to drive
as part of their work duties - i.e. not just Social, Domestic, Pleasure
& Commuting on their insurance. Insurance companies could supply a
disc like a tax disc to ensure this is enforced These three measures
would be simpler and easier to enforce and I would be the first in
the queue to pay my increase in council tax and driving retest fees
if it improved the state of the roads.
From
Ted in UK
To Andrew Smith: I do a 30 mile round trip every day, with a computer
system, without using a car, and its faster than by car. I cycle 2
miles to a main-line railway station, put the bike on the train, get
off at another main-line station, and cycle another 2 miles to work.
The train is usually on time, and the whole journey takes 40 minutes.
By car it varies but it's usually over an hour. The computer system
is a £3000 laptop. I've been doing this every day for more than 5
years, and have yet to be mugged.
From
Andrew Smith in Manchester
I live in Wigan and Work in Swinton (Manchester's 24 hour Car Park).
I have to travel to work in my car because I am a travelling IT technician
who needs to be able to get to anywhere in the British Isles at the
drop of a hat. This isn't possible on our public transport system
today. Normally it takes me 1 hour to do a 15 mile trip. I use the
M61 which is normally queueing to junction 5 at Westhoughton. The
traffic has no pattern, some morning's it is busy and others quiet.
It is always quieter during school holidays though. I agree with most
of the points already mentioned. Motorways at present cannot cope
with the demand that is placed on them. Cycling is not an option.
I don't fancy cycling to Yorkshire with a computer system on the back!!
Public Transport see previous comment. I would be mugged before getting
on the first bus. I used public transport today because my car is
off the road. Fortunately I was in the office, I paid £5.60 return
to sit on an overcrowded late train that didn't take me to the nearest
station to my office. The station is about 5 minutes walk from the
front door. I ended up being 25 minutes late and I had to ask a colleague
to come and collect me from Salford Crescent. How can people use Public
Transport when they don't go to the places people want to go to.....?
From
Babs in Reddish, Stockport
Some things people should remember before suggesting we all go
on public transport or 'get on our bikes':
1. some people are unable, physically, to use public transport
and bikes.
2. I am looking for a job after being made redundant and would
love to work close to home, but I will have to go where the work is,
which maybe anywhere round the M60.
3. it is not illegal to undertake someone on a motorway as
long as you do not exceed the speed limit
From
Rachael in Stockport
Alot of congestion would be eased if poeple would ues the OVERTAKING
lanes for OVERTAKING! How many lazy drivers are sat in the middle
lane, forcing people to pull out and go round them, because they may
have to change from the inside lane once in a while to avoid a filter
junction! Some parts of the M60 have 4 lanes, yet people still sit
one lane from the central reservation because they don't know how
to drive! In Europe they use the overhead message signs to say USE
INSIDE LANE UNLESS OVERTAKING. why can we not have this?
From
historyman
simple answer to all those of you who think there is such a thing
as a fast lane!! (read the highway code) REDUCE SPEED LIMITS TO 60MPH
then public transport is an excellent option also people who rush
to squeeze in front of you cause more knock on effects than anyone
else lower speeds are the answer
From
Steve, Stretford
Billions have been thrown at public transport, and even more billions
have been thrown at motorists over the last few decades, in an attempt
to reduce congestion, whereas cyclists have received a pitance in
comparison. Yet it's ironic that the only form of transport guaranteed
to get you from A-B quickly and on time is the bicycle. From reading
some of the previous comments, everyone seems to notice how much less
road congestion there is during school holidays, therefore, why not
spend the £109m M60 money on creating safe routes to ALL our schools
in Gtr M/cr., this will get most of our children walking/cycling to
school, instead of being driven. Our children would then get some
exercise, free from the danger and pollution from cars, and with less
traffic road congestion would be reduced at the same time. Maybe my
alternative is wrong, and the Highway Agency's M60 widening scheme
will drastically reduce congestion, but given their track record at
reducing congestion in M/cr, could they be making the same costly
mistake yet again.
From
Colin Reeves in Huill
Trouble is that the M62 - a long distance route, has been hijacked
as a commuter route M60 around Manchester. The trraffic flows need
to be segregated - probably by building a new M62 or M60 around the
north of Manchester (live in Hull, work in Birkenhead)
From
Mark in Bolton
The problems arise because people who live north and west of Manchester
commuting to the travel to work areas in South Manchester/North Cheshire
have to use the same stretch of the M60 as the traffic travelling
along the M62 between South East Lancashire and West Yorkshire. The
M62 needs to be joined between junction 12 at Eccles and Junction
13, thus bypassing this stretch of the M60. This could be achieved
by building one of those double decker motorways above the M60 like
we see in the US or perhaps extending the M602 to Junction 18.
All
the comments below were made before the proposals were announced,
as reactions to the report that the M60 had been named as one of
the country's top 12 traffic congestion blackspots.
From
NOT Dave James, Cheadle Hulme
Am I right in thinking that planning permission has been given to
build a Tesco supermarket on the banks of the Tame, right next to
J27 of the M60? If so, is this not THE single most stupid idea ever?!?
From
alan, Manchester
Planners - shoot them. Examples: 1. The Trafford Centre - you really
didn't have to be a genius to work out what problems it would cause
to M60 traffic. 2. A6 Bus Lane - traffic now queued back to Mancunian
Way at night and worse still to come. 3. Mancunian Way underpass -
who designed the Egerton Street layout ? 4. M60 Junction 18 roundabout
- pick a lane ! It doesn't matter how many times I go on it I still
can't work out where the lanes go. 5. Metrolink. Great idea. Why no
link to West Manchester to help ease Worsley problems. Fine that it's
going to Oldham. I commuted from Oldham to M/cr for 9 months last
year and 10 mile journey at 07.30 took 25 minutes and same at night.
I now live Astley and if I'm not out of the house by 07.00 there's
no way I can get through Boothstown / Worsley. 12 mile journey at
07.15 takes an hour at best. Work colleagues travel from Congleton
(34 miles) and beat me on travelling time. They want a guided bus-lane
down the East Lancs Road - why didn't they use the old railway track
and run metrolink down it. West Manchester needed metrolink.
From
ian moffett, macclesfield
Change the times that schools start in the mornings. Encourage parents
to let the children walk to school rarther than cadge a lift. Introduce
walking buses for school children.
From
Bob Singer in HESTON
we should all buy helicopters and fly to work
From
Nick Earle in Altrincham
Why do people draw different conclusions from different situations?
Most people say the bus is too slow therefore use the car. The car
is too slow therefore build more roads. When people move from bus
to car they make the buses slower. So don't buld more roads, build
more dedicated bus lanes. and I mean dedicated - with kerbs, not just
lines to separate them from the selfish car drivers who will block
them up.
From
leif väisänen in swinton, manchester
on roads such as the east lancs (A580) there should be a relef lane
and a bus lane, the relefe lane should only be used with cars carring
a passenger. a digital camera should be set up to enforce this and
offenders should be fined £60 for using the 2 lanesthe cycle lane
along the A580 needs improvements to it. an increase in school buses
should be brought in to the county where there would be a safe journey
of children, as a lot of the congestion is caused with mums taking
children to school in there cars. thats why i prefer to drive around
in the summer holiday because there is no school run traffic
From
Philllip Robinson in Dukinfield
I live in Dukinfield and visit Crime Lake often. If you flood
the M60 like Crime Lake has been flooded then you can use bowats to
work. It would be like a Manc Venice.
(Ed
- one of the more surreal ideas!)
From
Dave B in Cheadle Hulme
I think the sensible idea would be to rebuild and extend the A627(M)
to the M60, thus cutting the corner and improving transport links
the North-East. Also, how about finally finishing off the A555/A6(M)
idea - Manchester Airport keeps expanding yet the roads to the east
cannot cope with the sheer volume of traffic. Finally, how about building
a heavy rail line from somewhere near Paticroft to the Trafford Centre,
and offer a regular service into the City Centre? No-one likes having
to travel on that horrible bus through the evil wasteland known as
Stretford.
From
alex in Manchester
bring back school buses make kids walk the 4oo yards to school. problem
solved
From
Andy in Tyldesley, Manchester
The problem is on the anti clockwise section between J14 and 12.
At J14 you have the four lane M60 cut down to three lanes and then
merged with two lanes of the M61 all cut down into two lanes, with
traffic on the M60 wanting to pull over to the M62 lanes and traffic
joining the M60 at J13 (east Lancs Road) wanting to pull over out
of the M602 / M62 lanes. All of this happening in less than a mile.
Result? Chaos. Pure and simple. Solution? More lanes, especially for
people on M61 and M60 wanting to go onto the M602 / M62 so they don't
join and interrupt the flowing traffic. BUT, just go to the same place
during school holidays and there is barely half the traffic. Doesn't
that say something?
From
Vicky, Stockport
Thanks Barry Sutton from Runcorn! When the M6 was being built, advisors
from Germany & the USA were brought in. They advised 6 lanes each
way to cope with future demand. These advisors were paid a lot of
money & their advice was ignored. As a direct result we are now gridlocked
on the M60, M6, M1 - the list goes on. When are the government planners
& co finally going to get it right? Cutting costs in the present only
leads to escalated cost & inconvenience in the future. If the average
everyday person can see this why can't the people who run the country?
From
Barrie Sutton, Runcorn
Vicky from Stockport is right. Some thirty years ago it was obvious
three lanes each way was never going to suffice. So now they are looking
to increase the M6 & M1 by an extra lane in each direction. This shower
of politicians should 'GET A LIFE' and they say it will take ten years
to complete. They would be better putting a second motorway above
the existing one, with wagons and vans below and cars above. It would
be a far better use of space and not have to take too much extra land.
From
D. Hughes, newton le willows
apart from the excellent comments of dave james,i would like to add
the following_ widenig motorways causes more problems because the
exits are all on the left and as long as drivers are going to stay
in the outside lanes till the last minute,nothing will change.also
the government should look into how many people are actually crossing
in each direction between towns to do similar jobs,as on the m62 between
manchester&leeds.
From
Matthew in Wythenshawe
Easy solution, most cars run at an occupancy rate of 20%, ie 1
in 5 seats are filled. In the space that you can fit one car you can
get 3-4 motorbikes with potential for 6-8 spaces................
From
Phil L in Stockport
I have used the dismal public transport in and around Gtr Manchester
over the last 2 years. Frankly it's cheaper and quicker to get in
your car. Until this situation changes, we can look forward to busier
roads and longer journeys.
From
Reverend, Manchester
Better public transport will never suffice-it will never get anywhere
near the needs of the commuter/traveller.i'm afraid its more roads
time,if the situation is to be improved.
From
Dave Hampson in Urmston
An improved traffic information service would certainly help. If I
could look at views from the motorway cameras on the internet before
I started my journey I could adjust my route accordingly.
From
Joe Hague in Bury
One of the main problems on any motorway is the vast number of cars
which seem to hog the middle and fast lane whilst driving at a speed
which warrants them being in the slow lane. It is against the law
to undertake these people, therefore the queues arrive as everyone
believes to get anywhere these days, you have to be in the fast lane....SO
COME ON YOU SLOW DRIVERS AND MOVE OVER and leave the other lanes free
for people who want to drive at 60 and 70mph.
From
Sam in Oldham
I live in Oldham & work in Warrington, and know noone else who does
this route, so couldn't 'carshare' if I wanted to!! My journey can
take anything from 50mins to 3hours during rush hour, and less then
20 mins on a sat morning!
From
Vicky in Stockport
The completeion of the link road has made travelling to North Manchester
much quicker, however, people using it for the school run just block
it up. I live for the school holidays when my journey to work is reduced
from 1hr 10 mins to 40 mins! There is too much traffic & not enough
roads. If the government had a bit more foresight when building these
roads - motorways would have been made wider in the first place. I
don't think we should be paying tolls, we pay enough in road tax,
petrol tax etc and the roads all around Stockport are still in an
appaling condition - no wonder everyone uses the M60!
From
Ian in Manchester
To Ted from Stockport. The answer isn't to charge drivers for
every mile they travel, but to charge them a flat rate every time
they set out on a journey. If the rate was high enough, it would discourage
the short runs that are the most polluting and a major cause of congestion.
We should also get more people signed up to the Safe Routes to School
schemes which promote walking and cycling. I currently spend three
hours a day on the bus to and from work. If I had a car I could cut
that down to two, but they would be completely wasted because I couldn't
read whilst driving. (I'm late every day, but there's a simple answer
to that- I don't care because I get all the work done anyway.)
From
Bill Davies in Didsbury
Sue in Manchester's comments emphasise that many personal travel
choices are perhaps more emotional than rational. How we perceive
the image of a transport method is more important than any other aspect
for many people. Thus, while many drivers will pay a lot of money
to use a static exercise bike in a gym, they would not consider cycling
to work (getting fit at the same time) because they fear what colleagues
might think of them. Non-car methods of transport cannot compete with
the huge advertising budget of the motor industry, so I'm not sure
how the required cultural change could be effected. All I can do is
offer a personal counter-example, Sue: I own a car, but choose not
to use it to get to work.
From
Bob in Hazel Grove
The M60 has cut my journey times back to York by over 20 minutes,
but that is because I live in Hazel Grove and go nowhere near the
Trafford Centre or Barton Bridge anymore. Its also much quicker for
me to get to North Manchester towns such as Bury and Oldham. Ted from
Stockport says charge people for using the roads, has he forgotten
that we pay Road Tax, not to mention vast amounts of tax on every
litre of petrol, when is this money going to be used to improve both
roads and public transport ? He also mentioned the A6 bypass, when
oh when is it going to happen ? I live in Hazel Grove and for some
unknown reason the planners have allowed a large new Sainsbury store
to be built at one of the busiest junctions on the A6 and a Drive
thru MacDonalds near another, both of which involved putting in new
traffic lights which means the A6 through Hazel Grove is like a car
park all day. Strange how the IKEA development was blocked because
it might cause congestion - they obviously give money to the wrong
party.
From
Anonymous
Has anyone considered the reason Mum's buy 4x4's to take Jimmy
to school in is because of the number of crazy drivers who get away
with extremely poor driving? And that motorways are known to be the
safest type of road. Is there any wonder people use them in preference
to A roads where dodging idiots is enough to occupy all of a driver's
attention for the sake of their own and child's life. More police
required to take those who shouldn't have licences off the roads.
If people weren't so eager to "get there first", two lane motorway
stretches should present few problems.
From
D Hayes in Manchester
STOCKPORT - ALTRINCHAM 1 HOUR 15 MINS EVERY MORNING!
From
Sue in Manchester
the fact is once people own a car theres not a snowball in hells
chance of getting them to use the looser cruiser (bus), who wants
to be abused or listen to the foul mouth yobbos who use them.as for
cycling . who wants to turn up at work either sweating buckets or
drenched to the skin. get real Neil Taylor from leeds
From
Caroline in christchurch, New Zealand
Does everyone seem to have missed the point here. Public transport
in the whole of Great Britain is horrendous. Sydney is where you should
look for your answers on how to move millions of people effectively
(like during the Olympics) and at a reasonable cost - shouldn't Tony
Blair be talking to John Howard who knows how to run a government
funded transport network with the greatest of ease! Or perhaps those
who are sick of spending their life trying to get to and from work
should consider moving here to the South Island of New Zealand we
never have any traffic jams because there are so few of us here. A
traffic Report of the whole country takes 2 mins on the morning radio
show. Sheep do not drive cars.
From
Steve Sutherland in Little Hulton
I have worked in the Transport industry since leaving school 13 years
ago. Both in passenger transport and freight transport. Having worked
and driven in London over the course of those 13 years when I think
back to how London was and how it has progressed over the years, Manchester
City Centre and the M60 are now equivelant to how London and the M25
were just 7 or 8 years ago. With the current increase in traffic as
more people obtain driving licences i expect that within five years
Greater Manchester will be as if not more congested than London is
now. And it will get much worse before it gets better. Public transport
is the solution BUT being a bus driver I can see that at the moment
it's not a viable option for some people. More investment is needed
in services, the operators need to pay better wages to reduce staff
turnover, particularly bus operators, and above all the fares MUST
be cheaper. The biggest culprets for the congestion we all suff! er
on a daily basis? The school run!!!!!! A double deck bus can accomodate
90 passengers. Imagine a double deck bus on a school journey. 90 children
in the same vehicle at the same time. 90 cars not on the road between
8 and 9 am. A school with 450 pupils would need just 5 buses to serve
its requirements. Not to mention some children live within easy walking
distance of school yet parents insist on getting the car out (quite
often a people carrier or a 4x4) for a 10 minute journey. We all see
the difference on school holidays. So come on parents get the kids
on the bus or using some shoe leather like I had to. We appear to
have bread a society suffering from lazyitis!!!!
From
Andy Salmon in Salford
I live in Salford and am lucky enough to work locally. I do use the
M60 a bit and it always seems fairly horrendous. I do think we ought
to pay more when we use the car, either through road charges or through
higher fuel tax. I also would like to see much more investment in
public transport, including cheaper tram prices and a new tram line
from Eccles to Bolton. But most of all we need to encourage a culture
of much less unneceesary journeys - live near work, use local schools
and shops cycle and walk more. Some of this is about better public
investment but a lot of it is about sensible personal choices.
From
James Tabernor in Manchester
The number of times speed restrictions are inforced is about right.
They are just for the wrong reasons. I was on the M60 the other night
(as every night) and the weather was terrible, and yet the traffic
was allowed to dangerously proceed at full speed. However when there
is a man united match the restrictions are applied automatically independant
of the amount of traffic.
From
A chilled-out "old fogey"! in Tameside
I actually hate driving much farther than the boundaries of my
local area - the time it takes and the stress build-up it causes only
makes for a negative experience - so I avoid it whenever I can. Consequently
I've always seeked (& managed) to work & shop within 3 miles of home
- I can get everything I need or want more or less "on my own doorstep"
and consider myself very lucky to be so fortunate. I don't have any
kids, so don't contribute to the school run traffic-jams, and guess
what -I've never yet been to the Trafford Centre and don't care if
I never get there! Some people would say this makes me "a bit of a
loser", but then I'm not the one wasting my own valuable time (not
to mention money on petrol/diesel) just to queue in traffic, breathing
in other peoples car fumes and getting all stressed out! Those who
choose to do this are SURELY the losers!!
From
Neil Taylor in Leeds
Poor Sue Percar can't see that she is just as much the cause,
as a victim of her increased travel time. She clearly believes that
her 'Right to Drive' should take priority of any other road users
such as cyclists. Its a shame that driving has come so deeply ingrained
in our mentality that everyone decides to be stubbon and waits in
congested traffic, until others decide to use other transport means.
She doesn't seem to be able to see through the blame culture that
has emerged. If only she would accept that she is part of the problem.
Maybe then we could move forward and she could become part of the
solution and invest in two wheels. That way she could stop being so
selfish, and imposing her environmental and social costs on the rest
of society.
From
David jones, altincham
regarding the post from sue percar.ive done some research and concluded
that rush hour traffic pollution during school days for the houses
opposite altrincham golf course have increased by 20 fold since the
"green lane" was introduced.
From
PAUL, BOLTON
THE REASON WHY IT IS SLOWING DOWN IS BECAUSE OF THE LARGE AMOUNTS
OF TRAFFIC AND INADIQUATE ROADS. THERE IS A NEED TO REBUILD THE ROADS
MAKING THEM WIDER FOR MORE LANES AND AT THE JUNCTIONS HAVE A SEPORATE
LANE FOR WHICH THE PEOPLE COMING ONTO THE MOTORWAY, SHOULD STICK TO
FOR A CIRTAIN DISTANCE AND THEN MOVE LANES.
From
Stephen Voisey in Heaton Moor / Stockport
I'm afraid its no great surprise is it? And how people think that
councils and goverments can change it surprises me. We need to get
off our own arses and live differently, saying no to out of town developments
- and asking for inner town and city developments. Out of town shopping
malls such as the appalling trafford centre are a disease which we
have accepted as our new friend. I grew up in the countryside, and
it pains me to see it disappearing under concrete. We live on a small
island, and we need to change the way we live, if we are ever to preserve
anything worth living for.
From
Richard in Altrincham
I live in Altrincham and drive to Westhoughton daily, round the
M60 and M61. Time taken on a weekday morning, 35-45 minutes. Time
taken on way home, 45-90 minutes - nice. If people making shorter
journeys would use local roads instead of hopping on and off the M60
for 1 or 2 junctions, this would be improved (all you parents out
there on school trips, and before you complain, I have 2 kids, they
go to local schools in walking distance). I would happily take the
train, but there isn't one. I could use tram and train at 3 times
the cost and minimum journey time of 1 1/2 hours. I did use this method
whilst my car was off the road, I was late for work every day, and
had to use a bus on one occasion, as the trains were not running.
Public transport, yeah, right. Don't know what the solution is, but
tolls to stop local traffic (It is meant to be a RING ROAD!!!) might
be a start.
From
Mike Travis, Cheadle/Stockport/UK
For M60 read M25 colleagues from the South cant believe the traffic
problems we have around Manchester. It doesn't take a genius to see
that it is bad road layouts, the constant switching from 3 to 2 lanes,
badly planned junctions (too many to name) plus the fact that to access
most of the workplaces by the side on the motorway, there is no other
choice than the car.
From
Sue Percar, Manchester
I dont use the m60 much but what i do object to is the green cycle
lanes which trafford have introduced over the last few years . on
school days my journey to work is 40 mins now compared to 20 mins
before . this is due to 2 lane carriage ways being changed to 1 lane
plus a green cycle lane. ps ive yet to see anyone cycling on the green
lane on stockport road, altrincham.
From
Ted, Stockport
And it's going to get much much worse, especially if the proposed
new roads feeding into the M60, such as the Stockport Bypass, are
built. The solution is WARUC - Wide Area Road User Charging - motorists
should be billed for every mile of road they use, with tarrifs varying
according to place and time - just as happens with trains. And all
the money raised should go into developing, sustaining and subsidising
public transport.
From
Dave Grant, Roe Green, Worsley
I live in the middle of the worst possible part of the m60 Worsley
junction. Its either the east lancs (poor traffic lights and flow
into manchester??), overprotective mums and kids in cars (have they
heard of school bus??), people cutting from the east lancs to the
m60 (no junction) and local residents stuck in the middle of it. I
work in Timperley and for what in a non rush hour takes me 15mins
has taken 1hour. 40mins on a particularly **** day. Lets not forget
if it rains, which is most of the time, the whole world decides to
go to the Trafford centre at the weekend and it slows down even further
with out of towners. The trafford centre is a major contributing factor
and was a mistake, they should contribute financially to the solution..
It doesnt help when the mtorway goes into only 2 lanes b4 the foul
smelling ship canal bridge, how possibly did the trafford centre get
away with that. They should close it, the land it sits on is contaminated
and so is! the council who approved it. gggggrrrrrr!!!
From
Adam, Manchester
I live and work in the City Centre and often get comments from people.
"why do you live in the city centre?" People are shocked that anyone
would consider such a thing. So it makes me laugh when you hear the
same people moaning about the roads, trains etc. Happy Traffic Jams.
From
Bill Davies, Didsbury
I live in Didsbury and work in Salford. I've tried using the M60 to
get to work, but sitting in a traffic jam breathing exhaust fumes
doesn't appeal. I cycle to work instead - it's one transport alternative
that you don't have to wait for politicians to provide for you. Once
you're fit, most rush-hour journeys are quicker by bike than by car.
I appreciate that not eveyone can do this, but I'd imagine that a
good number of those short M60 hops could be replaced by a bike trip.
For example, I used to take my kids to nursery by car en route to
work, but now they're at the local school, we can walk there and I
can then cycle to work.
From
Steven Adams, Stretford, Manchester
I live in Stretford and work in Altrincham, so I get on the m60 at
jct 9 and leave at jct 8, and most days its congested. I would get
the Metro, but I don't want to have to get a second mortgage out to
afford it.
From
Dave James, Cheadle Hulme
I drive around the M60 from Jct 3 to Jct 12 each day. I live in Cheadle
Hulme and work about 100 metres from Clifton Station. I would consider
using the train if Clifton Station had a decent service (currently
2 trains a day stop there!) There have to be strategies for getting
cars off the roads.
1. No more out of town shopping centres. Revitalise the town centres.
2. Improve public transport. Make it cleaner, more reliable, safer,
cheaper.
3. Encourage employers not to congregate round the motorway junctions.
4. Cut down on the number of school runs.
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