Bristol's mayor George Ferguson backs rush-hour lorry ban

HGVs aren't precisely the problem. HGVs are few and far between when it comes to traffic attacks in towns and city centres.

The problem is vehicles. Commuters who drive in to work. People who are too lazy or think themselves above to use public transport, or cycle or walk.

Inner cities have no room for traffic. See some common sense.

Mr Ferguson should have a look at the state of the road surfaces and the 'show case' bus routes first!!!
What's the point in bus lanes that have car parking allowed in them making it impossible for buses to use?!
Plus the new bus stops that stick out into the road are ridiculous - there's not even enough room for a cyclist to get past!

Please sign my Government E-Petition to get House of Commons to debate a law of "Presumed Liability" in the event of a road traffic incident. E-Petitions require 100,000 signatures before the matter is even considered.........This means that the petition must go viral to achieve this in twelve months.

This is a cheap and, I believe, effective way to get those responsible for hazardous vehicles to really understand their responsibilities, change heir attitudes and act more responsibly.

Please read the petition, sign and pass on to all contacts.

Link - http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/57804

Safe and Happy Cycling
Peter

Hey pirate, road changes are happening. Remember when Queenss Square was a dual carriageway and harbourside was a glorified roundabout? Good point on the resurfacing though.

Dear George,

Bristol is a brilliant city to ride around & HGV's aren't the issue.
Yes, a rush hour ban would help reduce incidents BUT resurfacing & re-thinking road layout would revolutionise the cities cycling & make everyone happy!

So i suggest limitation on HGV's i.e size at rush hour
& prepare the city for the cycling is preaches...

Quote:

in which he criticised supermarket operators for using articulated lorries to deliver supplies to small stores throughout the city

Spot on - and it's not just a cycling issue, it's a pedestrian and a traffic one too. Too often the locations of these stores have no dedicated loading bay, so the vehicles are simply pulled up outside on the street while they're unloaded, reducing visibility and increasing the danger to pedestrians trying to cross the road. It also creates further congestion, holding other vehicles up while they have to wait for a gap in oncoming traffic to pass.

His suggestion about transferring to smaller vehicles can be done, but no doubt there'll be plenty of bleating from the companies about why it can't.

Common sense, delivering on roads clear of buses and cars just has to be easier.

The angry part in me sometimes wonders if an accidental cull of a few MP's by motorists all subsequently fined £60.00 and told to be "more careful next time" would bring the reality of it all home to them.

However, back in the real world I find myself signing yet another petition for them to politely applaud and quickly ignore.

Watched a very lively debate between the government and opposition today about the fuel price rises in the UK and all of them were falling over themselves to be seen to be tackling the 'monstrous greed' and 'shocking gameplaying' engaged by the big 6.

Contrast that to the difficulty we get simply asking government to protect us from a myriad of danger on the public highways. The greater public aren't interested in it so irrespective of the morality we need our MPs to take an interest in we find ourselves marginalised and widely ignored.

Quite how slavery was abolished is beyond me, that must have been one heck of a touchy subject with the majority when the minority moaned...yet it was changed, led of course by one great visionary with a backbone and great moral fibre.

Seemingly these are rare attributes in todays twitter fed facebook loving myspace .com instagram me now look at my selfie with a voters baby hungry MP.

If human beings are more important than making money, then ban them. The health and safety of Londoners is surely Mayor Boris's responsibility. If he was managing in another job, and six people died, he'd be in trouble.

It's almost like a them and us situation. You can bet, if members of parliament were dieing at the same rate as the hoi polloi they'd do something about it as quick as you like!