Don't ride in groups or we will be stopped cycling completely.

[Dogtrousers]

On the subject of traffic levels, Chris Boardman tweeted figures from China showing post lockdown public transport use plummeted (compared with pre) and private car use shot up. Something to be prepared for.

I know that I don't plan to take the train into work if/when restrictions are listed. I however will be going by bike . Many won't.


View: https://twitter.com/Chris_Boardman/status/1252209945908518913

 

[matticus]

Just back from a ride with Mrs D;

Sign on the gate to a field of horses made me laugh; 'Cyclists! Stay 2m away from this gate, Covid 19 social distance rules'. For one I didn't know the rules included inanimate objects and secondly, was it ok for non-cyclists to get up close and personal with the gate?

Less funny was the punishment pass for not being on the shared use path and there definitely seemed to be quite a bit more traffic about.

Did the gate look heavy? You could move it 2m away, that would resolve everyone's concerns.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Did the gate look heavy? You could move it 2m away, that would resolve everyone's concerns.

Daughter told me a story the other day, it was on Fecesbook so bound to be true, a farmer was filming people opening & closing one of his farm gates that was on a Public Footpath or Bridleway, he was livid as none of them were using anything to open the gate other than bare hands, only the occasional one would use a gloved hand, or part of their clothing to do it. So whether that was what the person who put the sign up was ranting about.

 

[Dave Davenport]

No footpath or anything, just a locked gate on a field.

 

[roubaixtuesday]

Yes traffic does appear to be getting heavier.

I feel the same, but I wonder if it's just perception. Data on traffic levels is presented at the daily press conferences and doesn't seem to show much trend.

https://www.gov.uk/government/colle...ts-to-accompany-coronavirus-press-conferences

 

[Deleted member 26715]

No footpath or anything, just a locked gate on a field.

Is it favourite spot for other riders to stop & lean against the fence to have a drink or 'something' think I'd be wearing gloves to open field gates if the public can get to them, I have go through a few whilst out riding & always make sure I use a gloved hand, or if in fingerless only use the palm.

I feel the same, but I wonder if it's just perception. Data on traffic levels is presented at the daily press conferences and doesn't seem to show much trend.

Does that not confirm there is an increase? It ticks up at the end.

 

[PK99]

.
Does that not confirm there is an increase? It ticks up at the end.

No, it shows a stable pattern. That is not an up tick at the end, it is the end of the weekend.

Midweek road use is ~40%. Weekends and the Easter break road use show ~25%

There may by slight discernable up-trend over the weeks, but that could be down to legitimate reasons eg essential workers commuting by car rather than public transport, increased supermarket and other on-line shopping, increased Deliveroo etc

 

[Low Gear Guy]

I feel the same, but I wonder if it's just perception. Data on traffic levels is presented at the daily press conferences and doesn't seem to show much trend.

https://www.gov.uk/government/colle...ts-to-accompany-coronavirus-press-conferences

View attachment 517284

The top line shows total traffic steady or up where the TFL bus distance is down. This implies that car journeys are up. These journeys are probably on different roads to the buses.
The question is where are people going if workplaces and schools are closed.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

The question is where are people going if workplaces and schools are closed.

Lots of places are still working, son is still going in 5 days a week

 

[Drago]

Many workplaces are still open. It's only restaurants and certain retail establishments that the government have ordered closed.

Daughter #3 is an accountant, and she's making serious lolly out of the upsurge in work for them. Shes pulling 16, 17 hour days, 6 days a week, as are her colleagues, and they still can't keep pace with demand. She reckons shes on target to triple her income this year, and she was hardly a pauper beforehand.

 

[SkipdiverJohn]

Been over in Epsom area today. Road traffic substantially, and I mean substantially, higher than yesterday. Yesterday seemed marginally higher than Tuesday. Seen a lot more riders about than yesterday as well. M25 also noticeably busier than yesterday. Still quiet by normal chaos traffic levels, but every day its gradually building up again. The lockdown is clearly on borrowed time as more and more people are taking to the roads to go about whatever activity they want to do. I'll give it two weeks before it becomes totally unenforceable.

 

[figbat]

I live very near the A34 - the uptick in traffic (and hence the associated noise) has been noted by many of the villagers along with anecdotal increases in journey times to work etc.

 

[Mike_P]

Traffic was bound to go up when the government said it was okay to travel short distances by car to exercise. Within a hour of that my neighbours were out in their car with their dog despite being plenty of local walking routes. There will also be those who bulk bought who are now running out of odd things each day. I suspect the period of hardly any traffic was in part due to those bulk buyers not having to go out and was to some extent artificial.

 

[Aussie Rider in London]

Seems Box Hill is completely closed off - has anyone been around there recently that can confirm?

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Confirmed today in the briefing 2-3% higher in the last week