Misery in store for town motorists
Monday 8th March 2010, 10:42AM GMT.
Motorists face more traffic misery in Shrewsbury as another set of temporary traffic lights is due to be installed in the town.
Shropshire Council will today start work to replace the old pedestrian crossing in Monkmoor Road with a toucan crossing.
As well as improving the reliability of the traffic signals it is hoped that the crossing will improve pedestrian and cycling links in this area of the town.
In order to minimise disruption the council will be carrying out minor footpath and cycleway improvement works in the area around the crossing.
Work is expected to take two weeks, with temporary traffic signals in operation between 9.30am and 4.30pm.
Martin Taylor-Smith, Shropshire Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning and transportation, said: “We would like to apologise for any inconvenience these essential works may cause.
“We appreciate this is a busy road and have co-ordinated the works to ensure the temporary traffic signals are only during off peak daytime hours.
“This new crossing will make it easier for both pedestrians and cyclists to cross this busy road.”
Miles Kenny, councillor for Underdale, added: “This is a difficult area for cyclists as the busy Monkmoor Road cuts across a route frequently used by them. The toucan crossing should make things much easier and safer for the many cyclists trying to cross Monkmoor Road.”
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Misery? Really??? The Samaritans are only a phone call away: 08457 90 90 90. If it’s not that bad then cheer yourself up with a bar of chocolate.
This is like the headline last week re. Coton Hill road works “causing” huge queues. Looked at another way it’s the VEHICLES that cause the queues. No traffic, no queue. The answer is not to make so many journeys – carshare, cycle, bus etc. Fewer cars mean less need for traffic lights, fewer pedestrian crossings, smaller queues. Everybody wins.
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It’s strange almost everytime I approach this sort of traffic lights, there’s somebody who has activated the light process and then walked across 7 seconds later when there’s a convenient break in the traffic, meanwhile 15 seconds later you find yourself stopped by a red light and no pedestrian to be seen. And don’t get me on the subject of cyclists using these crossings! I saw one on Friday activate the lights cycle halfway across and then turn right onto the carriageway the other side of the crossing, blood temperature 98 degrees and rising…
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re absent pedestrians.the lights are set to give traffic priority over pedestrians – after a five minute wait they oblige you by stopping the traffic.therefore if you are inconvenianced as a motorist remember the poor s*d having to wait in the rain for you to pass!
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Some ped. crossings in Shrewsbury take for ever to change when there is traffic, they only change when there’s a significant gap, at which point I can cross safely without the assistance. I’ve certainly found this the case on Shelton Road & Welshpool Road.
Simon, you ought to try cycling in town traffic to see the other side of the story. Or maybe get anger management for the few seconds you lost.
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Certainly no anger management required, just some observation by pedestrians to look further than just two vehicles. As for cycling, been there, done it, I did however heed the Highway Code, you know, stopping at red traffic lights, complying with one way streets…that sort of thing…
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There will always be idiots on the road as elsewhere, it’s an unfortunate fact of life. As the Highway Code states, we are obliged to take the (possible) actions of those more vulnerable road users into consideration, despite their apparent foolishness.
There is a myth being perpetuated in the papers and car forums that “most cyclists” (aka Lycra Louts) flout the law. It’s not true, but queuing drivers have time to notice the transgressors and label all cyclists as such. I agree it’s wrong and won’t condone it, but don’t get me started on the number of car/van drivers who do the same or worse… with potentially far worse consequences.
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I quite agree ‘misery’ is too strong of a word to use, inconvenience maybe but surely not misery. Anyone who suffers true misery or anger over something like this needs to readjust.
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Lifes to short people. Get over it..
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