Congestion R. 2

http://www.transportforleeds.com/About/effects

How is congestion affecting Leeds?
Congestion makes journey times longer and more unreliable. Queues and cancellations cause frustration and delays for commuters travelling to and from work.

Congestion can also create additional costs for businesses, which to operate efficiently need reliable delivery times and a workforce that is able to arrive on time.

Leeds - one of the UK's fastest growing cities
With almost a third of all jobs in the City Region located in the city itself, Leeds is one of the UK’s fastest growing cities.

Between 2000 and 2006, the number of rail passengers arriving at Leeds Station between 7.30am and 9am increased by 25%.

Traffic on our roads has grown at the same time and that growth has resulted in congestion becoming an increasing problem for car users and bus passengers.

Congestion has resulted in:
Most roads coming into the city centre being unable to take any more traffic in the rush hours.
The traditional rush hour extending, starting earlier and finishing later.
cars (most carrying just one person) and buses being delayed by heavier traffic levels.
People switching to the rail network meaning many trains are now very overcrowded during the peak periods.

Addressing the problem now
Allowing traffic levels to continue growing could slow business growth in Leeds. Through Transport for Leeds, we want to ensure that growth is not restricted by levels of congestion that have unacceptable effects on travellers, the local environment and public health.

How can we tackle congestion in Leeds?

Here are some ways in which we think congestion could be tackled. But don't forget we want to hear your ideas and opinions.
Initial analysis suggests that a 10% reduction in the number of peak-time car trips (like those experienced during the school holiday periods) would reduce average journey times by approximately 20%.

Ways of achieving this might include:

More flexible working and opportunities for people to work from home;
New and improved public transport;
New types of public transport such as the New Generation Transport System being developed for the city, and tram trains;
Increased capacity on public transport - providing room for more people to travel;
Other public transport improvements such as increased frequencies,
more reliable journeys, better quality services, vehicles and information;
New and improved walking and cycling facilities;
Measures to encourage people to travel in ways other than the private car;
Investigating how demand management might help and encourage people to travel at less congested times, on routes that are less congested, or to reduce the number of trips they make by car.

What you can do to help
Reducing the level of traffic on the roads into Leeds by encouraging
people to switch from their cars to other ways of travelling would
require a significant investment in new public transport.

De La Soul - Me, Myself And I

Shoes

Reminded by previous link - these are a good 2 or 3 years old now.

Stanley Donwood

I'am glad someone was innovative and clever to think this one up, although it's a little ironic considering Donwood's work is vaguely anti-capitalist, and it's planted on a pair of Converse, but there you go! I like these simply because they're aesthetically pleasing and because of Radiohead. Oh and I did something similiar ages ago which I'll upload photos of inabit.

Battles - Tij

Congestion R.

Bicycle hire and storage scheme opens
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A £700,000 bicycle hire scheme has been officially opened at Leeds Station.

People using the CyclePoint in the city can also store and buy bicycles and get repairs carried out.

"It was officially opened by Transport Secretary Norman Baker on Monday, who said it was a "innovative" project encouraging more people to cycle.

The scheme has been introduced by Northern Rail and its Dutch-based parent company Abellio, in partnership with Network Rail and the city council.

A Northern Rail spokeswoman said the bikes could be hired for £8 a day.

Dutch Ambassador Pim Waldeck was also at the event.

Mr Baker said: "I think this is an innovative scheme in Leeds and is this way things should be going. We are determined to get more people cycling and walking and tackle the problem of carbon emissions." "

http://www.leedsarts.org/transport/page.aspx?id=19663

KT Tunstall - Suddenly I See

My first ever moleskinner

On the day that Guy Fawke's almost blew up parliament, I gave a reasonable sum of money to a stranger and chavs launched a firework at me, I also bought my first ever "moleskine" book. Really quite enjoying it as well, love the paper quality, and it feels reminiscent of writing in someone else's diary. Except it's not someone else's, and I'am drawing. But this is what it looks like so far, because I like devoting (not dedicating) my evenings to drawing in this book now, although I'll take offers for gatherings and knees-ups.

KT Tunstall - 'Fade Like A Shadow' Lyrics Video (HD)

Congestion

http://www.transportforleeds.com/About/effects.htm

So my new project's going to be around the issue of CONGESTION and how it affects the world. I'll need to find three groups or organizations that are trying to combat congestion, and then pick one to help out with (volunteering e.t.c, or to help raise cash). I will not be delivering a solution to the problem, but interpretting the issue and highlighting how others are tackling it for now. It'll be key that I actively participate with one group.

London bicycles - another report.

Here's another report detailing the practicallities of the bikes themselves and everything they're fitted with, along with price.

Major of London Boris Johnson launches a city bike scheme.flv

This is Boris Johnson's campaign to launch a bicycle riding scheme to ease congestion on the roads of London, proving that the mayor can do something right. But the project isn't without it's flaws.