12,000 drivers a day are avoiding Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls, TfL reveals
12,000 drivers a day are avoiding Blackwall and Silvertown tunnel tolls, TfL reveals
TfL has said that initial data shows there has been a significant increase in cross-river bus use at the Silvertown Tunnel and Blackwall Tunnel, while individual journeys have dropped
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TfL data also found that the number of people taking buses that travel through the tunnels has increased.
On an average day, 20,000 passengers use the 108, and the new 129 and Superloop 4 buses, with 7,000 journeys involving crossing the river using one of the tunnels
And
However, TfL said it was aware of some increased traffic volumes at other river crossings, including the Woolwich Ferry.
So... good?
The increased use of public transport is good, moving people onto the ferry, not so much.
The ferry runs whether it's full or not and pedestrians and cyclists ride for free. It's a more efficient distribution of resources, if nothing else.
Cyclists and pedestrians aren't my concern. My concern is the additional car traffic in and around Woolwich
Traffic has to go somewhere and it's better that it's evenly distributed amongst the crossings than all building up in one place. Do you live in Woolwich?
My worry is that it won't be so evenly distributed, as now the ferry is the only crossing on the east side of the river without a toll.
Do you live in Woolwich?
Not too too far from there.
The ferry spaces are finite and I'm guessing that if everyone chose to use it there would be queues which would negate the advantage of it being free. Further to this haulage firms will no doubt calculate the speed of passage through London and pay the tolls and pass the cost on to their customers. Lorries containing hazardous chemicals aren't allowed on the ferry so that a certain quantity of commercial traffic is guaranteed to be still using the tunnel crossings.
Traffic coming off the ferry will be mostly routed through the A205 and A206 which are major arterial roads and as capable of handling the traffic as the A102 which now accommodates traffic from both the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels.
Also the Rotherhithe Tunnel is still free to use although it is within the congestion charge zone.
queues which would negate the advantage of it being free.
The queues were already an issue before the Blackwall toll.
A205 and A206
I think you overestimate the capacity these two have and underestimate the impact they have on the local area.
Also the Rotherhithe Tunnel is still free to use although it is within the congestion charge zone.
You're totally right. My bad.
I think we shall have to wait and see what negative effects arise but I would say two things. Firstly, that the increase in uptake of bus journeys is a net good and secondly what a pleasure it has been to debate a subject like transport infrastructure, without hyperbole, and with someone who has both a personal interest and specific knowledge of the subject at hand. I'm having a little turn-of-the-century-style-internet moment.
I've enjoyed having this discussion with you too.
Cheers matey 👍