Forum Topic

Are TfL meddling with Traffic lights ...again?

Traffic Lights on the A4 have been changing after just a few seconds in the last week causing traffic queues with what is busier, but still way, way quieter than normal.It's bad at the Junction of Sutton Court Road but also at several other locations. Particularly in West Ealing and At Isleworth Near Gumley School.It seems a bit odd but it's barely giving anyone time to get in gear and move off. Is just as bad on the bike as you just get moving and they go red. Or you lose momentum as they change as you approach.  Needless to say many just carry on, and it's hard to blame them.TfL need to be honest about this. Are they changing the phasing and where? and Why?

Raymond Havelock ● 1906d8 Comments

I would avoid the A4 eastbound into the Chiswick Roundabout; only one lane open at the roundabout and massive tailback. No discernible reason for closure: certainly no work being done.

Susan Kelly ● 1902d

I remember that. As you say it went on and on. Suddenly traffic jams out of the blue.  If I remember taxi drivers noticed it first.

Nicholas Beard ● 1904d

Those with long memories will recall that this is what TfL did do to justify the congestion charge.. and when found out, got reprimanded.But it took 3 years of denials and blocking of freedom of Information act requests before the denials were proved as complete deception to the public.

Raymond Havelock ● 1904d

I guess there are two schools of thought about traffic light manipulation. One would be to keep the traffic flowing and the other would be to impede it to discourage vehicle use. It would be useful to know which approach TfL is following.

Peter Evans ● 1905d

Just hope they are not meddling to manipulate.  The idling time and queues are longer than usual yet with a fraction of the traffic and it's making it seem like there is far more traffic than there is.Idling traffic pollutes the most. Thing is its not good for cycling either so can't quite see why they are doing this.

Raymond Havelock ● 1905d

The cycle lane on the A4 also has some breaks, notably at Ealing Road (both sides) and Syon Lane (South side particularly), to the East of Boston Manor Road (Northside, if heading west) and the approach to Chiswick roundabout. Of course TfL 'meddle' with traffic lights. They control the timings, some of them I believe in real time and so they should. Whether their judgment is correct in every case is another matter.With the changes in traffic volumes over recent weeks (and the likely horrendous changes in weeks to come) it would be an egregious dereliction of duty if they didn't 'meddle'.

Guy Lambert ● 1905d

Always do. I drive or cycle depending on the work items required.  Wish this cycleway was better maintained as it's quite useful and flat and away from traffic for much of it. The Ellesmere Road section is not very well marked.  But the junction traffic lights are for cyclists too  so as traffic turns left It's actually much  safer to use the road at some points as you can see and  be seen better and space between and not alongside vehicles that turn left.But I also drive this way when carrying work equipment and the traffic light sequence change is also noticeable

Raymond Havelock ● 1905d

I wonder why you aren’t using the cycle path on the A4?

Sarah Felstead ● 1905d