TiG congestion poll reveals Gloucestershire commuters misery
ABOUT 40 per cent of people are reporting an increase in travel time to and from work over the last five years.
More than 200 Gloucestershire commuters were polled last week on the Gloucestershire Echo and The Citizen's website www.thisisgloucestershire.com about how roadworks had affected their commute.
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Congestion
About 85 people (42 per cent) said their journey took 100 or 50 per cent longer than it did five years ago. More than half polled said their drive took longer than previously. Twenty-three people (11 per cent) said they had a faster commute.
Councillor Will Windsor-Clive (C, Newent), cabinet member for communities at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "The amount of cars on the road is increasing, this is something that we are aware of and we're actively encouraging people to try to think of other ways of getting to and from work.
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"We are in the process of conducting changes in a bid to reduce congestion on the road, including monitoring roundabouts and traffic lights to ensure that traffic is running smoothly."
People surveyed seemed to have taken to his advice, with more than 25 people (12 per cent) saying they had got so sick of congestion they had started using other methods of getting to work, including a motorbike or public transport.
Sarah Daly, of Cheltenham, a strategic sustainability consultant at MyGreenEye, said people need to start considering public transport.
She said: "From a green point of view, you should only use your car when you need to. We hope everyone does nine miles less per week, which will reduce overall emissions by about 13 per cent."
But Emma Shibli, environment planning officer at the county council, said average journey times into Cheltenham and Gloucester on morning weekdays during term-time remained the same from 2008-2011.
She added: "We take the issue of journey times in the county seriously. I would like to reassure people that we want to address the congestion on our roads."
My car journey to work takes 100 per cent longer than it did five years ago – 34 votes/ 16 per cent
50 per cent longer than it did five years ago – 51 votes/24 per cent
25 per cent longer – 34 votes/16 per cent
10 per cent longer – 15 votes/ seven per cent
Not changed in five years – 28 votes/13 per cent
10 per cent quicker than five years ago -– six votes/ three per cent
25 per cent quicker – four votes/ two per cent
50 per cent quicker – two votes/one per cent
25 per cent quicker – 11 votes/five per cent
I got so sick of congestion I started using a motorbike – eight votes/four per cent
I got so sick of congestion I started using public transport – 19 votes/nine per cent
Comments
by daveofglos
Monday, October 29 2012, 7:00PM
“As was reported at the time the questions were defective.”