Tower Bridge this (Tuesday) morning

[aembleton]

I've never felt so nervous on my commute; there was so much more traffic than usual on the south approach to Tower Bridge. At first I thought there might have been an accident but never saw anything. Did anyone else find it gridlocked?

 

[Aperitif]

There was a car fire in the Blackwall Tunnel - maybe this contributed?

 

[Beebo]

It was busy this morning; Tower bridge is too narrow. Due to the width restiction of the arches pedestrians have as much space as vehicles.

There is just not enough room for cars to pass safely and buses are a nightmare.

The slope up the south side can be a real problem, especially if you get stuck behind a slower cyclist where the road pinches in. You end up with 5 or 6 cyclists all jockeying for position and going for a mad overtake up the centre or a suicide squeeze up the inside.

 

[Dan B]

Not sure why it's bad to have as much room for pedestrians as vehicles - are they less important people? Certainly the times I've been over it the pavement seems to be just as full as the road, so they're obviously making good use of the space.

 

[BentMikey]

Not sure why it's bad to have as much room for pedestrians as vehicles - are they less important people? Certainly the times I've been over it the pavement seems to be just as full as the road, so they're obviously making good use of the space.

+1 QFT.

In the same way I hate pedestrian refuges as they are such a challenge to us cyclists, but I fully recognise that the local pedestrians need them against the speed and impatience of drivers far more.

 

[Beebo]

Not sure why it's bad to have as much room for pedestrians as vehicles - are they less important people?

I didnt say it was a bad thing I was commenting on the flaws with the original design of the bridge arches which restict the avalable space for vehicles, but given that it is 150 years old I doubt they had HGV's and cyclists in mind when the built it.

Never the less as the OP says Tower Bridge is still a very narrow road space and can be very scarey, especially when there is a cross wind ripping down the Thames.

 

[BentMikey]

It doesn't have to be scary if you sit in the middle of the lane and go with the traffic, surely? That doesn't recognise personal impatience though, which I tend to suffer from a bit too much sometimes.

 

[Beebo]

It doesn't have to be scary if you sit in the middle of the lane and go with the traffic, surely? That doesn't recognise personal impatience though, which I tend to suffer from a bit too much sometimes.

Ah but that only works if the traffic is flowing at a nice 15mph, which this morning it wasnt. It was grid locked which is when you have to keep your wits about you.

Going north of the river is always much worse than coming south. But as a "Sawf Landon" lad I would say that wouldn't I?

 

[moralcrusader]

It doesn't have to be scary if you sit in the middle of the lane and go with the traffic, surely? That doesn't recognise personal impatience though, which I tend to suffer from a bit too much sometimes.

True enough - but the time spent waiting on some days would double my commuting time! However when there are trucks or buses going over Tower Bridge from the South I always tuck in behind until the road widens out on the North Side. Too many people take the risk by going down the inside - silly, especially considering the cyclisys/bikers filtering down the middle of the road. Never really had a problem with it myself - didn't seem any busier than usual when I went over at 8-ish this morning.

Has anyone else ever got stuck behing the council line painting wagon in the morning? For some reason they always seem to be going over Tower Bridge at the exact same time that I am and I ALWAYS get stuck behind it. I'm sure it's poisoned a few years off my life...

 

[BentMikey]

Must admit I rarely do Tower Bridge in rush hour, at other times it's usually flowing nicely, if a bit slower than I'd like. Glad to hear the only problem is impatience then.

 

[Goto10]

Not sure why it's bad to have as much room for pedestrians as vehicles - are they less important people? Certainly the times I've been over it the pavement seems to be just as full as the road, so they're obviously making good use of the space.

"Due to the width restiction of the arches pedestrians have as much space as vehicles."


He was stating a fact rather than an opinion. People seem to be too sensitive and looking to be offended!

 

[Sambu]

couldnt you get off and push?

 

[Asif]

Rotherhithe tunnel was closed this morning, which contributed to more taffic.

 

[nich]

Might it be possible for you to use London Bridge instead? It's only a little bit further, and I find it bike friendly going north and south bound

 

[cyberknight]

What are these mythical things called gridlock and queues?

It was beautiful to see the sun come up over mist covered fields this morning