Silvertown Tunnel

[er-minio]

Probably.
I never even once considered filtering in the Blackwall tunnel and never understood how the practice has always been overlooked (considering the tunnel closes often for minor accidents).

 

[Wapping]

I wonder if the addition of a non motorcycle use bus lane is to deter the kamikaze flat out filterers? Plenty of fines to collect if they cross the white line making progress..

That might be a pretty good guess. Plenty try their best to become the (very dead) meat in a sandwich, lane splitting in the Limehouse Link tunnel.

 

[ymfb]

Has to be better than the Blackwall tunnel although I can’t remember the last time I used it. Probably driving between sites in Dagenham and Charlton, in which case I’d be using the new tunnel if I can’t avoid the journey altogether

 

[Wapping]

I am still pressing TfL to allow me to add, two motorcycles to my Congestion Charge account, necessary only as TfL has decided to levy the Congestion Charge on motorcycles using the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels, whilst the rest of London is free for motorcycles.

The two methods they suggested, have both failed, so the ball is back in their court.

 

[er-minio]

The 5 vehicles limit is completely arbitrary.
I suspect also dictated by the (seemingly) unwieldy digital system behind autopay.

They’ll probably just tell you to switch manually. That is not the best solution.

I’d consider also a letter to a newspaper or something, maybe that would make them more receptive.

One thing I do not understand too, is why Dartford is NOT on also available on Autopay.

 

[Wapping]

One thing I do not understand too, is why Dartford is NOT on also available on Autopay.

It is, but through a separate website. I guess because the QE2 crossing does not fall under TfL’s control.

 

[er-minio]

Yep, just paid as I crossed yesterday coming back from Brands.
At least on the .gov website, when you put the plate, they confirm if you crossed or not.

I get that QE2 doesn't fall under TfL control, but it's still London (M25) and - since it's public services, they could make lives easier and allow cross-pay so one can set up one account somewhere and live happily ever after. I meant having it under the same autopay service used for CC and ULEZ and Tunnels.

Anyway: "would be nice to have".

 

[ymfb]

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Dartford crossing is free for motorcycles

 

[Wapping]

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Dartford crossing is free for motorcycles

It always was, providing you used the manned booths, to the left on your approach.

 

[Wapping]

Yep, just paid as I crossed yesterday coming back from Brands.
At least on the .gov website, when you put the plate, they confirm if you crossed or not.

I get that QE2 doesn't fall under TfL control, but it's still London (M25) and - since it's public services, they could make lives easier and allow cross-pay so one can set up one account somewhere and live happily ever after. I meant having it under the same autopay service used for CC and ULEZ and Tunnels.

Anyway: "would be nice to have".

I assume it saves a layer of bureaucracy, avoiding them having to split revenues between TfL and, I suppose, the Highways Agency or whichever body looks after the crossing.

Indeed though, ‘A nice to have’.

PS…

more


The Dartford Crossing, which includes the Queen Elizabeth II bridge, is operated by Connect Plus Services (CPS) on behalf of Highways England. Highways England manages the crossing for the Department for Transport. Connect Plus is a consortium that includes Edge Orbital Holdings Ltd, Balfour Beatty, and Egis Road Operation UK.

 

[g.s.john]

Got an account at the Dartford crossing also Auto pay for TfL otherwise i'll forget to pay and end up in more shit.

 

[LOLGEOFF]

I get that QE2 doesn't fall under TfL control, but it's still London (M25) .

Tis no more London than the Humber Bridge, nor is it the M25.

 

[er-minio]

It can be done, if they want.

With my Telepeage blipper I do pay French and Italian motorways.
Last summer, on the way to Tuscany, picked up a friend at Pisa airport: drove into the airport's parking: beep, automatically paid with the blipper.
Same exact thing when I pick up people from Fiumicino airport in Rome. And having the steering wheel on the right, it's a blessing.
December, went out for dinner in Frascati, near Rome, of all places... dropped the car at the parking lot near the train station, again: beep, parking paid via the blipper.

The French motorways, the Italian motorways, airport parkings in Pisa, FCO, and Frascati's train station are all owned and managed by different companies/public entities.

Yes, you pay a fee for the blipper* and you have to have the receiver. But even those are moving towards ANPR to remove the receiver in the (hopefully) near future. It can be done. One can have, and expect to have, well thought, easy to use, services.
Again: a nice to have


*until very recently you had to pay a fixed fee to add vehicles to Autopay.

 

[Wapping]

There was a mass trespass by cyclists on Friday, riding their bicycles through the Silvertown tunnel, in protest that bicycles are banned from using the Blackwall and Silvertown tunnels. In short, it was a protest that TfL have not done enough to support bicyclists and pedestrians. No such protest from outraged bikermates, that they are being charged to use the tunnels, when the rest of TfL’s area of control is free for bikermates to ride around in. Likewise, no mass protest about bus lanes. It makes one wonder, quite who has the biggest balls…. The lycra lad bods or the awesome steed merchants?

 

[Wapping]

In the meantime, TfL still haven’t come up with a workable solution to my problem. Letter to Khan follows.

 

[er-minio]

It makes one wonder, quite who has the biggest balls

Makes me wonder who is brain damaged enough to want to cycle through a tunnel?

I remember seeing people cycling though Rotherhithe and asking myself how they didn’t collapse halfway.

 

[Wapping]

Makes me wonder who is brain damaged enough to want to cycle through a tunnel?

I remember seeing people cycling though Rotherhithe and asking myself how they didn’t collapse halfway.

The protest centres on a frustration on cyclists’ part, that no bridge or tunnel (suitable for cyclists / pedestrians) was incorporated into the plans. In a sense at least, they have a point, not least as TfL is committed to reducing motorised usage in London. There is, in the protestors’ opinion, a misfit in intent, imagination and implementation on the part of TfL.

PS Having myself walked through the over a mile length of the Rotherhithe Tunnel, I can definitely say it’s not something to do on a regular basis.

 

[EVskiy]

As for a brand new bit of infrastructure, it is certainly was an oversight on TFL part. Shuttle bus is all good, but far from an ideal solution.

I rode a scooter through Rotherhite tunnel many years ago. It wasn’t a pleasant experience at all…

 

[Toshack10]

I ran through Rotherhithe Tunnel once, and have cycled through it. Even early on a Sunday morning, it was a pretty rank run (saddo that I am I wanted to run every (legal) crossing between Woolwich and Molesey (not one run))
And the Silvertown tunnel is pretty convenient/has claerly reduced congestion at the ends of Blackwall, but not being a TFL bus lane (ie, open to motos) is a bit nuts.

However... as for the Silvertown cyclists, access at the south end is a bit grim as you disgorge as the tunnel exits merge so traffic everywhere changing lanes (and entry northbound is off to the right of the south side Blackwall approach (5 lanes of traffic)) - north side is easier as its a roundabout so can sort of see their point about lack of intent

 

[Wapping]

And the Silvertown tunnel is pretty convenient/has claerly reduced congestion at the ends of Blackwall, but not being a TFL bus lane (ie, open to motos) is a bit nuts.

Agreed, it has made a big difference to the motorised transport congestion. Leaving the bus lane aside, what is silly is billing motorcycles to use the Silvertown and Blackwall tunnels, when the rest of the TfL network is cost free. To avoid the charge, motorcyclists are therefore obliged to use either:

A. The QE2 crossing. In reality, this (providing there is no snarl up) is very little time difference for me, when heading to the Chunnel or back again from E1, which is about the only time I need to south of the river.

B. Tower Bridge and the Old Kent Road, which is longer ie. more time spent in an urban environment. Which makes no sense,at all.

The cynic in me sees this a TfL precursor to billing motorcycles and scooters across the network. Hopefully, I’m wrong.