Are "Rat runs"

really people going to work ?

what happens to the London economy when people dont go to work

is this term used to conn us ?

"keith" wrote in message ...
Are "Rat runs"

really people going to work ?

what happens to the London economy when people dont go to work

is this term used to conn us ?

The purpose of the driver isn't necessarily the problem - just too
much traffic on certain roads which are unsuitable for it.

'Rat runs', in my view, are those residential roads which were built
principally to provide residential access but can also be used by
through traffic. Not roads which have always been 'main roads' but
are too narrow for modern traffic levels - that is a different
problem. All the 'rat run' roads were built a long time ago - before
traffic congestion was a major consideration. Therefore they were
built with road connections at both ends - largely for the convenience
of residents rather than to provide a route for other drivers.

More modern residential developments have road-layouts which don't
lead anywhere so the problem doesn't arise.

'Rat runs', in my view, are those residential roads which were built
principally to provide residential access but can also be used by
through traffic. Not roads which have always been 'main roads' but
are too narrow for modern traffic levels - that is a different
problem. All the 'rat run' roads were built a long time ago - before
traffic congestion was a major consideration. Therefore they were
built with road connections at both ends - largely for the convenience
of residents rather than to provide a route for other drivers.

More modern residential developments have road-layouts which don't
lead anywhere so the problem doesn't arise.

An example of a rat run would be turning off Uxbridge Road, (W12, and
part of the A4020) onto a small residential street, making a number of
rights and lefts before finally re-emerging on Uxbridge Road further
along, possibly a number of places ahead of where you were in the
traffic queue.

A common "rat-run" to avoid traffic on Finchley Road (A41, primary
route) South-East bound would be to turn left into Platts Lane, right
into Kidderpore Avenue, cross Heath Drive into Bracknell Gardens, left
into Frognal Lane, right into Langland Gardens, left into Lindfield
Gardens, left into Arkwright Road and right at the crossroads into
Frognal, thus emerging further up Finchley Road by the O2 centre.
Another alternative when in Arkwright Road is to continue to the end
of the road and turn right into Fitzjohn's Avenue (B511) until you
meet the A41 again at Swiss Cottage with far fewer traffic lights.
(Actually my preference was always left into Heath Drive, right into
Redington Road, right into Frognal and left into Church Row then right
onto B511). Note that this is all in NW3 (Hampstead and Swiss Cottage)

The problem is that these rat-runs do actually turn out to be faster
than using the main road. Improve the main roads and people will not
rat-run.

As it happens, it seems that with the congestion charge, Finchley Road
is now better than it used to be and rat-running isn't worth it.