Yes it sounds like a mouthful, but the chaps who run the Dartford Crossing (both the tunnels and the bridge) are going to be holding a one-day discussion with interested parties sometime near the end of November. I got involved with them in January getting the Piaggio MP3 classed as a motorcycle (free) rather than a trike (not free). To my surprise they were very receptive, and I’ve now been asked to attend the Focus Group - I’ll be wearing my MAG hat as well. The BMF will be represented, and probably the Police in the form of one of the Bikesafe guys.
They would like some people to attend who use the crossing every day, and may have particular observations. This may be to do with signage, road surface, lack of a dedicated bike through-pass or two, etc etc. To that end I’d like to hear any views that LBers might have, and maybe one or two folk might be able to make the day itself, when the date is known.
Just to prevent discussion on the ‘gate down, come to a stop with feet on the floor’ bit before they’ll raise the gate, this is to prevent a repetion of the death of a biker who went through an opened gate doing a wheelie and smashed into a van that was crossing to get to his exit.
Also, all three-wheelers and quad-bikes wil be free from April next year, so don’t get arsey about that one.
So whose got a gripe or a suggestion for a future ‘better experience’ with the Dartford Crossing?
i got nothing in particular that you have not mentioned above, but if you are looking for attendees I might be able to come depending on when it is. i use it every day.
It may be an interesting day - the Crossing Management are completely hamstrung by red-tape - if there are any issues that can be fast-forwarded by virtue of Health and Safety (the world and his wife bow before that Deity) then good - other good ideas might have to be done on a slow-burner, there’s a civil-service food-chain to swim up and down whilst surviving.
Ideas that will save them money will of course be implemented ASAP…
I’d be interested to know if the original construction costs had been covered by the operating profits. If so, there is a good case for making it totally toll-free, as per the original agreements for building these very useful crossings. But that isn’t bike-only related.
jim dont use it very often just becasue its a toll road and a pain to get at me cash when i am on a bike…but I do remember the toll was only supposed to be a pay for the bridge etc not a gravy train…However there has to be big on going costs to running the crossings, and the cost of taking the toll itself has to be expensive so cannot ever see there being a non toll option…
I use it every day and may be able to attend. One of my gripes, lorries are allowed to use both tunnels when going from South to North, surely they should only be in the left tunnel?
My resoning being that they don’t usually stay in their own lanes, start meandering about. this in turn then causes people to brake and slows down the whole tunnel. Its more of a pain in the wet due to the amount of water that gets taken in and this makes it more slippery, especially for us 2 wheeled vehicles.
Oh, and another gripe, four tunnels, split 2 and 2. Why is it that people go to the right toll booths but then want the left tunnel and vice versa? They don’t usually look, they just go for it and don’t seem to care if there is anything in the way, nearly been taken out by some of them. Perhaps this should be signed on the approach and a barrier put up to stop this swerving across the lanes.
Another thing, when you get out of the tunnel, if anyone has gone down the right ones and wants that first turn off just after the tunnel, they completely ignore the solid white line that they are not supposed to cross, perhaps they should put some nice signes up saying that if you want that turn off, you should be in the left tunnels.
the tunnel was paid for a few years ago, the money now collected i assume goes towards paying for the toll booths, escorts and shareholders. perhaps only the people who need escorting should pay, such as tankers and cyclists.
ditto on the ignoring the solid white lines, both in and out of the tunnel, and people using LH tolls, but cutting to RH tunnel and vise versa.
and id like to know what the wind speed required to close the bridge is. im sure it should have been shut a few times when it wasnt.
I am not a great user of the crossing and have never crossed by bike unless riding pillion counts - however, I recognise all the issues raised here, I may be able to advise on some handling issues regarding civil servants/public finance/legislation etc if that would help.
hi jim as a truck driver u need both tunnels open as it would be to dangerouse to move across all the lanes while traffic is flowing through the tolls.how about some pay windows for left hand drive trucks to ease conjestion
Good point - if the proportion of LHD trucks (and cars these days) is high enough it would make good sense. Also even if the numbers weren’t quite up to scratch bikes could use it too withoutr causing hold-ups. A middle booth-lane would suit both tunnels.
I’d be interesting in joining too as I use the dartford tunnel every morning. To echo Chuffster, my main gripe is other cars swerving across a bike’s path in their hurry to change lanes.
The tunnel is free for bikes. Seem to remember a huge thing being made of it and lots of bikes turned up with 20 and fifty pound notes, the tolls ground to a halt. Think is was organised by MAG or the BMF. As they soon worked out, it takes ages fumbling around getting gloves off and the like for a motorcyclist. A motorcycle only lane would be nice, but I can’t see them going for that.
The bridge itself seems fine. A bike only lane at the booths would be nice. How about a wind speed indicator sign and from which direction its coming from? Only paying one way would be fine, would cut down congestion at least on one side, but one would have to say that is hardly fair on those that are only going one way.
