In the program Tony Blackmore, a traffic expert with Bucks County Council, said: "At 8.30 this morning we found that traffic was probably 40 or 50 per cent down on what you would expect on a day like today."

Of course we are talking about the events of a day over a year ago. The other week when I was in Marlow the traffic was as bad as usual so it appears the programme has had very little effect.

At the end of the programme it was mentioned that the powers that be were looking into implementing cycle lanes, etc.... I wonder if this scheme/idea has come to fruition yet after all they’ve had a year to get things sorted.

Let’s face it the traffic free day was just a big PR stunt.

Have you read Ivor’s blog today? Click on the “Opinion” link on the menu on the left then click on “Readers Bucks Blog”.

Let’s face it the traffic free day was just a big PR stunt.

A PR stunt for whose benefit exactly? The programme showed what is achievable with a bit of effort - I think we'd need a resident of Marlow to tell us whether it's changed anything long-term. I agree that we've yet to see any cycle lanes, wonder if the buses are any better?

Fact is, when the schools are on holiday, there's 20% less traffic on the roads across the whole morning rush-hour. So everyone taking one day a week to leave their car at home would mean having roads like we get during school hols - but EVERY DAY. I'd say that's something worth working for!

Well from what i saw, the bike ride was organised by the owner of the local cycle shop, i would say he stands to benefit greatly if more people decide to ride bikes.
I didn't see any major difference in the traffic on the high street that day compared to any other. In fact they clearly showed rush hour traffic was unchanged. They also made some very dubious claims about there being no cars later in the day, despite the fact there were no empty parking spaces and the road was only clear for a few seconds. As far as i'm aware traffic during the day on a weekeday has never been an issue in Marlow.

The only positive thing that could be taken from the program was there was no need for children living near to their school to travel by car. The vast majority of the rush hour traffic is going to the A404 either to the M4, M40 or Wycombe, none of which are particulary bike friendly.

I reckon the people that stayed off the road for that one day, should stay off it permanently if it means a 50% decrease in traffic there! They obviously dont NEED to drive so get off the roads and let the rest of us use them ! Tee hee.

At the end of the day, one thing is agreed by everyone.

When the kids are on holiday the morning rush hour no longer happens.

Solution - Easy - This "giving up your car for a day" sham is not really an option for the people who have to travel and work in Marlow, and considering the problem is not there in the school holidays, clearly highlights the fact that its not the workers in Marlow who are causing the problems...

The council have to deal will the issues raised by the people dropping their kids of at school, or we will always have this problem

By the way wasn't it great having no traffic in half term week ;) Heaven - I could leave for work THIRTY MINS later!

As a Marlow RESIDENT, born and bred, all i can say is ..What a pile of crock!

The programme seemed to centre on 1 primary school in the town - and was mostly about who could win a bicycle rack!

Yes only 9 cars went to school out of 200+ pupils, on no car day - but how many of the pupils come from the same families? Or car pool normally? It didn't seem a fair way to calculate it tbh.

The guy from the software company arranged the loan of 10 bicycles - for a staff of over 150.. I went past his office today, and the car park was full to overflowing.. with cars!!

The High Street was shown on no car day to be partially devoid of traffic - but how many people also noticed that the pavements were empty too? They are normally bustling with people - i wonder how it effected the commercial side of things compared to an average day??

I had to drive out of town today, but on my way back I made a point of passing the bicycle racks... guess how many bikes were parked up?

1! - There were cars full of mothers picking their kids up from school...

I would say the editing of the programme got the message she wanted across, but in reality it didn't actually happen.

What needs to happen in Marlow, is for traffic wardens to clamp down on delivery lorries/vans blocking main access routes at peak times, and remove cars from parking on the left hand side of the High Street where they are not permitted, and for office workers from Globe Park etc to try walking into town at lunch rather than driving..!

I know that this programme was filmed during the course of a day, but there were not actual times shown on the film.. Every town has peak hour(s) traffic - it's a given, I am afraid, in areas where there are retail, recreational, and industrial sections. This town is a thriving market town, and is not Reading or London where perhaps this ladies issues would be more appropriately placed.

I agree with crossing proposed near St Peters, as most schools like Foxes Piece and Great Marlow have one in their immediate areas..

Sure there were elements of PR stunt about the whole thing and some of the editing was a bit dodgy, BUT the program made valid points at a number of levels

1. There was a noticable reduction of the amount of traffic in the town. Its a pity they didnt make the effort to properly quantify it.

2. Walking to school isnt as bad as some people like to think

3. Car is the slowest way of getting from Globe Park to the town centre.

4. People driving dont seem to realise that they themselves are the problem. There seems to be some psychological blind spot to the fact that they are just as much responsible for the congestion as everyone else.

If you work in Marlow and live anywhere other than along the Marlow-Maidenhead train line you really have no option other than to drive. Cycling is an option but there are enough maniacs driving to make that very scarey.

Same is true if you live in Marlow and work out of town.

On the otherhand, if you live AND work / go to school in Marlow there is no real reason at all to drive. Its hard to see it taking much more than 20 mins from anywhere in Marlow to anywhere else.

Thanks for all your comments. The program was really just an idea that a TV company came up with and then dumped it in the laps of Marlow residents to organise with about 10 days notice! The bike ride had 200 participants & was organised by myself by calling round friends and I got the local bike shop owner to do the same for me. I produced the website called www.changegearforada
y.com as central point of information (and got loads of abuse for it) and have put a blog on it. We have constantly applied pressure on the council to give us safer cycle routes but I'm just a resident, just like everyone else who organised the Car Free Day. We aren't council, PR agents or bike shop owners! I cycle my son to school on a tandem but it's scary. As someone earlier said 'be the change you want to see'. It's not always someone elses fault & when everyone gets that, then we'll get somewhere.