We'll take the high road...

20 May 2003

Since it's launch in February, the congestion charge has become a fact of life for Londoners. To some it has brought a huge improvement to the volume of traffic on the roads around London but to others it hasn't quite gone far enough.

We asked you what you thought about:

• Paying more than £5?
• Alternatives to the charge?

We had a huge response and noticed some recurring themes in your answers:

• Poor people will be more affected by the charge than rich people.

I'm not in opposition to the use of congestion charging in principle, but do feel that it is a tax on the poor, and makes car driving in London a preserve of the affluent.

W.L.

There is an issue that £5 to someone driving a Porsche is no incentive for them to change their travel habits and the Mayor needs to address this.

But a study by Friends of the Earth found the poor are less likely to drive in London than elsewhere. Car ownership among the poor is 10% in London compared to 25% nationally. So funds raised by the congestion charge to improve the public transport system will benefit all Londoners and especially the poor.

• Public transport needs to be improved to lure people out of their cars.

Make all bus services 24-hour, and physically segregate all bus and cycle lanes so it isn't possible for drivers to obstruct them. And if there isn't room for a bus lane and car lane on a road served by a bus route, then I'm afraid the bus lane wins.

Considering the amount of traffic on the roads in London it's hard to believe that 37% of London householders do not own a car.

Some improvements have been made to public transport - especially the buses - and more are in the pipeline.

But London cannot wait for every aspect of public transport (PDF† 268K) to be perfect before it uses congestion charging. It's just part of a package of measures to deal with traffic levels.

• The need for greener cars, buses and motorbikes.

There are now a number of European countries which are in the process of setting up production lines for Guy Negre's Air Car (details at http://www.theaircar.com/).

There are several car models designed for domestic use, although the initial priority is to produce inner-city commercial vehicles, such as the ubiquitous white van, taxis and buses.

The vehicles run on compressed air and the only polluting element is the use of a compressor to refill the air tank (they do 300km on one tank). Other than that, the car produces zero emissions.

K.J.

The congestion charge is not primarily about improving air quality but reducing road traffic congestion. If the scheme continues its successful start it may help cut air quality problems in central London but pollution can only be dealt with by looking at the whole of London.

A next step could be to look at creating "Low Emission Zones" across Greater London.

• Companies should look at different working practices to cut down on the need for commuting.

Ban employers in cities from hiring staff who live more than 5 miles from their place of work (10-15 in the country).

This will be unpopular but in this day in age no one who works with a computer needs to be in a city particularly with Broadband connections.

Indeed how long will it be before some corporate boss realises the massive savings that can be made by getting out of the city.

As a share holder myself I would have no problem sanctioning a directors pay rise for getting the business out the city and into more rural locations.

S.McD.

The high cost of homes in London means living near your place of work is not always possible. Central Government and the Mayor need to take action to stop the absurd price of housing and to make it easier for people to avoid having to travel so far for much of their business or leisure activities.

Unfortunately, both seem intent on housing and transport policies that will force people to spend more of their time and money on travelling longer distances for work.

So what are the alternatives?

• Are they enough to deal with congestion?
• Will we still need the congestion charge if we are to keep London moving?

Here are some of your ideas:

Have compulsory park & ride schemes in the centre of the city so people have to either use the buses or walk and leave their cars on the outskirts of the city.

M.H.

I think the UK's motorways should be made into 2 lane dual carriageways and on the (former) fast lane should be laid railway track. Motorway service stations could be used as car parks and railway stations. The new train network should be well connected to cities good public transport system.
The pricing of tickets should be set per mile at 10% under the cost per mile of driving an average car. It really is that simple!!!

J.W.

I also think that support and encouragement for walkers, including walk groups, could be very helpful for those who are scared of cycling with the undeniable risks involved. I now often walk to work from Hackney to Old Street, a pleasant two mile journey, and although it takes a while, it doesn't take that much longer than public transport door to door - at least, not when you build in time for delays as you now must do when planning to get to an important interview or similar. And it saves me a trip to the gym. A lot of commutes could probably be simplified by walking one leg of the journey - but women are (very sensibly) afraid to walk far alone when it's dark. Let's reclaim the streets.

P.P.

Could the charge not be indexed according to the size and type of engine used as per the Company Car benefit charges. As I would presume that most of the affluent travellers drive larger CC engine
vehicles, why not make it more attractive to switch to smaller less environmentally damaging vehicles by reducing the charge for doing so, and increasing the charge above £5 for those who do not. .

W.L

Why not increase the congestion charge to vehicles with ONE occupant - say £20 then £5 for those with two and FREE for three or more. After all a modern car produces LESS pollution than the power stations generating the power for the tube, and have you ever stood behind a bus!!!"

K.J.

So most of you agree something had to be done to ease or even reduce traffic in London. To some the congestion charge works but most of you feel more can still be done to improve on the current state of affairs.

There was, however, one very satisfied customer.

I agree with Ken that the best place for the workers and employees is to keep them Underground or on the buses. Leave the roads free for those of us who really need them - and can afford it. I live in Mayfair and it's made a huge difference to me and my journey to work, decimating the time it takes me to drive my car to my heated underground car park in Moorgate. If that continues, it really will be great news. Some of the poor unfortunates who have been forced underground have complained of overcrowding but that's their problem.

More news stories >