It was Ken fault totally. He lost the plot. THe congestion charge was supposed to be about removing congestion. Ken's plan actually let more cars in for free increasing congestion and thus increasing congestion. Any reduction in CO2 from high polluting cars would have be completely wiped out by the overall increase due to lower traffic speeds. Boris was just cutting the losses. It would have cost him (US!!!) more than double that to continue the plan. I reckon he made a good call.
I don't agree with that. I agree that Ken lost the plot, but my experience of riding into London before and after congestion charging started, suggests that after it was introduced during the charging hours there were fewer cars on the road in the centre. I don't agree that it let more cars in.
I do think that it had a negative impact before and after charging starts each day , and also in the areas outside the zone.
I also think that it encouraged people to find alternative means of personal transport. There are far more scooters in London now, and I've seen many more duel fuel vehicles on the road since congestion charging started.
As for whether congestion charging is a success, that depends how you measure it, and there are many ways to do that. I do know that it has generated another whole industry from nothing.
My primary gripe (other than the fact that it really achieves nothing) is why you are sent a 'fine' rather than a bill, if you don't pay on the day. Surely they could have set the system up so that you had 30 days to pay before the imposed fines. The whole thing just smells.
Posted: 08/07/2008 at 12:14
