London congestion as bad as ever

August 07, 2008

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TRAFFIC jams in London are just as bad now as when the congestion charge was introduced five years ago.

The number of cars daily coming into the original charging zone and into the western extension has dipped, Transport for London (TfL) statistics revealed.

But roadworks and traffic management schemes have greatly reduced the road capacity in both zones.

This has resulted in congestion returning to levels experienced before the charge was brought in.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said he had asked TfL to hurry up with his plans to improve traffic flow, including allowing motorbikes to ride in bus lanes, rephasing traffic signals and cracking down on delay-causing roadworks by utilities.

A TfL spokesman said: "Without the congestion charge, the traffic problems in London would be much worse."

The congestion charge generated provisional net revenues of £137m in 2007/08.

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Mark, South Manchester (07/08/2008 at 09:32)

"The congestion charge generated provisional net revenues of £137m in 2007/08."

That's what the congestion charge is all about folks. A backdoor tax revenue making scheme for local councils - and nothing to do with congestion at all!!

Mike S, Manchester (07/08/2008 at 09:46)

Exactly - the con charge won't improve traffic. It will just make everyone poorer.

£2080 a year PAYCUT - NO THANKS - Paul Teeque (07/08/2008 at 09:46)

All these ME ME ME MP's!

If it wasn't for the me me mp's all this con charge stealth wage tax cut wouldn't be ruining the countries finances and contributing to engineered congestion.

Fran M (Permissum Populus Constituo) (07/08/2008 at 09:58)

It's easy Boris. Just instruct the congestion engineers to stop causing congestion. Instead, get them to redesign the roads to maximise use of the road space available.

dessie, manchester (07/08/2008 at 10:11)

WE DONT WANT THIS ADDED TAX ON TOP OF ALL THE OTHER HIGH TAXES WE PAY!!!

Jay B, oldham (07/08/2008 at 10:12)

And thats why the city of manchester should be totally against our proposed con charge. its just an excuse to get more money out of the hard working tax payer.
and even if you wont pay the con charge directly, you'll still pay in increased costs that local businesses will put onto the products the provide.
its just yet another tax! plain and simple! the sooner we get labour out the better we will be!

PW, Manchester (07/08/2008 at 10:41)

Oh Dear! It's not looking good is it?

Mind you, it never did.

Grief Tourist (07/08/2008 at 11:06)

Increase the charge , these southerners have got plenty of cash to throw around and obviously prefer paying out than putting up with the BO of tube travellers!

Trumpetman21 (07/08/2008 at 11:07)

"But roadworks and traffic management schemes have greatly reduced the road capacity in both zones."

Pro-toll trolls (particularly Munkey Boy) take note.

Reduced road space = Increased congestion.

Ace Shakepseare, manchester (07/08/2008 at 11:17)

No doubt MCC will put some form of spin on it and tell us we will benefit from the money and manchester will be better than london? (it will work here)so they are going to tell us,Manchester council could not run a p---up in a brewery.The voters of manchester have been telling them that the congestion charge will not work.Just like most things that this government along with its councils they cannot see the wood for the trees,just a cushy living.

Sean Corker MART (07/08/2008 at 11:19)

Transport for London have admitted that Bus lanes and traffic signals have caused congestion!

Does this explain why traffic levels in Manchester have stayed the same or fallen yet traffic speeds are slower?

emmylou (07/08/2008 at 11:35)

I've got a really good idea to reduce congestion everywhere! The last couple of weeks my commut south on the M6 has been an absolute dream, as have all the roads around the town I live and commute to. I wonder why? Is it because it is the school holidays? Maybe if all our obese school children got out of their parents chelsea tractors and walked to school or if school buses were provided traffic would be eased considerably.

Fran M (Permissum Populus Constituo) (07/08/2008 at 11:38)

In better news from London,Boris has cancelled the £25 congestion charge and is reviewing the western extension.

And in an out break of common sense Boris has cancelled the £18m roadblock proposed by chief congestionist Ken Livingstone, othewise known as the pedestrianisation of Parliament Square. The reason, it would cause congestion!

The de-pedestrianisation of Ken's other roadblock, Trafalgar Square may be too much to ask for.

Black Flag (07/08/2008 at 11:46)

emmylou: "Maybe if all our obese school children got out of their parents chelsea tractors and walked to school or if school buses were provided traffic would be eased considerably."

Traffic would also be eased considerably if workers took the bus to work, but that suggestion isn't universally welcomed.

It's quite easy to say the way to solve congestion is to stop other people driving, but other people don't want to be stopped from driving any more than you do.

Mark,Radcliffe. (07/08/2008 at 12:37)

Mr Leese & Co how did your totalitarian regime allow this report to slip through the net...Then again you are not powerful enough to stop it..Someone has taken the finger out of the dyke and we await the Referendum No-votes to flood the Gr. Manchester landscape...I'd park that Consultation trailer up in a garage for a few weeks if I were you.

Steveio, Manchester (07/08/2008 at 12:49)

Well said Emmylou.
I'm in total agreement with you. It's been no coincidence over the past couple of weeks.

emmylou (07/08/2008 at 13:29)

I agree, if everyone took the bus, traffic would be extremely reduce. But not everyone can get jobs where they live, whilst most school children do not live far from their school. I do not understand why children have to be ferried to and from schools that are a walk away. My 14 year old brother lives a 15 min walk from school and my parents drive him there! This amazes me and i am constantly having a go at them to no avail!

BlueSpeke (07/08/2008 at 13:36)

What the report doesn't tell you is how bad it would have been had the charge NOT been introduced.

Black Flag (07/08/2008 at 13:46)

emmylou: "I agree, if everyone took the bus, traffic would be extremely reduce. But not everyone can get jobs where they live, whilst most school children do not live far from their school."

A lot of people could get a job closer to where they live, or move closer to where they work.

On the flip side, there is no specific reason why children should be constrained to going to a school within walking distance any more than adults should be made to work with walking distance.

Trying to reduce congestion by deciding that one group of people has less right to drive and should be forced off the road to make life easier for everybody else is completely unjust.

Kiwi-blue, Christchurch NZ (07/08/2008 at 14:15)

The congestion charge is a worthwhile price to pay for the improvements to the transport infrastructure. When these improvements have been made the benefits will be there for all to see!

Mike S, Manchester (07/08/2008 at 14:21)

In London it produced net revenues of £137M last year.

If we're borrowing £1,5BN from the government, even on an interest-free basis (which I doubt), and assuming that we'd have the same income as London (again unlikely), how many years will it be before this generates any income at all for the city?

Caped Crusader, Gotham City (07/08/2008 at 14:25)

The last couple of weeks my commut south on the M6 has been an absolute dream, as have all the roads around the town I live and commute to. I wonder why? - emmylou.

Because loads of people people go on holiday! How many people go to school down the M6?

Jomov (07/08/2008 at 14:51)

Kiwi, you spout the same old drivel everytime. You bore.

Jay B, oldham (07/08/2008 at 16:32)

Jomov Kiwi is too far away to actually realise that there isnt much that needs improving. few more busses here and a few more trains there.
all he does is waffle the rubbish printed in the con charge brochures!
i wait in anticipation for the referendum and the general election too. i wont be voting labour ever again. they've taxed us too far now. there is no point working if all that happens is half of it getting taken away immediatly in tax leaving you in poverty.

Barney Gumball (07/08/2008 at 17:12)

Beat the congestion charge... Buy a canal boat! Liverpool to Manchester in 18 hours.

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