To think we need a congestion charge in every major city?

[impossiblecat]

The traffic is getting insane.

It's dangerous and bad for everyone's health.

With the exception of the disabled and people who live within the limits of said congestion zone, obviously.

I'd have all money raised ploughed into public transport.

So what's the problem Malbel? Exeter brings in a congestion charge, you drive from your hamlet to the edge of town then take a bus.

How about surge tax?

This would apply to everyone driving into the centre of a city when the pollution levels hit a certain level.

Most big cities have a university which could track it for minimal cost.

I ask again as I did yesterday, who gets the money for the congestion charges is it used to improve everyones life, or just another money making wheeze???

Of course it is a money-making wheeze - the congestion in London is the worst it has ever been and there are no visible benefits to these charges whatsoever. Where does this money go? Why do drivers have to pay all these insane fees, charges, fuel prices and road tax when cyclists are unregistered, unlicensed and have no insurance yet have the luxury of a cycle "superhighway"-utter madness!

content.tfl.gov.uk/congestion-charge-factsheet.pdf

Google took a couple of seconds, you didn't me to do that.

What is maddness, is that people get to pollute the air that I breathe and not face any consequences.

You wouldn't piss in my tea and not expect some kind've come back.

London's had a hell of a lot of money spent on it's public transport in recwnt years. Dont think you should be complaining too much.

Imagine how bad it would be without the CC.

I am talking about real facts, not County Hall generated nonsense, anybody seeing current traffic trying to get across bridges etc knows that the benefits listed in that document are utter nonsense.
There have been significant changes to emissions practices etc (all great ,-) but the fact is we will never eliminate pollution, there are just too many in too shorter time window all doing the same thing.It's really not a question of not expecting a comeback it's a question of common sense. Cyclists pay nada, drivers get completely rinsed at very level, and many really have no choice.

And Barbarian it may well have done, maybe that's why there are persistent strikes, cancelled train and tube lines repeatedly out of action, alongside major train providers such as Southeastern and Thameslink going completely unchallenged when they completely fail to deliver to all those who have paid their ever-increasing fares. Think they all have very valid complaints as mainline stations frequently fail to cope.

•Imagine how bad it would be without the CC.•
It really was not that bad before honestly!

double we travel to work in London regularly. Public transport may have its problems but compared to other cities in the UK it's pretty good. Compared to other capital cities - you have a point.

I live 10 miles from work and the commute by car takes from 20 mns to an hour each way . However, due to transport links, it would take me approx 2.5 hours to get to work using public transport and not at the time i need to be there.

(and before I get the bike argument - I'd die - either from the hills or from the traffic on the country roads or dual carriageway I would need to use to get there).

I agree with you OP. But I don’t think it should stop at major cities - many large-ish towns are horrendous as well. Guildford - just for example. It’s basically got a six lane road running right through the middle. And if you ever stand by the side of the road and count, 9 out of 10 cars contains only one person. Very few people NEED to drive around a town that size.

most traffic is caused by idiots who lack common sense and dont know how to drive

That said, I do agree with the points people have made on the thread about the inadequacy of public transport being a massive contributor to the problem.

Manchester is horrific I feel the whole central bit should be pedestrianised, driving around the Xmas Market Albert sq area into deans gate it is s genuinely difficult not to hit someone walking in the road.

Cyclists don't pollute. They also cause minimal wear on the road and rarely (notice I said rarely, not never) injure other people. They also save the NHS a fortune in improved health.

Motorists should be rinsed, rinsed and rinsed again until they accept that the city centre is no place for them.

Cars pollute, cars give people lung disease, they spew out poison and buggy level every day.

With no consequences.

That said, I do agree with the points people have made on the thread about the inadequacy of public transport being a massive contributor to the problem.

In part because in England, because there's no such thing as society, everything has to make a profit. So instead of people seeing investment in public transport as a benefit to all of society, you just get a load of in sniping about "why should I pay for them ?"

See also: schools; hospitals; housing ....

And traffic in London has been horrendous since the 1800's at least- of course it was horrible pre-CC

Cyclists don't pollute.

No. But the 200 metre tailback of 10 cars crawling at 10mph whilst smug cyclist grinds up a narrow country lane do. A lot more than if SC had driven to work.

I think also a huge factor is the price of public transport. For example a nurse permanently employed at one of London's leading teaching hospitals should be able to afford to get to work. But often there is no safe provision for her to return home st the backend of a long shift.
The public transport system here physically cannot cope now it's insane to consider the potential scenes if all drivers suddenly took the bus or a train

Who is suggesting CC on country lanes?

The problem being Barbarian there are dreadful parking facilities in Exeter. Park and ride on the outskirts is filled with office workers not using the park and ride( Exeter council want silly money for extra parking spaces), what parking and buses there are are extortionate. Buses to Exeter from us are hourly if you’re lucky at nearly £8, then you’d have more expense and waiting on top- on Devon wages.

The public transport system here physically cannot cope now it's insane to consider the potential scenes if all drivers suddenly took the bus or a train

When the GLC introduced "Fares Fair" in the 80s, the number of people using buses and tubes rocketed overnight. Central London was practically empty.

Luckily Mrs Thatcher put a stop to all that nonsense, and restored order. Otherwise it's scary to think what might have happened.

I’m not sure I entirely agree with what some posters have said about how congestion charges affecting the poor.

Where I live, rich people live outside the city, in lovely big rural houses with lovely clean air. They then drive their giant polluting Chelsea tractors into the towns/cities in order to work, shop or commute, and drive out again when they’ve used the town or city for what they needed to do. And they leave the poorer people who have to live in those towns or cities to breathe the toxic air they’ve generated, while they relax out in the country.