I'm well aware that Boris Johnson is nominal head of TfL. Indeed I once heard him declare on Vanessa Feltz's radio programme "I am TfL." I am also aware that frequently in sizable organisations some staff members have their own agenda while pretending to be be loyal and conscientious. This doesn't happen only in politics and public administration. I've come across it several times within commercial organisations.

It is indisputable that some of TfL's activities concerning London's roads are at variance with some of Boris Johnson's declared policies. For example, in his introduction to the new TfL business plan Boris Johnson writes about ripping out many of London's (innumerable) unnecessary traffic lights. Off-hand I can't think of any location where traffic lights have been removed but I know of several where TfL have either recently installed or plan to install some. Boris Johnson has often said he wants to reduce air pollution in London but the main reason air quality in London has deteriorated so much in the past ten years is that TfL have taken measures all over London to prevent traffic from moving. (When motor vehicles are held at red traffic signals or behind a bus where the pavement has been extended to prevent cars from passing the stationary bus, the motorists do not switch their engines off)

Does Boris Johnson realise that some of TfL's activities contradict his declared policies? I don't know. We have here a classical fools or knaves situation. Either Boris Johnson is as big a liar as Ken Livingston and does not at all intend to carry out his declared policies of smoothing London's traffic flow and reducing air pollution or he is an utter fool who simply does not know what is going on.

Both interpretations are feasible because both accord with known facts. We know that since becoming Mayor Boris Johnson has done nothing to improve road conditions but has indulged his pro-cycling prejudice. On the other hand we know that he does not pay attention to detail. On more than one occasion Nick Ferrari, when interviewing him, has been able to demonstrate that Boris Johnson has not familiarised himself with the precise details of some policy Johnson has announced. To twist a man like that round their fingers, all TfL has to do is tell Boris Johnson the same pack of lies they tell everyone else. I'm quite sure they have told him that their plans for Tottenham High Road will smooth the flow of traffic, improve conditions for pedestrians, increase safety all round and reduce air pollution. TfL have made those same fraudulent boasts about all their road schemes which have created massive traffic congestion and air pollution and have turned London into a backward city.

What is clear to anyone with any common sense is that returning the Seven Sisters section of Tottenham High Road to two-way traffic will not work. It did not work 40 years ago when traffic levels were much lighter than now and it will not work today when TfL have confiscated half the road space for bus lanes and have installed additional traffic lights to prevent traffic from moving.