On Sun, 02 Oct 2005 09:21:56 GMT, Chris Tolley
wrote:

Paul Weaver wrote:

So even more people now can't drive to work in the week, but can't use
the tube at the weekend, requiring both a car and expensive train
tickets.

Very few people in that part of London *require* a car. It is a
lifestyle choice, not a necessity for the most part.

Quite a few, like me, drive *out* of that tax-grab area against any
congestion in the zone, right into congestion around it - westway
west-bound for example, Scrubs Lane, all those nice roads which would
have more traffic after the area is Kengested and will have even more
when the ShepBush mega shopping-opolis (conveniently avoided by the
expansion) opens next year. See this for what it is: more tax. Some
value is returned in better buses but the whole cost is excessive and
fares are still too high. Cars are still required by families and
odd-hours workers.

The smart way to reduce congestion (not that this expansion has it, 5%
of the area at most has congestion) is to close off zones and reduce
flow. Classic example Hammersmith bridge. Close it and traffic
"evaporates". But hi-tech cameras and 50mi/year "costs" are much more
fun than closures and pinching.

--
New anti-spam address cmylod at despammed dot com