London Congestion Charges

[Steve]

Does it affect you?

How do you feel about it?

Do you think it will work?

They may plan to introduce it to all major cities and towns

[Matthew_McNally]

It won't affect me - was looking at it this week.

I drive down Sunday night - usually get down after 1:00 am

On the Tuesday - I usually finish work after 6:00 - and then I go and have a coffee / sandwch / read of the newspaper / chill until around 7:00 - 7:30 - just to let the traffic die down a fair bit.

So - I will miss it both ways

But - as an idea I think it is disgusting.

We already pay roadtax, that isn't used to provide us with better roads, now Londoner drivers have to pay another tax, which will not help them get better roads either.

Stealth taxation - I hate it.

Grow a set and tell me to my face why you are going to make me pay more tax.

[peter-flint]

At least you could see eye to eye with the old "Highway Robbers", and if you fancied your chances, have a go at them. These days you don't see anybody and still get robbed !!!!!

[Claire G]

Perhaps if our road tax actually went on the roads, it would help improve things

Yes, there's lots of traffic but we're driving some of the cleanest cars available now. How come I pay more road tax than someone with a knackered B reg Escort and a 1.2 engine - my car's cleaner, shouldn't it be efficiency?!?!

Ah, sorry, bit off track.

The congestion charge is a stupid idea as our glorious public transportation can't cope with the volume of people using it now. I hope on the first day of charges, everyone sticks to taking the tube. That'll sod up the system.

Bah Humbug :arrrggg-matey:

[Steve]

I know it is not the same as such as the congestion charge but I found the Tolls in the states to be pretty good if you have the electronic device in the car

But there they also have the cash trays and the times i never had enough change and just continued driving and all the alarms went off...

Oh well.. was in hire car!

I myself hope it fails.. this way they will not introduce it into other towns and cities.

[Matthew_McNally]

I know it is not the same as such as the congestion charge but I found the Tolls in the states to be pretty good if you have the electronic device in the car

I have a similar device for the Mersey Tunnel - just slow a touch as you approach the booth, guard goes up - you zoom through!!

B)

I myself hope it fails.. this way they will not introduce it into  other towns and cities.

I'm with you on that one Steve.

and with Claire on the "hope everyone gets on the tube" sentiment.

The Tube is creaking @ the seams now, I was on it @ 5:00pm the other week (no choice - meeting a mate for a beer in Covent Garden) - and it was so packed it was unbelievable.

This is a direct quote from the website

The £5 daily congestion charge will help get London moving. It will reduce traffic, making journeys and delivery times more reliable, and raise millions each week to re-invest in London's transport system.

How will it raise millions each week if it reduces traffic?

Surely, as the traffic is reduced, they won't make money - and if it is 100% success, they won't make any extra money to re-invest in the transport system - in fact, they won't even make enough to re-coup the costs of putting the damn thing in place (all the cameras, painting the roads etc).

Nah - that one quote is 100% accurate - but probably by mistake.

It will raise millions each week (insert mental image of Ken Livingstone rubbing his hands)

[Steve]

thing is that drivers already pay the normal car tax.. so if 50% stop using it i cna see they will still make tons more.

Also I would spend £5 just to be able to drive through london.. i am one of those guys that would pay a little more just so i could travel in comfort.

Like fuel costs people will just continue paying!

[tdiplc]

Heard Red Ken on the radio this morning trying to justify it all.

He said that if this scheme does not work (ie reduce traffic) he will increase the charges until it does work.

He says that it is not a stealth tax, as there are easier ways to raise money, but an attempt to reduce the traffic in London.

Personally I think that there is far too much traffic in London. A lot of it is caused by bad public works management, poor driving standards and ineffective public transport.

He is slimy g*t, but he does have a tough job here - damned he if does, damned if he doesn't.

When I am Prime Minister, I will get rid of Red Ken and only allow Lexus owners to drive in London

Mark :)

[Kavey]

I'm 'lucky' in that to drive to work from Tooting to Chiswick means I won't be in the charge zone, but I think I'ms going to be pretty badly affected by traffic around the periphery of the zone, as drivers get as close as they can to London and then take public transport etc.

Residents around the zone, especially places like Kennington are going livid already protesting at the knock on congesting they're going to see as a result.

Having said that, it is a tough one, and Ken has tasked himself with sorting it. Good luck to him.

Ironic however though, how one of the main proponents of campaining against Poll Tax, has himself instigated his own blanket, un-means-tested tax. It's all the low-paid public sector workers, like night shift nurses and police who can't travel by public transport during the night that will suffer the most, and I'm expecting the human rights issue to snowball as the case against the charge grows.

KV

[PQuist]

Ken your congestion charge idea sucks and I hope it fails. The current public transport system cannot cope as it is. Besides you haven't provided any better alternative to using a car. Or maybe the Central Line. Invest in more bus lanes and police the lanes with the congestion charge cameras. Make London roads wider and stop blocking off alternative routes.