Congestion charging - how will it change your journey?

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For anyone who regularly commutes into central London, how do you think things are going to change for you from Monday? I don't know if anyone here drives in - if so, is it going to stop you?

But I would presume that more people get public transport in. If you get on an already crowded tube or train are you dreading next week? If you get a bus are you worried about gridlock outside the zone? Or are you looking forward to clearer roads?

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 14 February 2003 09:59 (twenty-two years ago)

Personally I get the bus in and get off on the edge of the charging zone. But I reckon traffic's going to get really snarled up on the perimeter. Over the last couple of days they've taken down the bus stop I normally get off at on Pentonville Road, and I'm sure that's because it's about 20 yards from some traffic lights and they reckon the traffic's going to get backed up badly there. So I think I'll be getting off a couple of stops early next week.

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 14 February 2003 10:03 (twenty-two years ago)

I can't wait untill teleporters are invented!

― Jewish Aboriginy Strobe Light (Jewish Aboriginy Strobe Light), Friday, 14 February 2003 10:04 (twenty-two years ago)

It won't change my commute in the slightest. Might be a little easier to cross the road.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Friday, 14 February 2003 10:08 (twenty-two years ago)

It's possible the train I get will be rammed, but I'd be surprised if it made a major difference. Once things have calmed down a touch it might make taking the bus to work a more viable option.

Is the CC a good thing or a bad thing in principle?

― Tim (Tim), Friday, 14 February 2003 10:37 (twenty-two years ago)

the traffic on new north road has really snarled up in the last 4 weeks for some reason, im hoping this will stop that.

my journey is already ruined by the waterloo&city line being down. it means i have to get the 76 right the way through the city to waterloo now, so im hoping this clears up some of the traffic

― gareth (gareth), Friday, 14 February 2003 10:45 (twenty-two years ago)

Is the CC a good thing or a bad thing in principle?

I think it's an excellent idea in principle, and I hope it works in practice (particularly as there are other schemes up and down the country waiting to see if it works in London before proceding). If anything I'd like to see it extended to a wider area.

I think (certainly on the routes I take) that they've prepared pretty well for an expected increase in bus passengers - more routes, more buses etc. It's great at the moment - I never have to wait for 5 full buses to go past without getting on etc. I just hope gridlock outside the zone doesn't set in.

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 14 February 2003 11:36 (twenty-two years ago)

What is it Congestion Charging (and can we eat it?)

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 14 February 2003 12:06 (twenty-two years ago)

From Monday onwards anyone driving into the core part of central London between 7am and 6.30pm will have to pay a £5 charge. There's some more info about it here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/livingstone/article/0,2763,519537,00.html

Seeing as I visit Dublin 2 or 3 times a year and the traffic's almost as bad as London I have to say it'd be a decent idea where you are as well, Andrew. (I presume you're at Trinity from your e-mail address.)

― James Ball (James Ball), Friday, 14 February 2003 12:14 (twenty-two years ago)

I think the CC is great because I don't live in London and I don't drive. Woohoo! (I'd like to think I'd approve even if I worked nights and had four kids but well...)

― Archel (Archel), Friday, 14 February 2003 12:16 (twenty-two years ago)

I think Smithfield in Dublin is also "the only significant wholesale market within [the city center]". Mental.

There was a plan to reduce traffic from the city center introduced last year with enormous impenetrable signs to direct traffic. There was a lot of noise about it, and I don't know whether it worked because I walk everywhere.

― Andrew Farrell (afarrell), Friday, 14 February 2003 12:25 (twenty-two years ago)

As a Londoner without a car, I'm all for it. I do expect more crowds for a bit, but I hope the money is genuinely funnelled back into making real improvements in public transport - the road parts of which will also move quicker if there is less traffic.

― Martin Skidmore (Martin Skidmore), Friday, 14 February 2003 21:17 (twenty-two years ago)

The roads this morning were incredibly quiet on my way into work. A lot of that is due to half-term, but I'm sure there was an extra impact due to the charge. And no gridlock on Pentonville Road as feared.

― James Ball (James Ball), Monday, 17 February 2003 15:52 (twenty-two years ago)

my mom gets the economist and it said "and this issue is getting more talk in london than the war with iraq" and i immediately thought "then how come i haven't seen it on ile?"

― Maria (Maria), Monday, 17 February 2003 16:35 (twenty-two years ago)

economist readers are more likely to go to work by car than ile readers, maria

we go to work by space-age jetpack

― mark s (mark s), Monday, 17 February 2003 16:57 (twenty-two years ago)

Maria's got me worried now that I look like some sort of transport wonk with muddled priorities, but I can assure you I've spent a darn site longer talking about Iraq recently in the real world than congestion charges, whatever it looks like on this thread.

― James Ball (James Ball), Monday, 17 February 2003 17:11 (twenty-two years ago)

sixteen years pass...

Congestion Pricing in Manhattan, First Such Plan in U.S., Is Close to Approval

^_^

― mookieproof, Tuesday, 26 March 2019 19:47 (six years ago)

is the op jimothy bollocks

― PaulDananVEVO (||||||||), Tuesday, 26 March 2019 19:51 (six years ago)

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