London's Congestion Charge Champion Voted Out

by Edward Niedermeyer

Published: May 5th, 2008

london s congestion charge champion voted out

London has voted out Mayor Ken Livingstone. While the BBC frame the election of Conservative Boris Johnson as London's new mayor in the context of a widespread shift of support from Labour to Tory, "Red Ken's" call for increased congestion charges (to $50/day) and 20mph speed limits in residential areas helped turn the tide in Johnson's favour. Johnson has pledged to review the congestion charge scheme, particularly in London's West End. Note: review and adjust. Not eliminate. Yes, there's little doubt that the UK motorists will continue to be targeted by revenue-building environmental measures, including Ye Olde CG. How long before New York City or Seattle of Portland or San Francisco revive this idea?

Edward Niedermeyer

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BostonTeaParty on May 06, 2008
brownie which bit of longer travelling times, increased traffic congestion around the scheme as people try to avoid it, no decrease in pollution or traffic levels was flawed? people adjusted by getting vehicles that were exempt to the charge which in effect increased road traffic. But the main problem were the main polluters, the good old taxis and buses that caused the most air pollution around the capital? they were never dealt with. Does anything ever get given back to public transport from the scheme or does it all get wasted away by the company that runs it, that i think was documented on here one editorial?

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Geeber on May 06, 2008
brownie: Who said congestion charges are or should be about the environment? They are about congestion. No one except its chief proponents...

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Carguy on May 06, 2008

Wolven - I can assure you that red light cameras have anything to do with communism but with the unstoppable growth of governments around the world and the need to pay for that growth. And if you think that government growth is a liberal idea, then please examine our current Republican administration which has managed to grow the size of the United States government more than any other administration of the past 60 years.

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Wolven on May 06, 2008

I agree with you Carguy, Republicans are no better than Democrats. The only American in congress that I'm aware of is Ron Paul.

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