Congestion Charging: A Viewpoint

When congestion charging was introduced in London in February 2003 the chaos and disaster predicted by its opponents did not happen. There was no civil disobedience, no gridlock on the ring road and, despite the temporary closure of the Central Line of the Tube, no intolerable pressure on the public transport system. Critics searched frantically for bad news but, finding none, quickly fell silent. Congestion charging in central London had been introduced almost without incident.

Reduction of traffic and congestion was the main aim of the scheme. Before the charge was introduced, it was predicted that traffic would fall by 10-15 per cent and congestion by 20-30 per cent. Final assessment has shown that traffic entering the zone is 18 per cent down during charging hours, with a reduction in car traffic of 30 per cent and a reduction in congestion of the same amount. In all 65,000 fewer car movements per day are being made into or through the zone.

Conditions in central London have been transformed. Even on the ring road where many expected additional congestion, traffic has continued to flow smoothly despite a 4 per cent increase in volume. There has been very little displacement onto other roads around the boundary of the charging zone. Contrary to some gloomy predictions, public transport has coped with ease. Around 29,000 additional bus passengers are entering the zone on 560 extra bus services in the morning peak period. Congestion charging has boosted improvements in bus services. Routes serving the zone now suffer 60 per cent less disruption because of traffic delays. Improvement has not been confined to the zone. Delays to buses on the inner ring road have been halved and across London as a whole the fall is about 40 per cent. Average bus speeds have increased by 7 per cent.

(Source: Campaign for Better Transport formerly known as Transport 2000)

Worsley and Boothstown Transportation Task Group do not necessarily endorse this intenet derived comment article on congestion charging