London Congestion Charge

[Gavin Scott]

I've managed 32 years without being able to drive, yet ask a driver to live a week in my life and they would say they couldn't do it without a car.

That seems to be the biggest stumbling block to people considering an alternative.

[Inspector Sands]

I've managed 32 years without being able to drive, yet ask a driver to live a week in my life and they would say they couldn't do it without a car.

That seems to be the biggest stumbling block to people considering an alternative.

Same here, can drive don't drive. I go everywhere by public transport or shank's pony. Don't think anything of it and can't imagine having a car and driving everywhere

[rts]

I live in London, and think the congestion charge is a superb, and visciously effective model. And yes I do happily pay it when I drive into Central London.

People always have the alternative of using public transport such as the Tube, and very quick way to get from place to place in such a great city.

[Inspector Sands]

Indeed, for all its faults the public transport in London is very good. It's not difficult to get to anywhere you want to go using buses or the tube and it often works out cheaper and quicker than driving (no need to find and pay for a parking space for instance).

The Congestion Charge was an extreme measure, but that was what was needed

[marksi]

I know people in London complain about the public transport system... sometimes with justification... but at least it *usually* works. Those of us in most of the rest of the country need cars as the public transport system is a joke.

[rts]

I use London transport daily, and yes I do have difficulties from time to time. Being stuck between stations on a tube for over an hour, buses turning up late (occassionally not at all), but the fact of the matter is I would stuffed without it.

[Gavin Scott]

I know people in London complain about the public transport system... sometimes with justification... but at least it *usually* works. Those of us in most of the rest of the country need cars as the public transport system is a joke.

That's pretty much the argument I hear all the time Mark, but I'm not sure how much I beleive it (no offense, mind).

Public transport everywhere can be pretty lame, but "need a car"? Not sure about that.

[TVDragon]

I know people in London complain about the public transport system... sometimes with justification... but at least it *usually* works. Those of us in most of the rest of the country need cars as the public transport system is a joke.

That's pretty much the argument I hear all the time Mark, but I'm not sure how much I beleive it (no offense, mind).

Public transport everywhere can be pretty lame, but "need a car"? Not sure about that.

Well now the thing with this point is that there are now over three million people who work at night. Although a few of them are truck drivers [problem solved], most of us aren't.

This country is supported quite significantly by the people who work overnight [honest] -- yet the government don't have any intention of providing transport for people who aren't 9 to 5 [which I daresay applies to Mark too].

I work thirty miles away across open countryside, so a car is essential for me and loads like me. I would love not to spend all that money on petrol, but at the moment there's no alternative.

[Fireboy]

buses turning up late (occassionally not at all),

Busses regularly don't turn up here - in fact, 8 consecutive services didn't turn up at all one day. I've also been stuck in Newcastle's Eldon Sq. Bus Concourse for 3 hours with none of the 13 services to Western Gateshead tunring up at all (it's also awfully smoky there, because it's underground).

And I'd recomend anyone who uses Public Transport never to visit County Durham - it's more expensive to go the 5 miles to a local village in the same valley I live in than the 26 miles from the edge of West Gateshead to Newcastle Centre - and they're on the same bus service.

[marksi]

I know people in London complain about the public transport system... sometimes with justification... but at least it *usually* works. Those of us in most of the rest of the country need cars as the public transport system is a joke.

That's pretty much the argument I hear all the time Mark, but I'm not sure how much I beleive it (no offense, mind).

Public transport everywhere can be pretty lame, but "need a car"? Not sure about that.

Well... public transport wise I missed the last train from here by 52 years, so bus is my only option. As I can work shifts anywhere between 0530 and 0300 and the first bus is 0630 and takes an hour, and the last bus from Belfast to here leaves at 2230, those really aren't options. Also, a return on the bus costs the same as the car parking space in Belfast, and it takes precisely twice as long as the car journey.

Of course when I get me bike I'll have two options...

[Gavin Scott]

Well I wouldn't see you stranded in the middle of the night, obviously.

Shift working is of course a notable exception, as is rural life.

For city and major town dwellers (where congestion charges are relevant) then there's hardly an excuse.