Congestion charging attempts to price drivers
out of their cars and onto public transport
(PA/EMPICS)
Streets ahead
We own more cars now than we did when Labour came to power in
1997, and we use them much more frequently. But we are still behind
the European average. This suggests that the next few years will
see even more cars clogging our roads.
Life for a car driver is likely to get increasingly miserable
unless one of two things happen: either someone makes the roads
a lot better, or you will have to get out of your car and find
a different way to go from place to place.
To an extent, this is a personal decision. But history has shown
that the easier it is for people to drive, the more likely they
are just to get into their cars. Perhaps something like the congestion
charge – which Edinburgh residents recently rejected but might
soon come to Bristol, Leeds, Manchester or Cardiff – really should
be introduced to encourage people onto public transport.
The next election is likely to have a huge impact on the way
Britons travel over the next few years. But one thing is unlikely
to change. You’ll still be grumbling about everything being too
slow, unreliable and expensive. But then, some things never change.
Conservatives
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The
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Liberal
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Department for
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Transport
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Pro-motoring
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