Solving London's traffic problems

Nicholas Saunders

The first item in this chapter describes Saunders' long-term possible solution to the problem of cars and traffic. In this item he tackles the problem in the short-term.

The following scheme would suit any UK government which wanted to show that it can do something imaginative about London's traffic problems. Although not in outline very novel, it is comprehensive in its scope - with advantages for all the various vested interests:

Introduction

This is a scheme that would enable people to travel to, and within, the central London area freely. The savings, in terms of valuable time at present lost in traffic delays, would be of enormous financial benefit; while the reduction in noice, air pollution and frustration would be of great social benefit.

Summary

As a preliminary, the public would be made aware just how anti-social and uneconomic the present traffic chaos is. Then most private car users would be persuaded to use public transport - by means of strict controls and heavy penalties. At the same time, public transport would be greatly improved, and extended to cater for those who used to commute by car. The costs of introducing and running the system would be recouped from the resulting increased revenue. Vested interests would not suffer, and the public in general would benefit greatly.

Preliminary awareness campaign

A series of ads - on TV and in the newspapers - would make people aware of just how bad the present situation is. There could be an ad of a frustrated-looking person in a traffic jam captioned: 'If you add up the time lost in London's traffic chaos, it would be equivalent to seven people's entire working lives every day.

'If you add up the time lost in London's traffic chaos, it would be equivalent to seven people's entire working lives every day'

Another ad could show that, if the roads were cleared enough for buses to double their average speed, then the same bus fleet could carry twice as many people twice as fast with half the time waiting at stops - at about half the fare.

The aim of the campaign would be to make people aware that a vast improvement is practical; that the new system will work better for everyone - and that private car use in the centre is anti-social - and will not be tolerated when the new system starts.

Commuter transport

A survey of car commuters would be commissioned and used to decide on the location of periphery car parks. These would be built next to tube stations if possible, and new bus routes would be provided if the surveys showed that they were needed.

Off-street parking

A survey would be made of all off-street parking facilities. The owners would be informed of a new tax - of, say, L100 per day per car - for cars entering their car park between 8.00am and 10.30am. They would be liable to pay this tax, on penalty of very heavy fines. However, owners would benefit in two ways. They would be able to charge much higher parking fees after 10.30am corresponding to higher meter charges; and they would be given planning permission for change of use to other uses which would often be more profitable.

'A survey would be made of all off-street parking facilities. The owners would be informed of a new tax - of, say, L100 per day per car - for cars entering their car park between 8.00am and 10.30am'

On-street parking

The existing regulations would be very strictly imposed, with greatly increased fines, besides the prohibition on parking at meters between 8.00 and 10.30am. This would entail the retraining of traffic wardens (who at present only give six tickets a day on average), and altering the regulations to make it impractical to avoid paying fines. Traffic wardens should be re-equipped so that they can instantly report the number of an illegally parked car on their radio; and if that car is on a list of ones with unpaid fines (or is stolen or has no tax), then it would be listed for wheel clamps or towing away.

Stopping and loading

Loading restrictions would be reassessed and in some cases made more liberal (such as after pedestrian crossings). However, these would be strictly enforced on penalty of heavy fines for even short stops. Traffic wardens could perhaps carry cameras to provide evidence of offences. Taxis would not be allowed to stop where they cause obstruction - the taxi drivers' cooperation would be solicited and should be obtained, since they will benefit greatly from the end to congestion.

'Traffic wardens could perhaps carry cameras to provide evidence of offences'

Public transport

Buses would be rescheduled (at twice the present average speed?), and re-routed, if surveys show a more efficient service would result. Bus crews would be given a tactfully run retraining scheme to deal with the new conditions, and a bonus related to the number of passenger miles they provide each week. In this way, the crews of buses that run off-schedule in 'bunches' would lose out, while those who provide a good service would gain.

'Bus crews would be a bonus related to the number of passenger miles they provide each week'

Nicholas Saunders, top floor, 14 Neal's Yard, London WC2 (tel 071 836 9404; fax 071 379 0135).

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