Congestion charge questions

Tom Anderson wrote:
> Secondly, why is it being extended westward? Why not to the north, where
> i live, so i can ride to work more easily? Is the west more congested,
> or more in need of better bus services? Or does Ken just like people in
> the west more? Or particularly hate western drivers?

Would it not be great if it was extended to cover all of Britain, then
only drivers of foreign vehicles would have to pay.

In message <1159970641.832665.33990@b28g2000cwb.. com>, Earl
Purple <earlpurple@> writes
>I would also like to see another orbital rail route connecting
>all the lines in the outer zones. I'm sure such a line would be well
>used.
I certainly is in Moscow.
--
Clive.

Tom Anderson wrote:

> On Thu, 5 Oct 2006, Earl Purple wrote:
>
> > The issues are not so much with those in the zone but with those just
> > outside who now have to pay the full charge to access what is inside.
> > Perhaps the solution is to have multiple charging zones, give residents
> > totally free access to their own zone and any immediate neighbouring
> > one, thus you have to cross through 2 zone boundaries before you have to
> > pay.
>
> Makes sense - although having a you-count-as-residents neutral zone around
> a charging zone has much the same effect.

Not quite. If a resident "just outside" is given the privelege of going
into the whole zone, then they can now start driving right across it,
as would be the case for any residents of Notting Hill, who were
previously outside of the zone but now having been pulled inside it may
be more inclined to use their cars even when going into the old zone.

> > An example of a facility across the boundary is the Brunswick Shopping
> > Centre around Marchmont Street, WC1. This is just inside and used to
> > have (don't know if it's still there) a big supermarket.
>
> There is - it recently reopened as a Waitrose. I bought a couple of
> bottles of Bordeaux blanc there only this week.
>
> > Those who lived in Somers Town would probably have used it. Now those
> > who live in Somers Town would probably go up to the Sainsbury's in
> > Camden or the Morrison's in Chalk Farm instead.
>
> You're kidding, right? It's a straightforward walk, or a few minutes on a
> bus. Driving there from Somers Town would be insane, even without the
> charge.

Yes but depends on how much you want to buy. For a big shopping trip,
it may be a big problem carrying it all home on the bus. Yes, you can
get home-delivery if they happen to have everything that they stock
listed on the website.

> >> I'd like to mention the system I saw in Madrid: bodies on the ground
> >> enforcing local access only for locals and limited deliveries - but
> >> there's no profit in that scheme is there?
> >
> > Not sure I like the idea either. Taking away people's freedom.
>
> Sigh. Taking away one set of people's freedom to drive their cars wherever
> they like, and bringing a new freedom to walk to another, larger, set of
> people. I'd be in favour of that.

Actually I'd be in favour of having the road in which I live as a
through road for the residents only. That means having a gate somewhere
blocking through access for most vehicles but given residents a means
to open it. Emergency services would also have a device to open such
gates. Residents riding in cabs could open it for the cab driver.
Delivery vans would generally not have through access unless a resident
opened it for them. There could be certain times at which the gate is
open anyway and there would be a gap for cyclists at all times.

Of course that would also mean I would not be able to use other
rat-runs if they put up similar schemes.

Some pedestrianised areas have hours during which delivery vehicles are
allowed access.

Tom Anderson wrote:
> So Colum, how many people get to Oxford Street by car, then?

Many did before the congestion charge zone was brought in. There is a
car-park at Cavendish Square and meters on many of the side roads. I
did notice in February 2003 how much easier it became to find a meter.

At that point in time the parking rate was only £3 an hour. If there
are 2 people going in and doing a fair amount of shopping it is not a
bad option.

I still use car to get to Oxford Street to shop on bank holidays when
parking is free and there is no congestion charge.

Tom Anderson wrote:

> Evening all,
>
> Firstly, what, if any, effect has the charge had on safety? Are there
> fewer road casualties in central London now? More? Have they been
> displaced? Anyone know of any data?
>
> Secondly, why is it being extended westward? Why not to the north, where i
> live, so i can ride to work more easily? Is the west more congested, or
> more in need of better bus services? Or does Ken just like people in the
> west more? Or particularly hate western drivers?

I've worked out a Northern boundary:

A5 up to junction A5205 of St John's Wood Road

A5205 St John's Wood Road, across the A41 and remain on A5205 Prince
Albert Road
Left onto Parkway (which is either A503 or A4201, not sure which)
A503 Camden Road. In the opposite direction the border goes down Bayham
Street then right into Pratt Street which becomes Delancey Street

A1 Holloway Road (East) up to Highbury Corner
A1199 St Pauls Road leading to A104 Balls Pond Road then A1207 Graham
Road
A107 Mare Street South until border with A106
then A106 in both directions (it's a split one-way street) up to first
junction with A12 then A12 Southbound beyond that. Could go through
Blackwall Tunnel or could simply go along A13 or A1261 etc. If
Blackwall Tunnel then A2 is boundary on the other side.

Where the border is made up of two one-way streets (as with A106) then
the roads between them are outside the zone.