IMechE Report

[whole diary]

[zebedee]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7277757.stm

Why is it we need reports to state the totally obvious?!

[eightf48544]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7277757.stm

Why is it we need reports to state the totally obvious?!

Unfortunately ministers in the DFT^▸ (Department for Transport) and Treasury are so scared of the road lobby that they are paralysed by fear of a backlash by the car driving voters if they spend too much on rail.

Look at Ruth Kelly's announcement yesterday dropping road pricing.

 

[zebedee]

Sad isn't it?  That silly politics get in the way of progress....oh well, it won't matter in a few hundred years when all life on earth has ceased to exist....

[Lee]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7277757.stm

Why is it we need reports to state the totally obvious?!

See also link below.
http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=1949.msg14433#msg14433

[Lee]

Look at Ruth Kelly's announcement yesterday dropping road pricing.

I note that this contradicts the TIF^▸ (Transport Innovation Fund) guidance which was also issued yesterday :

Pretty clear guidance that road pricing should be included in such packages (links below.)
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/regional/tif/tifpackages

[eightf48544]

The way I heard it was that universal pay as you go road pricng was dropped but local authorities could impose "Congestion type" charging and presumably take the knocks.

Passing the buck!

[Lee]

The way I heard it was that universal pay as you go road pricng was dropped but local authorities could impose "Congestion type" charging and presumably take the knocks.

Passing the buck!

Pretty much. Here is a quote from the TIF^▸ (Transport Innovation Fund) guidance :

Pump Priming - Round 3

What we are looking for

5. We are particularly looking for packages of measures that combine road pricing with better public transport although we may, by exception, consider bids involving a workplace parking levy.

Ruth Kelly speech link.
http://www.dft.gov.uk/press/speechesstatements/speeches/congestion

[devon_metro]

This doesn't half get on my nerves. As much as I am for changing our habits why the hell do we need to be told every bloody where we go arggggggggggg

Its always the same story...

[John R]

I actually quite like the idea of a tax on workplace parking which Nottingham is proposing in exchange for improvements to its tram network.

Why? It's simple to administer, unlike road pricing, and can be targeted purely at the centre of the city. And if passed by the employer onto the recipient of the parking space, it may encourage people make alternative choices. I have a space which I never use, but it gets reallocated to someone who may well also have a public transport alternative which they choose not to use. Some of my colleagues with spaces drive in from places which are within a couple of minutes of a station with a decent service to Temple Meads, and our offices are 3 minutes walk from the station. So there's no excuse really for them clogging up the roads.

But, any tax would have to be offset by a noticeable investment in public transport.     

[eightf48544]

Although you may not agree with him Uncle Ken is actually slowly improving public transport in London.

Buses are now fuller than ever especialy the free bendy bus service.

Despite Metronet going bust at enourmous cost to the taxpayer some tube stations have had a lick of paint.

Docklands has been extended 3 times and is currently being built to Woolwich with further possible extensions to Barking.

Stations are being extended to take 6 car trains.

The East London line is being extended both South and North. Although I don't agree with it terminating at Highbury and Islington it should go to Watford via Primrose Hill.

So maybe the money from the congestion charge is doing some good.