Are you congested?

A question about : Are you congested?

Are you congested? Ken Livingstone has asked for London's Congestion charge to be increased from Ј5 to Ј8. The charge which is paid by those driving into central London during working hours mid-week, aims to decrease the amount of traffic. What's you're view of it?

a. I'm a Londoner: Leave it at Ј5

b. I'm a Londoner: Increase it to Ј8

c. I'm a Londoner: Scrap it all together

d. I'm not a Londoner: The idea should be spread to other Cities.

e. I'm not a Londoner: Definitely don't want it anywhere else.

Best answers:

• I'm a londoner and want it raised to Ј8 for anyone travelling in a car on their own. If people want to commute on their own then they should use appropriate transport methods such as bicycles, scooters or motorbikes.
  I would also like to see large 4x4's banned from London - go for it Ken!!
• Any Blue Badge holders can apply for the full 100% discount. It's a one off payment of Ј10 which covers you until the blue badge expires but is free to renew.
• Raise it to Ј8. Heck, raise it to Ј50, I don't care. I don't have a car and don't own a business within the zone. As far as I'm concerned, the fewer cars the better.
• I'm based in Kingston but my company carries out work in London (installing windows), so we have to go into London to survey and install. Average cost of a job is therefore about Ј20 in congestion charges, at the moment...
  Why, if Ken says the scheme is working and has reduced congestion, does it need to be increased? Surely the only reason can be to make more money out of it. The scheme works too well and they aren't making enough bucks so they are upping the cost - that is not what the congestion charge is for and it's not fair.
  Londoners end up paying twice for everything, as this cost is invariably and unavoidably passed on to them!
  Great scheme - dubious motives
  Chris
• I think traffic congestion is but a temporary problem of perhaps 1 or 2 generations.
  The fact that we (the world) are at Peak Oil production means that the price of crude Oil will inevitably increase and prohibit mass middle income consumption of fuel for the luxury of private transport.
  It's all doom and gloom form now on. !Look on the bright side, with most of us soon to be reliant on shankseys pony for transport the obesity levels will drop like a stone (or 3 ro 4 or 5!).
  My advice for what it's worth is to start growing your own veg, learn to ride a horse, stock pile, dig in !and wait intil the replublic is regained by the masses. !Heaven help us.
  My answer to your poll is don't bother with congestion charges at all as they are just not fair.
• Poll – Are you congested? Ken Livingstone has asked for London's Congestion charge to be increased from Ј5 to Ј8. The charge which is paid by those driving into central London during working hours mid-week, aims to decrease the amount of traffic. What's you're view of it?
  e. I'm not a Londoner: Definitely don't want it anywhere else 53.3% - (698 Votes)
  d. I'm not a Londoner: The idea should be spread to other Cities 17.9% - (235 Votes)
  c. I'm a Londoner: Scrap it altogether 10.4% - (137 Votes)
  b. I'm a Londoner: Increase it to Ј8 9.9% - (130 Votes)
  a. I'm a Londoner: Leave it at Ј5 7.9% - (104 Votes)
  Total Votes: 1309