London Case Study

Question 1

Words have been some of the solutions for congestion in London?

Answer 1

• Investing in public transport
• Congestion charge
• Crossrail
• ‘Boris bikes’
• Cycle super-highway

Question 2

What is the congestion charge?

Answer 2

• It is a way of trying to reduce London’s congestion.
• Introduced in 2003 and is implemented through King’s Cross and Oxford St.
• All motorists driving within the London inner ring road have to pay a fee of 11. £5.
• If they don’t, they will have to pay a fine of between £65 and £195.
• To ensure people still travel to the city, 300 new buses were introduced

Question 3

How successful has the congestion charge been?

Answer 3

+ Traffic has gone down on average by 15%.
+ Air quality levels have improved in the city centre with a reduction in nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide as well as airborne particle levels.
- Some central London shops stated that their business went down (e.g. John Lewis stated that sales went down by 7% in the first year).
- Traffic on the roads just outside the congestion charge zone saw an increase in traffic and more cars parked there.
- The initial cost of the congestion charge fee was £5, but has been doubled to £10.

Question 4

What are some other ways in which traffic congestion has been tackled?

Answer 4

• Investing in public transport: e.g. the TFL encourages people to use public transport rather than the current usage as well as improved and extended.
• ‘Boris bikes’: there are more than 10,000 bikes at over 700 docking stations situated every 300 to 500 m in London.
• Cross rail: by December 2019 the line will be fully open, extending all the way to Reading and Heathrow terminal 4.
• Cycle super-highway: introduced by Boris Johnson. A lane, separated to the road in which bicycles could safely circulate without the danger of an accident.