We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Car website. However, if you would like to, you can change your cookies at any time
The start point for the best source of fleet information |
So we have a new Mayor of London and so far he has not been shy in promising changes for our capital city including a 'vision for cycling' and the optimistic goal of making London the world's greenest city.
So we have a new Mayor of London and so far he has not been shy in promising changes for our capital city including a 'vision for cycling' and the optimistic goal of making London the world's greenest city.
One thing is clear, transport will be very much in scope, so with such bold plans for change, where does this leave drivers and what kind of impact will the new mayor have?
In the run up to the election Mr Johnson was quoted as saying "I do want to stop clobbering motorists," and "I want to make travel by car into London slightly less hellish."
So the messages are positive and lets hope he follows through on this pledge, although it will be a difficult task to deliver such a far reaching green agenda while appeasing motorists. But despite the green noises that the new Mayor has been making pre-election he has already made a couple of moves which will upset green campaigners.
One certainty is that there will be reform of the congestion-charge. Claiming that congestion is now rising above pre-congestion-charge levels the new Mayor is adamant that Ken Livingstone's £25 levy will not improve congestion or emissions and instead will hit families and small businesses.
Therefore he will please many drivers by scrapping the planned £25 a day congestion-charge for high emission vehicles.
His second controversial step is a deal with Thames Water that will see the Mayor's office drop a legal challenge blocking the water company's plans for a desalination plant in north east London in return for several concessions. Among other things Thames Water will work with the Mayor to reduce the impact of road works on traffic congestion, another positive for drivers.
Despite changes to the congestion charge Mr Johnson has targeted traffic. He rightly points out that cars stuck in traffic emit more than cars that are moving. He is keen to re-phase traffic lights to get traffic moving more smoothly and to achieve this he will lobby Government for powers to fine utility companies that run overtime when digging up the roads.
Other early moves in his reign as new mayor will be to hold a consultation with residents in the area covered by the extended congestion charge zone, known as the westward extension, with potential to move the boundary placing them outside the zone. He is also committed to encourage Londoners get out of their cars to walk and cycle more so he will provide £2 million for safe cycle parking.
For motorists in London the soundbites are encouraging, especially when compared with Ken Livingstone's harsh stance on drivers. However, if he is serious about his green agenda there is likely to be some pressure on drivers to use alternative methods of getting from A to B.
And in terms of the impact Boris Johnson will make in the longer term, only time will tell.
BusinessCar magazine ©2019
Business Car Magazine © 2020 | Business Car is part of NS Media Group.
