Prince Philip has answer to London Congestion
Discussion
Totally baffled... 
www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html?in_review_id=650871&in_review_text_id=622051
www.thisislondon.co.uk/dynamic/classifieds/motoring/story.html?in_review_id=650871&in_review_text_id=622051
quote:
Philip: ban the tourists
Prince Philip has waded into the vexed debate over London's traffic congestion with an extraordinary proposal - ban tourists.
With apparent disregard for the £8 billion tourists bring to London each year, and despite the fact that visitors to Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle help the Queen balance the royal family's books, Prince Philip wants them out.
He made his view clear during private conversations with members of the London Assembly this week when the Queen opened the new City Hall. The assembly's tourism chairwoman, Jeannette Arnold, listened with astonishment as the Prince blamed foreign visitors for choking London's streets.
Prince Philip, 81, has often courted controversy with his outspoken remarks, but to venture into the politically charged issue of nightmare traffic while visiting the new seat of London government is a departure, even for him. Ms Arnold, who heads the Culture, Sport and Tourism committee, said: "On hearing what job I did, he said, 'Of course the problem with London is the tourists. They cause the congestion. They block the streets. If we could just stop tourism we could stop the congestion.' I told him I would take further advice on that position.
If you got rid of the bus lanes you get 30% of the road space back.
Upgrade the tube so that you can ride it without feeling like you just slept the night under a flyover when you get off.(why is it so dirty compared to others elsewhere in the world?) It needs to be more frequent on popular/congested routes too.
Ban delivery lorries except at night/emergencies.
Change road layouts to EASE the flow of traffic at key spots, rather than add to the congestion as Red Ken is doing now.
Make the traffic light system more intelligent so that it can respond in real time to varying traffic demands.
Provide a significant tax incentive for people to use small city type cars (Smart et al) when they have to drive in the city.
In this day and age, is there any need to have hundreds of thousands of civil servants in the centre of London? Move em out and liberate some commuter traffic space!
Only do road maintenance/sub surface services work at non rush hour times, such as at night. By the next rush hour contractors should be bound to put the highway back in full working order.
Clamp down hard on parking that exacerbates congestion.
Get rid of cycle lanes: what percentage of the London working population actually rides to work when compared to the roadspace set aside for them?
I got into trouble last time I asked to be defence minister, but couldn't I just run for Mayor of London instead?
Andy 400se
Upgrade the tube so that you can ride it without feeling like you just slept the night under a flyover when you get off.(why is it so dirty compared to others elsewhere in the world?) It needs to be more frequent on popular/congested routes too.
Ban delivery lorries except at night/emergencies.
Change road layouts to EASE the flow of traffic at key spots, rather than add to the congestion as Red Ken is doing now.
Make the traffic light system more intelligent so that it can respond in real time to varying traffic demands.
Provide a significant tax incentive for people to use small city type cars (Smart et al) when they have to drive in the city.
In this day and age, is there any need to have hundreds of thousands of civil servants in the centre of London? Move em out and liberate some commuter traffic space!
Only do road maintenance/sub surface services work at non rush hour times, such as at night. By the next rush hour contractors should be bound to put the highway back in full working order.
Clamp down hard on parking that exacerbates congestion.
Get rid of cycle lanes: what percentage of the London working population actually rides to work when compared to the roadspace set aside for them?
I got into trouble last time I asked to be defence minister, but couldn't I just run for Mayor of London instead?
Andy 400se
quote:
Provide a significant tax incentive for people to use small city type cars (Smart et al) when they have to drive in the city.
In this day and age, is there any need to have hundreds of thousands of civil servants in the centre of London? Move em out and liberate some commuter traffic space! compared to the roadspace set aside for them?
The Smart in the City is not that space efficient as it only carries 2. Lets all have old style Cooper Ss.
Most Civil Servants work outside of London already and of those in London most are not in Whitehall.
quote:
I just don't bother going into London any more. The closest I get is Ikea on the North Circular first thing on a Sunday morning. There are lots of nicer places for a Petrolhead to go anyway.
T/.
Hear hear!
I moved out two years ago and haven't driven in London since then; I only go back for meetings I can't avoid. And then by train, which is still (amazingly) cheaper than petrol/parking/wear and tear/time wasted not doing anything.
In defense of London & Prince Philip...
IMHO - I love London, although I choose to live outside I often dip in and out of town, for work 2-3 times a week, shopping once or twice a month and three or four times for seeing friends, I mostly drive in & park in Sloane St, and tube/cab from there, on straight forward days the M4/A4 is OK as long as you avoid rush hour. For boozy occasions train in and cab home.
Prince Philip is probably one of the nicest neighbours I've ever had (quiet, keeps himself to himself, lets us play in his big garden)....and there's the extra benefit of massive security protecting parked cars etc....oh and his gaffes are funny...and his wifes' shop sells some of the nicest sausage rolls you'll ever eat...
>> Edited by Windsorphil on Tuesday 6th August 12:43
IMHO - I love London, although I choose to live outside I often dip in and out of town, for work 2-3 times a week, shopping once or twice a month and three or four times for seeing friends, I mostly drive in & park in Sloane St, and tube/cab from there, on straight forward days the M4/A4 is OK as long as you avoid rush hour. For boozy occasions train in and cab home.
Prince Philip is probably one of the nicest neighbours I've ever had (quiet, keeps himself to himself, lets us play in his big garden)....and there's the extra benefit of massive security protecting parked cars etc....oh and his gaffes are funny...and his wifes' shop sells some of the nicest sausage rolls you'll ever eat...
>> Edited by Windsorphil on Tuesday 6th August 12:43
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