Transport problems in London

To the transport planner, the problem posed by the private ears in city centers is simple. There are too many ears being used by too few people too often. The solution, however, is not so simple.

The problem faces every major city each day. Thus, in London, during the morning rush hour, between 8 and 10 a.m., about 94000 ears carrying approximately 100000 people force their way into the 6 square miles named the Central London Area – the very heart of the city.

A third of them drive straight through, seeking destinations on the other side of London. Of the rest, half wheel their way into private car parks and the rest nose around for the 32000 on-street and off-street public parking spaces.

Although the journey into the centre of London is much faster now than it was 15 years ago, it is unlikely to get any easier. For the question who comes first on the city's streets – the private driver or the fare-paying passenger – has become a major political and planning issue.

People entering Central London by public transport outnumber motorists by 10 to one. During the peak morning period, 3200 buses, each disgorge an average of 46 passengers into Central London. Rail and Tube carry their share of the million or so travellers. Over the next 6 or 7 years by a stiff combination of measures the Council aims to reduce by a third the 94000 cars entering London. Proposals include taking control of private parking and issuing licences (at a fee) for spaces, removing almost half the existing parking meters, encouraging «park and ride» travellers and most controversially, reintroducing a modified scheme of supplementary licensing. Although this idea was abandoned two years ago as impractical, transport planners are nevertheless drawing up proposals for what is now described as an «area licensing scheme» which would allow only permit holders into central areas. Senior transport planners believe that parking restrictions have only a limited effect and that a supplementary licensing scheme is the last and only option.

Questions for discussion:

1. Which of the following statements formulates the problem more
exactly?

a) too few people use public transport.

b) there are too few parking spaces;

c) there are too many cars in London;

d) the Central Area is too small.

2. When is the peak period?

a) between 8 and 10 in the morning;

b) between 8 and 10 in the evening;

c) before 8 in the morning;

d) after 10 in the morning.

3. How many car drivers use public parking spaces?

a) a third;

b) a half;

c) a sixth;

d) two thirds.

4. Which of the following is not true?

a) the journey through the centre to the other side is faster now than it was 15 years ago;

b) 15 years ago, the journey to the centre was slower than it is now;

c) the journey to the centre is easier now than it was 15 years ago;

d) the journey through the centre is no easier now than it was 15 years ago.

5. In what proportion do the people entering Central London by public transport outnumber motorists?

a) 1:10;

b) 10:1;

c) 46:32000;

d) 46:10.

6. A private car driver can enter Central London area by:

a) becoming a permit holder;

b) paying an extra fee;

c) very fast driving;

d) taking a passenger with him.

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