| Topic: | Re:Mayor's outrageous fare increases | |
| Posted by: | Chris Veasey | |
| Date/Time: | 19/10/09 08:32:00 |
| "He is also abandoning the Western congestion zone, which is a barmy decision at the moment." - as I recall, the western congestion zone was foisted on the area by the previous arrogant and dicatatorial london mayor who ignored the substantial majority opposition by the area's people, with the help of some equally insufferably arrogant senior transport professional TfL staff. So for the current mayor to ectify that outrage by removing the zone is just a belated fulfilment of a debt of honour. What part of the word 'democracy' is it you don't understand? Compare and contrast that sorry story with the Greater Manchester situation, where the people's resounding vote against a congestion charge - many of them (correctly) believed if they voted for it they'd be lumbered with the charge but would be cheated out of the public transport improvements to which it was meant to be linked - was respected by the local political leaders, who while not happy at this public rejection of a scheme they'd capmaigned so hard for, respected the people's view, dropped the plan and are now constructively working on an alternative strategy more in line with the people's preferences. I agree with your concerns re the swingeing fare hikes, particularly as the quality of many aspects of the services, particularly bus, leaves much to be desired. But try sampling public transport services anywhere outside London, which mostly do not enjoy the massive public subsidies - nor the comprehensive public regulation - London's services do, and see how the majority of this country's people live. |