A solution to cutting emissions, reducing accidents and getting more people cycling may be to enforce by legislation between the hours of 7.30am and 9.45am and 5.00pm and 7.30 pm from Mondays to Fridays, a total ban on the use all motorised vehicles within the M25 (with the exception of police vehicles, ambulances Fire Engines Buses and Black Cabs) If you ask the average commuter why they don’t choose to cycle they will tell you (Apart from the fact that they can’t be asked) that they feel it is much too dangerous. I believe this is a fact. Having cycled for 4 years doing 34 miles a day I found it was a bit of a Russian roulette to see if I could avoid having at least 1 close shave a day. I finally had to store my bikes away temporarily because of a change in circumstances. The “Car Curfew” idea is based on the assumption that a balance can be obtained between those who choose to cycle, those who choose to use public transport and those millionaires and high society people that will be forced to spend their dosh on Black Cabs instead of driving into town at 15mph in their Ferarris during this period of the day. The roads are crammed with cars on a daily basis doing needless journeys, besides It would only be for 2.5 hrs during rush hour peaks. After that traffic can revert to normal. The essential purpose is to provide a safe corridor period for the average Joe Blogs to cycle to and from work every day.
I’m not saying that everyone will take to cycling, but they might give it a try. It may become something of a novelty daily marathon. I can imagine that the majority will take to the trains and busses. It would therefore be expected that more of these will need to be introduced. The proposed “Cross Rail” scheme which is now going ahead will greatly increase the train capacity from one end of the city to the other and in less time. There are several advantages. Drastically lowered carbon emissions, reduced road accidents between cyclist and careless drivers, (I find the professional driving class are much more aware of cyclist than private car owners). Cycling is a great fitness workout. Perhaps a 1 month trial period will prove the point that this is a very feasible idea.

This is probably the most ridiculous suggestion I have ever heard.

People don't drive because they are frightened to cycle or because they don't like the idea of public transport. They drive because their commute is too long to cycle and public transport is unreliable, inefficient and horrendously expensive. Somewhat paradoxically it is also so overcrowded that LU were planning to ramp up the cost of tickets even further during the hours you are talking about in order to reduce demand. If the improvements to public transport that your scheme would necessitate were made - and the cost of providing a public transport system that makes every single rush hour car movement unnecessary would make the cost of Crossrail look like loose change - car usage would drop dramatically anyway, without giving the cycling lobby the pleasure of banning anything.

"This is probably the most ridiculous suggestion I have ever heard. . . ."

The same was said when it was first suggested that the earth might not be flat . . . .and that electricity might be used on a large scale. . . .It just takes being a bit openminded and willing to adapt.

People didn't believe the earth was flat. Google 'flat earth myth'.

> "This is probably the most ridiculous suggestion I
> have ever heard. . . ."
>
> The same was said when it was first suggested that
> the earth might not be flat . . . .and that
> electricity might be used on a large scale. . . .It
> just takes being a bit openminded and willing to
> adapt.

You're also assuming that the only people who drive are those who are travelling to work. How are you going to buy your Pot Noodles from Tesco's if the delivery drivers aren't permitted within the M25?

I think cycling should only be allowed between 23:00 and 04:00 when roads are quieter. Thus reducing the chances of accidents and allowing drivers to not worry about bikes attempting to pass on the left.

To help the tube, buses and trains tourists should only be allowed to travel between 11:00 and 14:00 and pay double fares.

To reduce dependency on on fosil fuels the government should fund research into trapping smugness from cyclists and using it as a fuel.

Insane idea and it won't work. No-one in their right mind drives into London for the fun of it and very few I would think do so because they are so attached to their cars.

Unless you are trying to get into Central London, public transport isn't always viable. I know coz I used to commute from Essex into Finchley every day - by public transport it was 1 train and 2 tubes and took on a good day nearly 1.5 hours in one direction but by car would generally only take me about 30 mins. Cycling wasn't an option as I was starting the wrong side of the M25 even if I'd wanted to do so.

Public transport is expensive, crowded, unpredictable and not always practical.

>dvd_4

>If you ask the average commuter why they don’t choose to cycle they will tell you (Apart from the fact that they can’t be asked) that they feel it is much too dangerous.

A perception that should be corrected, not pandered to. cycling in and around London is pretty safe.

>I believe this is a fact. Having cycled for 4 years doing 34 miles a day I found it was a bit of a Russian roulette to see if I could avoid having at least 1 close shave a day

I've been cycling for 15 years in and around London, been injured once (bruised) when a ped stepped out in front of me and I failed to avoid him.

Silly suggestion, are you a junior Labour Minister by any chance.

Such a curfew would simply mean even more overcrowded buses.

Ban all delivery vans from city centres during the day 7am-8pm. Let shop owners employ someone to accept deliveries of a night.

Of course a better long term solution would be to return to the days when businesses and factories were built close to where people live, so cutting commuting to a minimum.

Years ago the majority of people used to walk, cycle or take just a short tram ride to work.

With modern computers and communications we do not need office blocks, 20/30/40/50+ miles from their employees.

> >dvd_4
> >If you ask the average commuter why they don’t
> choose to cycle they will tell you (Apart from the
> fact that they can’t be asked) that they feel it is
> much too dangerous.
>
> A perception that should be corrected, not pandered
> to. cycling in and around London is pretty safe.

I'll remember to quote you on that next time you claim the opposite.

Besides, who wants to get to work sweaty and smelly? Or soaking with rain? Either way needing to bring a change of clothes, and possibly take a shower?

>askasillyquestion

>I'll remember to quote you on that next time you claim the opposite.

Please do.

>Besides, who wants to get to work sweaty and smelly? Or soaking with rain? Either way needing to bring a change of clothes, and possibly take a shower?

Sweaty yes, smelly no.

I have a shower at work (I'm lucky in this regard), I put on a freshly washed and pressed shirt (keep a stock of them on the coat hanger), pants, socks and a suit, and spring out of the bathroom smelling lovely and full of vigour for the day; looking far more spanky than most of my tube addled crumpled up co-workers I might add.