http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... an_blockedNew York was proposing something similar. Common sense apparently prevailed. You see Mancunians already have discussed alternative routes avoiding the charged roads (more later from the Salford Advertiser when I track down the story or find a link to it...(Have e-mail scan of it.. which is the normal crooked one Jazz sends me as she "claims multi-taskin'"
) - will take a lot of cropping to tidy ..
)
but anyway the big bone of contention was the traffic jams it would cause OUTSIDE the zone.
We already do have accounts from when Jazz was getting signatures for a referendum in Westhoughton. Some shoppers live in nearby Atherton and they all expressed worries about the proposed Park and Ride car park which would effectively make their currently quiet road into a heavy trafficked one all day long as folk head for this car park. These are not like Oxford, York, Canterbury and Chester where the park and rides are closer to the business park hub-lands. These are ear marked for busy residentials... from the map in the MEN .. and other local press.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... stion_planQuote:
New York chief hails congestion plan
Caroline Jack
12/ 6/2008
NEW York's chief jambuster has claimed Greater Manchester's congestion charge plans could prove a model for the rest of the world.
Tom Maguire, director of congestion mitigation in America's biggest city, was speaking during a visit to Manchester yesterday.
His comments followed an announcement by transport secretary Ruth Kelly that Manchester's tram, bus and rail network would receive £3bn of improvements - provided a peak-hour congestion charge of up to £5 a day was introduced.
Mr Maguire, who played a key role in shaping similar plans in New York, said the combination of investment and the charge could be the key to its success.
"This plan is a real opportunity for Manchester to be a leader in transport planning," he told the MEN. "I do not want to be too quick to pass judgment on cities which I don't know too well, but I think this plan could work here.
"What makes it special is the fact it is a comprehensive package, with all aspects of public transport considered."
Mr Maguire was in Manchester to speak at the tmap - traffic management and parking - conference 2008, and exchange ideas with transport experts from Greater Manchester.
The region is about to start 12 weeks of consultation on the proposals from government before deciding whether to accept the charge-plus-investment package.
Mr Maguire has faced his own battles in New York, where plans for a congestion charge were recently vetoed. The scheme was approved by New York City leaders, but overturned at state level.
"There are eight million people living in New York, but only five per cent of them drive into the city," said Mr Maguire. "I believe it was those drivers who were listened to by the state over and above anyone else."
Mr Maguire said a congestion charge for New York was not yet dead in the water, and said he would continue to push for state approval.
Traffic
"All the problems of congestion are still there," he said. "Traffic keeps getting worse, and that will happen in other cities including Manchester."
Mr Maguire later spoke to around 350 transport and parking experts, who gathered at the Bridgewater Hall to discuss and share transport practices.
Key themes were changing people's attitudes to car usage, improving bus route coverage and making use of existing road networks with schemes such as car sharing lanes.
Mr Maguire's message focused not just on congestion charging, but on improving and properly linking a variety of transport options such as cycle networks, bus services and on-site parking.
Sir Howard Bernstein, chief executive of Manchester council , opened proceedings with a clear meassage that Manchester's economy could only grow with the introduction of a pay-to-drive policy.
He said: "As our economy grows and grows, we need a step change.
"Monday's announcement means we can now promote a serious debate - it has significance for the country as a whole and even internationally. We are being radical, but I know we are doing the right thing."
Really Mr Bernstein.. We hear many businesses have changed minds about locating to Manchester .. and rumours that some will re-locate because the charge will mean paying the staff more so they can afford to get to work...
By the way.. Nurse at Hope .. Her kids go to school just within the zone. There's apparently no bus .. nor likely to be one as the last one was deemed "not viable". It will cost her £10 to take them .. Then there is the chap whose kids go to the Velodrome to train as cyclists. These are youngsters aged 10 -13 years. It's a bit far to expect them to ride there from Horwich/Chorley border.. and they go straight from school .. hitting the con charge on the evening entry.
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This wil be £10 when in place .. given inflation and a bust economy 
it has not cut congestion when London still moves more slowly than other capitals in Europe per the stats and still has more congestion to boot.
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