Quote:
Originally Posted by coops
I really didn't mean it to sound like I doubted those BBC figures for London, which it might have done, just that I really don't know how they were measured  .
I hope Manchester does invest in some more new & cleaner buses: much of the existing fleets seem very polluting. There has been a north/south regional operator divide (largely between Firstbus & stagecoach) since deregulation of the bus service many years ago and some newer, seemingly cleaner buses (some bendy) operate mostly on 'frequent service' northern routes, but both north & south still having many small operators running older stock, especially on local routes, in the scrummage to run Manchester buses... I've heard it said that lorries and buses are usually the biggest source of pollution on city roads.
Extending the tram network may help, but it will never be as extensive as the London rail network and many of our local rail routes are long disused by trains, such as the local 'fallowfield loop' now an offroad cycle & footway many miles in length! I think most people are extremely cynical that public transport can be improved enough to provide a fast, regular and extensive service, though they'd probably hate to have to use it on principle - its not as accessible or widely accepted as, say, the London tube network.
Re electric cars in Manchester, I remember keeping up with what looked like a G-wiz once on the Torq, though it was at nighttime! 
Stuart. |
I realised that you weren't casting aspersions on the figures Stuart, but since there's so many examples of dodgy statistics these days, I was just illustrating that these for once did have substance. There were exhaustive surveys before introducing the congestion charge of course, it being the first anywhere, so the "before" facts were all recorded accurately. The "after" is easy of course, with all entry points permanently camera and sensor monitored.
You will get the new buses I'm sure, and we've had no trouble there. The first new batch we had on our tram feeder route weren't ideal being a bit noisy for 5am to 1 am operation in a residential area and we complained, thinking little chance of anything done. Very quickly they were replaced with Enviro buses, much quieter and cleaner, not bad on a single complaint. They've also added bus shelters at every stop. We do have the advantage of a blanket transport organisation though, TFL (Transport for London) covering all buses, trams, tubes, cycle routes, maps and facilities, the main roads and even with some main line control now.
Carpetbagger's comment on cycle routes should be looked after as the provision is being written into the Manchester scheme as it was with London, and cycling is crucial to the success of congestion charging. Those administering it won't miss that point, so I think you'll see many improvements.
The most important thing is to have the right person driving it forward, and we've been lucky to have Ken Livingstone behind ours from the start since he is absolutely committed to cycling. Although Boris has now replaced him, once again he's very pro bike and a daily cyclist and only today has launched an attack on local council provision of road humps, partly for their environmental ill effects, but as he says, because they are so awkward for cyclists. He wants to do as one of our North London borough councils has done and get rid of all of them.
In summary, if Manchester gets just half the benefits we've gained, you'll be well pleased.
Of course we still moan, it's the Englishman's right.
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