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Year-on-year congestion levels in London soar outside city centre as schools go backWestway traffic jam (licensed CC BY SA 2.0 on Flickr by Mark Hillary)

Year-on-year congestion levels in London soar outside city centre as schools go back

Outside congestion charge zone, traffic jams are up a fifth on last year - and congestion was up 50 per cent last Monday compared to same day in 2019
by Simon_MacMichael
Tue, Sep 15, 2020 16:12
36

Year-on-year motor traffic congestion levels in London have soared in areas outside the city centre with schools reopening for the new academic year as lockdown restrictions ease.

According to a report in the Guardian, during August levels of traffic outside the central Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) – which includes the whole of the City of London, plus parts of the City of Westminster, Camden, Islington, Southwark and Lambeth – were already ahead of 2019 levels.

On average, while falling sharply within the CCZ itself, the levels of congestion outside the zone are a fifth higher than they were at the same point last year, with a 153 per cent year-on-year rise recorded on Monday September 7 – the day many of the capital’s schools went back.

 The figures come from direction finding app Waze’s programme, Waze for Cities, in which it partners with municipalities throughout the world to harness GPS data provided by users of the app to provide insights on where problems arise on the road network and help inform decision-making going forward.

Using data from around 1 million active monthly users in the capital, which includes their journey times, Waze for Cities is able to calculate daily congestion, which it defines as roads on which traffic moves at 80 per cent or less of the speed achieved when traffic there flows freely.

Within the CCZ itself, levels of congestion have fallen by half year on year – possibly due to an increase in the cost of the congestion charge introduced in June following a suspension of it earlier in lockdown leading motorists to seek routes that avoid it altogether.

Stephen Edwards, director of policy at the walking charity Living Streets, said: “This concerning data should serve as a warning that the opportunity to embed the health and environmental benefits of fewer vehicles is not lost.

“Better streets for walking and cycling are better for us all. We must move ahead with schemes to promote these behaviours.”

News of the increase in traffic in London comes amid continued small but vocal opposition to Low Traffic Neighbourhoods in boroughs around the country, with such schemes aimed at removing rat-running drivers from residential roads and make them less dangerous and more pleasant for the people who live there.

> There are probably more low traffic neighbourhoods on the cards than you think

Congestion Charge Zone
greater london
Waze for Cities
Simon MacMichael

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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36 comments

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brooksby replied to eburtthebike | 4 years ago
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eburtthebike wrote:

And when you provide them with the solution to whatever excuse they give for not cycling, they immediately find another.  It doesn't matter if all their perceived problems are addressed, they are literally addicted to their cars, which was a finding of an RAC report about ten years ago.

Hey - isn't that about the time that the Govt announced a comprehensive road safety review...?

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massive4x4 replied to brooksby | 4 years ago
0 likes

brooksby wrote:

Christopher TR1 wrote:

brooksby wrote:

I think another part of the problem is far too many people "just can't" cycle because of (something).

But what? Surely if someone is capable of driving a car they are capable of riding a bike? (possible exception of some people with disabilities but even then there is probably an alternative to the car).

I know that.  I was alluding to how people seem to constantly come up with excuses as to why they "just can't cycle":

I just can't cycle because I'll get all sweaty.

I just can't cycle because the roads are too busy.

I just can't cycle because of all the hills.

I would cycle but its raining.

I would cycle but its too sunny.

I would cycle but I have to do some shopping.

I would cycle but I don't own a helmet.

I would cycle but ... <fill in some other excuse here>.

Or the more reasonable reason is that if the road isn't congested driving two miles is just a lot less of a faff and quicker if you have a drive and there is parking at the other end.

No need to find bag, find suitable shoes, find water/weatherproof clothes, find helmet, unlock bike, get bike out. 

The solution is walkable neighbourhoods, in big cities it should be possible to get everything you need within 800m.

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Hirsute replied to massive4x4 | 4 years ago
1 like

Where is this city without congestion?

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markieteeee replied to billymansell | 4 years ago
6 likes

These didn't just normalise driving again, they made it the safety option.

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Awavey replied to billymansell | 4 years ago
3 likes

I think there was initially intent, but I think circumstances around the economy have shifted the focus though and we never hit that cascade point where the modal shift became self reinforcing, and now the message is we dont really care how you get around anymore,just get around to keep the service sector going.

Plus you are battling things like pre-covid my workplace had quite good cycling facilities,storage lockers, drying rooms, showers, perfect for a newbie cycling commuter to get used to cycling over the winter months, but all that stuff is currently off limits due to their interpretation of covid rules, so even existing regular cyclists are probably thinking well weve probably got to drive now for the time being if we have to be back in the office.

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AlsoSomniloquism replied to Awavey | 4 years ago
0 likes

We have lost the drying cabinet but the rest is ok to use. No use if you want a shower or if it is raining though as there is no where to hang and dry your wet towels or clothes. I would now have to bring them up into the office with me which would probably spread it more then the 5 people who cycle in. 

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