Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
In article ,
The Natural Philosopher wrote:
The short answer is to remove all obstacles to traffic FLOW - all those
humps bumps traffic lights and chicanes..and to tax fuel till the pips
squeak.

Traffic calming measures are there for road safety. They make very little
difference to actual flow.


I cannot believe *you* actually believe that.
They have a MASSIVE effect on congestion, and waste incredible amounts
of fuel and do almost nothing for safety..in one case I have seen them
cause an accident that would not have happened without them.

I have timed empty junctions at traffic light controlled junctions. The
average is 15 seconds of lost road per cycle on any given access to the
junction.

Everyone in Cambridge reports better traffic flow when the lights
actually fail.



People will think twice about a trip to the supermarket to get some
coffee if it costs 30 quid in fuel.

Or they'll get an electric car.

The surplus tax take can go on better roads, or better railways. Or VAT
rebates for those who HAVE to use cars..etc..like fireman and ambulances
and the like.

Why do those have to live so far from work they need to come in by car?


Because the facilities are crap where the work is?


Its all simple cost benefit..travel to an well paid job in a ****ty city
is cheaper than living in that city in a decent sized house, and the
salaries are not available outside of it.

Plus city living is crime ridden and pollution ridden.


The answer is simple,. Raise fuel prices..and get rid of obstacles stuck
in the road to slow people down and cause congestion.