While I agree with you in principles, City was pretty much deserted during Xmas/NYE (I was here basically every day), so lifting CC didn't make huge difference. I would rather like to see Khan's new ULEZ introduced ASAP rather than general Congestion Charge (which does nothing to those cancerous old buses and taxis).


City of London? More like ~1st century AD :smile: And yes, it wasn't built in cars in mind :grin:

Ok you talked me into it, I'm off to grab my keys :smile:

That city that was built in the 1600s? And when did cars come along? :grin:

No issues driving in central whatsoever just the traffic now and then can be painful.
Free parking helps too if you know where to look

Imagine that there was no congestion charge, and no buses, and no bus lanes. Imagine too that people could park where they wanted for as long as they liked. People would drive into London and park, and very soon the roads would be congested and traffic would be at a standstill. Parked cars would block roads, and the volume of traffic trying to move around would mean that no one would get anywhere. Then someone would say let's have buses with special lanes to take some of this traffic off the road. Someone else would say let's have parking restrictions on some roads so that traffic can actually move. Finally someone else would come up with an idea to reduce congestion by charging people who want to bring a car into central London a fee for doing so. Then some sort of order would be restored. Until the day that someone decided that the congestion charge was a rip-off, and that buses and bus lanes were a bad idea....

Such divided views on Driving, London, Culture ... in a post about "no traffic charges" for a few days ... phew! oO

The DM online is free and never ending thankfully.
Unlike the Guardian who had to beg people to buy their paper a few months ago because they are struggling to survive...

English is not an authoritative language so both fewer and less are correct.

Good to know that :smile: Unfortunately my home is not next to the Reading train station :wink:

1. Pollution - Negative health effect to mass populous - If you lack empathy then this won't bother you.
2. Modern diesels cars cost more to run, to recoup the cost an average mileage of 15K a year is required. Used diesel depending on age 10K a year
3. DPF and Dual Mass Flywheel problems

Smaller engine petrol turbo and Hybrid engined cars are preferable to diesel.

You censored moronic??

Few worse places to go. Enough said.

Merry Christmas to all Moderators. It can't be easy reading all this drivel. An especially warm compliments of the season to our happy cockney, button-sewing, Lahndahn contributors.

As do indecipherable parking restriction signs, obscured turn restriction signs, tiny Smart cars with cameras mounted on their roofs, hidden speed cameras, sudden changes to turning restrictions that you've used for years, CCTV and traffic enforcement officers on foot, on bicycles and on mopeds hoping to earn their Christmas bonuses. These have so far cost me nearly £600 since November plus a demand for another unpaid fine of £625 from 2011 which I was totally unaware of due to letters being sent to my previous address after notifying the DVLA of my moving home in 2010. Ho Ho Ho!

OK, I will. When can you send my Bank Transfer for £250,000?

I am assuming you are aware that the fast trains takes a fraction of the time you stated, unless you have to go far off from Paddington and also there is big commute to Reading station.

Last time I went to London I saw an uber prius crash into a bus :stuck_out_tongue: Justice for all

Why should people give up their diesel cars? Mine does 65 to the gallon.....compared to public transport prices, there's no comparison! Want clear air? Move to the country and not a city.

Nice to know that we still lead the world in being moaning,miserable gits!!

"Finally a few days we aren't fleeced for driving to London"

Why would you want to drive in the congestion zone and why do you think it's too much money to pay?

theguardian.com/uk/…rol

The Governments in the late 80's and 90's were telling everyone to change to diesel, now diesel is bad and they want everyone possible to stop using them. Blame the Governments who only think short term. I don't have a problem with the congestion charge, there's a good reason to have it and yes some businesses that operate in the zone are forced to pay but that's tough luck really.

Just a polite reminder, it's coming up to the end of the year, don't forget you need to renew your annual subscription to the Daily Mail!

you're welcome!

Always take the tube in London, commuting or otherwise, so much quicker than driving, especially in the case of the former. I drove in London for a few years before the advent of Uber, just sounds like they have replaced the black cabbies in larger numbers. Some also had the habits already described, never experienced a spitting cyclist once.

Any news on the Dartford crossing over xmas time? Heard you've got to pay on xmas day now

It's the London Mayor (Labour) who ultimately controls the congestion charge and TFL. You know, the same Labour type Mayor as the one who first introduced it.
Don't let facts get in the way of any of your political frothings though. Troll-on.

Aw you poor things. When will this Tory gov.t stop punishing Londoners while they force the rest of us north of the M25 to live like Kings and Queens!

Aw you poor things, when will this Tory gov.t stop punishing Londoners while they force the rest of us north of the M25 to live like kings and queens!

No Congestion Charges means no parking spaces and plenty of PCNs, they got you to pay, one way or another :wink:

Could do if the public transport was cheap! Easy to say "Walk or bike" when you're living in London.

I haven't seen one of those doorstep utility company cold callers for a while, but I imagine one of those would put it like this:

If you don't drive into the London CC zone during this period, you're basically losing £11.50 per day. That's £92, what are you crazy? If I dropped £92 on the floor and said you can have it, wouldn't you pick it up? Of course you would! And you're saying you don't want to collect an easy £92 by just driving into London, well, you're crazy if you don't. Just sign here... Hey why'd you slam the door in my face!

Then can I get a refund on those days since i pay annually

Tha

Thank you it was very enjoyable

I'm sorry you had a stroke.

CHARGE MORE=LESS CARS SO FREE IS NOT GOOD IDEA PLEASE

you're a mad 1 fam. deez bredrin love da charge

​well not really if all public transport was free and most people probably wouldn't use cars that way maybe like mini trams running in more places and stuff

My costly train ride takes around 95mins to the City each way, don't think I would like to even think of options unless it saves me time :wink:

*facepalm*

Sorry why are you driving in London? Pollution causes 10000 premature deaths a year. Cyclists or pedestrians dont. The congestion charge should be doubled over Xmas, not waived!

Is it not just the Christmas Period? Why does everyone use so many Americanisms these days?

Have you been sitting in the back of my motor and recording what i say every time i dare to drive in my own city **** me you are spot on and i mean spot on.

Cyclist spitting at cars!

Great idea. Must put that on my new year resolution list.
Commute to work on my bike will be so much fun in the New Year.

But you know that the congestion charge zone is not guarded by posts and armed personnel and just enforced by CCTV cameras? :smile:

CC gets suspended every year at xmas.

You can park free on single yellow lines and most "paid" parking spaces (double check the sign though!!!) on 25-27th December. (Only Bank holidays) and every day after 630pm.

Fireworks and Shopping (Boxing Day!) oO

Why would anyone want to drive into London! (This is coming from someone that lives in London)

Well after reading all that my first thought was, set off earlier. :smile: Then you will miss the kids in the way and find it easier to park and have a less stressful day. While at first getting up earlier seems a drag after a few weeks you get used to it. Besides I eat breakfast after traveling rather than before so don't get up as early as you think. :smile:

Nice post! But parking will probably be all suspended in London anyway!

Fewer cars, not less. :-)

slough council said they are thinking of this already

probably to clog up the roads so you cant drive a hgv a high speeds

Because it's far too expensive, overcrowded, too hot and often unreliable. It's only for use when absolutely necessary (i.e. commuting into work when the congestion charge is on).

That's a rip off. But I do think that transport charge in London are subsidised. You might be cheaper going into the outskirts of London and using the tube from there. Let me know if you want me to investigate options for you.

I would love to be able to walk a few hundred yards from my home to a bus stop/train station/underground train, jump on board and arrive a few hundred yards from my work. As it is I have to travel by car, on overly busy roads, often stuck behind school buses. Often there are agricultural vehicles on the road too. I then pass two schools and getting caught up in the school run seeing overweight kids getting dropped off by women still dressed in their nightwear. The congestion around schools is awful - and all of the kids who do not get the school bus don't get it because they are within walking distance of the school.
I then struggle to find a parking space at work. And I've added to the general pollution and congestion in getting here. But there is no practical alternative in this area. Relaxing on public transport sounds like bliss to me, though I do accept that not all public transport is relaxing when it's over-crowded. Let's swap lives? X)

I live in central London and drive here a lot - and couldn't have summed the experience up better myself.

If I could , I would drive to London every single day! It's just that damn £11.50 CC charge keeping me at bay.
Travelling on the underground is a challenge. Do you really want to sit next to someone who stinks / plays loud music / smells of weed and that too in an overcrowded carriage ?

Hot deal, I'm glad there is a congestion charge most of the year though

Perfectly summed up driving in London- not to say the prying speed cameras waiting to "box" fine you!!

I couldn't have said it any better and I work, live, and drive a car, van and cycle bike through Central London. Its a joke!

Subsidise! I pay £51 every day I take the public transport (train) to London from Reading oOoO

​ban diesels. petrol cars aren't as bad. taxis and busses the worst actually.

Uber prius' trying their hardest to crash into you at every chance. Cyclists spitting at you if you dare to pass them within 25ft. Pedestrians walking in front of you at crossings then giving you dirty looks for daring to drive in the road. 15 million empty buses blocking every road and people riding boris bikes that haven't cycled since they were 8. Welcome to London curtesy of TFL.

Right, they have removed the "Charge",now they need to sort out the "Congestion" bit.

Gotta love the governments way of handling Southern crisis 'darling do call the Major, TfL really needs to drop the congestion charges for a period of goodwill so Southerns will stop moaning about having to drive to London, we can call it a festive treat, ya, a festive treat, and tell Southerns chief executive on hold on line two I am too busy to take his call but perhaps I can squeeze in a lunch meeting at The Ivy one day this week if they can at least organise that.'

Why drive into London when the rest of the country pays so much to subsidise your public transport system?

Durham has a congestion charge too. It's a much smaller zone, but a much smaller charge too. £2 or £3 from memory.

£15 billion crossrail funding didnt come from a charitable fund, infact trace back how much came from taxpayers funded depts...




crossrail.co.uk/abo…ing

Same as every year then

And who did you used to be? #BlatantMulti

Very Well Written Reality of London.

Oh wow I will go to London to make the saving woooo hooo have some heat

Dont want any of those big trucks going in without passing security first.
Stay safe London.

London calling, parking space please! lol X)

Not unless you're one of the selfish **** that park round my way your be ok.

Great my town full of sunday drivers slowing down looking at the sites and parking in the most ridiculous places blocking all the streets bring back the charge i say bah humbug :disappointed:

Thanks OP.
"No Congestion Charge".
That'll save buying the old Vicks Sinex this year!

Few worse places to go in a car... I'll pass thanks.

Always thought it was for 'congestion' as opposed to air pollution but either way a fair point :smile:

lolX)

So the supposed anti-pollution charge is dropped over the holidays?
Happy Smog-mass everyone!

True! Well atleast no CC zones anywhere outside London yet... :wink:

once they get that in other parts of uk all the councils will be flush

cctv patrol cars on overtime

We'll just be fleeced for parking instead :smile:

CC zone feels more like a "trap" to catch all unsuspecting drivers

"No Congestion Charge"

basically they've turned London into a giant car park for shoppers.

Finally a few days we aren't fleeced for driving to London