Mayor avoids questions about London’s increased traffic

Sadiq Khan avoids questions about London’s increased traffic following lockdown. 

London traffic and air pollution levels have rocketed back up in the past few months.

During the Mayor’s Question Time on Friday (September 17), Caroline Russel Green Party London assembly member called on the Mayor to bring forward plans to cut traffic in London. 

Caroline Russell called for schemes like the ULEZ to be replaced with a smart, fair and privacy-friendly road pricing system.

The Mayor’s current Transport Strategy only commits to an upgraded solution by 2040.

Caroline said: ‘Like other Londoners, I am sick and tired of breathing in filthy air, which is mainly caused by traffic on our streets. We’re in the middle of a respiratory pandemic and traffic is still rising.

‘Smart, fair, privacy-friendly road pricing is the only long-term, pan-London way to tackle congestion and pollution — especially in areas of deprivation where worst-off Londoners also suffer the worst pollution.

‘I’m encouraged that although the Mayor was avoiding talking about road pricing this means he hasn’t ruled it out, in fact, he even hinted that it might be included in discussions he’s having with Government about TfL’s bailout.

‘Smart, fair, privacy-friendly road pricing is the best route out of our congestion and pollution nightmare and if he’d listened to our repeated calls to bring this in over the last four years he’d be in a better position to act right now to cut traffic and clean up our filthy air.’

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