| Topic: | Re:Come and enjoy the lovely air in Putney High Street - I don't think | |
| Posted by: | M Blissett | |
| Date/Time: | 22/01/10 12:43:00 |
| Problem 1: too much pollution makes the street harmful to health Cause: petrol and diesel engines, frequent stopping and restarting of the vehicles Problem 2: too much congestion and noise makes the street unpleasant to use Cause: too many vehicles, stop-start traffic Electric vehicles would solve the first problem. Hybrid buses is relatively easy: we just need to accept the vehicles currently cost more, and buy them. Entirely electric buses seem to be quite new technology, but they are in use in a few cities. But, most of the vehicles on PHS are cars, vans, lorries and taxis. Changing all those into electric vehicles would take a lot longer. Reducing the speed limit to 20mph might reduce congestion, and noise. I don't know, but it could be simulated on a computer and/or trialled. This would also make the street less hostile to pedestrians. Reducing the number of vehicles would definitely reduce congestion and noise. "Carrot" options are improving public transport and walking and cycling infrastructure. "Stick" options are introducing congestion charging and increasing fuel tax (or other costs of using/owning a vehicle). A crazy option is to dig a tunnel :-) |