London's transport strategy does nothing for van drivers, says RAC
Thursday 18 February 2010 Back to Blog
Van leasing customers in London could find the city's transport plans do little to help their traffic problems.
The RAC Foundation has criticised Mayor of London Boris Johnson's transport plans as they do nothing for van and car drivers, the Evening Standard reports.
Johnson has proposed a number of measures to tackle congestion in the city, such as extending the Underground's Bakerloo Line and bringing in a bicycle hire scheme similar to that used in Paris.
He has also suggested a per mile charge for drivers using some of the capital's busiest roads.
The RAC Foundation's director, former Transport for London board member Stephen Glaister, said the plans focused too heavily on public transport.
"For the majority of Londoners the private car, the van ... matter just as much as public transport," he said.
"We doubt that the Mayor's aspirations for congestion and emissions to reduce, and journey times to become more reliable, are achievable."
Van traffic on Britain's roads increased by three per cent in the last quarter of 2009, Department for Transport statistics show.