A FAIR DEAL FOR THE MOTORIST |
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NO, BORIS, NO!!! |
“YOUR MONEY OR YOUR WAY OF LIFE?” Or why TFL’s wider initiative spells trouble!!! |
· In July 2013, a long set
of documents was released under the heading Mayor’s Roads Task Force (RTF) reports
(The key document proposing action is the TFL
Response). Other pages (linked below) look at the
main concerns on the management of road space. This page covers some
potentially positive measures, although the devil will be in the detail.
Watch out for consultations and lobby your elected reps for a better deal. |
· POSSIBLE PLUS POINTS ·
Perhaps
the biggest ‘plus’ is in managing disruption from roadworks. TFL
are looking at opportunities for underground ‘utility corridors’, which are
located beneath carriageways and footways. These allow engineers to access
the utilities using pedestrian entrances situated on the adjacent footway,
removing the need for roadworks at these locations. They
are working at ensuring that roads and pavements are reinstated to a high
standard ‘first time round’ after any works. They are seeking to reinvest Lane Rental
revenue into developing innovative technologies such as rapid hardening
material and techniques such as ‘core and vac’ technology, which typically
results in faster completion of works and shorter road closures.
·
TFL are
creating a Road Fatalities Review Group to bring together road safety experts
to learn lessons from fatal and serious collisions.
·
There will be a logistics project to elicit
‘Best Practice’ from the lessons of the 2012 Olympics. ·
Real-time
information that can help drivers avoid roadworks and snarl-ups will be
considered A ‘plus’ so long as it adds something to what is currently
available on traffic programmes and websites like the AA’s.
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· THE BALANCE OF PROPOSALS Of previous pages outlining
the proposals, the first
covers:
The second
covers:
The third
covers.
TFL seem to have practically
accepted the proposals from a task force loaded with vested interests (such
as IBM, promoters of congestion charging and ‘smart cities’, road pricing
lobbyists ‘London First’ [sic] and CILT; ‘green’ lobbyists, etc. Drivers were apparently
‘represented’ by David Quarmby of the pro-road pricing RAC Foundation (RACF)
and a former RACF man AA President Edmund King. Where were the objections from
the latter pair?, It is interesting that they are the former and current
Chairmen of the DFT Motorists’
Forum that is supposed to champion drivers’ interests!. |
· PROPAGANDA WATCH On balance, TFL’s response is of concern, given the persistent anti-car flavour. Their commitment to conduct customer satisfaction and attitude surveys to further improve service sounds rather hollow when related to drivers. During 2013, TFL will be working closely
with boroughs and other stakeholders to run a communications campaign. The
aim is to ensure that their overall approach gains widespread acceptance in
London. TFL hint at “changing the processes by
which decisions are made and how people are involved in these decisions”.
This needs explaining, and could be an opportunity or a threat. |
MANY THANKS FOR
YOUR SUPPORT |