FINDING THE SOLUTION TO URBAN TRAFFIC CONGESTION

This article considers the local effects of various schemes for reducing urban road traffic congestion. It studies and evaluates some specific schemes for reducing congestion in the UK, examines some systems outside the UK, and states the author's opinions on what should be done. Traffic congestion is very often eased by building motorways or other new roads to avoid urban areas. Such schemes can inflict considerable disturbance and costs on many people living near their routes, and do not guarantee more than temporary reduction of congestion. For example, the M25 motorway round London is the most congested motorway in Europe, and the congestion in London has not been relieved. Recently, some alternative ways to ease road congestion have been developed in the UK, including park-and-ride. The author considers that many people would use urban public transport instead of cars, if efficient and reliable services were provided. This could dramatically reduce local urban road traffic. The re- introduction of trams could help to reduce traffic congestion in some cities, and walking and cycling should be made viable by adapting urban areas to make both these modes safer. The UK has much to learn from The Netherlands, which has pioneered the shared-space idea for residential areas, and parts of the USA which prevent drivers without passengers from using high- occupancy vehicle lanes. The author calls for a radical plan to reduce the number of drivers and the amount of road construction.