Monday, April 25, 2011

Cycling Boris may ban half the cars in London.

Britain could be fined up to £175m by the International Olympic Committee if it continues to break air pollution laws by the time the Games begin next August. To meet the legally binding agreement, London may have to reduce traffic levels by more than 30% over a period of nearly a month, raising the possibility of draconian measures such as banning cars with number plates ending in odd and even numbers on alternate days.

London is one of the most polluted cities in Europe, with official studies showing that air pollution – mainly from traffic – causes more premature deaths than passive smoking and traffic accidents combined, at a cost of about £2bn a year. Even a 30% reduction in normal traffic during the period of the Olympics may not be enough to bring emissions below the legal limit. Lawyers said London now has few options left beyond actions such as imposing an odd and even number plate ban throughout the city to enable endurance events, such as the marathon, to take place. At the last Olympic Games, in 2008, Beijing had to ban more than 1m cars and close factories.

...So then, cycling Mayor for London, Boris Johnson may have to ban half the cars on alternate days. I remember this scheme working in Paris in 1997 during September, when fine weather produced more smog, the government banned cars from entering Paris on alternate days, according to whether they had odd-or even-numbered licence plates, and made public transport free.

So that is the answer Boris, ban the cars driving around London and declare public transport free! Our country should not be forced to pay a fine of £175m because some Hooray Henry's love driving around London in their Chelsea tractors. Public transport should be for everyone to enjoy and so should the air we breath.
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