Category Archives: London
World’s best cities for business according to Mastercard Worldwide research
Earlier this week, MasterCard Worldwide released its annual survey of “the global economy’s most influential cities”. Read on… MasterCard Worldwide Research Highlights Growing Role of Asian and Eastern European Cities in the Global Economy London remains the global economy’s most … Continue reading
Turfed from the Tube
If you’ve travelled on London’s Tube, you’ll know the voice of Emma Clark, who pleasantly asks passengers to “mind the gap” — among other typical public transit messages. But now she has been fired by her employer, the London Underground, … Continue reading
Filed under London, Transportation
Peter Rees and The City vs. Families
From the 2007 Cities Conference on Urban Design, a panel on “What Makes a Healthy Downtown?” included planners from London, Singapore, Toronto, Vancouver and Boston. Of note are some hard-hitting comments from Peter Rees, the planning officer for The City … Continue reading
Filed under London, Neighbourhoods, Nimbies, Urban Planning
Vancouver Province column: Why London-style congestion fees won’t work downtown
Why London-style congestion fees won’t work downtown
Published: Monday, August 20, 2007
Motorists in the Lower Mainland have endured a deluge of roadway headaches this summer, from traffic jams on freeways and bridges to construction-related delays across the region.
But they haven’t had to face what motorists in New York City might eventually be contending with: Paying tolls to enter the city core.
Though it’s far from a done deal, the U.S. government last week pledged $354 million US for a plan to ding drivers of cars and trucks between $8 and $21 to enter Manhattan during peak hours.
Backed by New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, this is a bold attempt to deal with worsening gridlock in North America’s largest metropolis.
Across the Atlantic, congestion charges have already been introduced in London and Stockholm. Both cities have enjoyed success in easing traffic and reducing greenhouse gases, thanks to the fee. Other major North American cities are now flirting with this idea, including Chicago, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C.
Should Vancouver toll drivers who enter the downtown core or a wider swathe of the city centre? Some would say yes.
But while the inner cities of London and New York may be well-suited for congestion tolling, I believe Vancouver’s downtown is not. Continue reading
