2 ms·

Sure, but it's definitely not the case that Lewisham only has an issue with people driving at peak time, and trains are not the only answer either (if someone i

Sure, but it's definitely not the case that Lewisham only has an issue with people driving at peak time, and trains are not the only answer either (if someone is driving over taking the train, then it can't be impossible to design bus routes that would work for them even if perhaps slightly less optimal). Basically any hour of the day people will be rattling up and down the South Circular, up and down the rat runs, etc. I used to live near a long arterial road. I would do things like count the cars whilst waiting for the bus. It had buses every 15 minutes, and between each bus you'd have way more cars than the number of people that would fit on a bus. Unless we say they just wouldn't make that journey otherwise, increasing taxes on private cars can help with the transition that could make that bus every 7 minutes instead (which would eventually be self fulfilling due to fare intake).

frereubu 7y ago
Peak time is when the vast majority of people travel though. If that doesn't change, it feels a bit like tinkering around the edges. You're right about the buses and passenger number, but I don't think they'll easily replace fast rail routes. I used to live in Forest Hill, which has the south circular running through it. I tried taking buses into the centre of town but it took ages, although I suppose you might be able to run "express" buses with fewer stops if there was more space on the road. I just hope that whoever the mayor is during the next few administrations uses the ULEV to exponentially ratchet up the pressure on cars, so there's a breathing space that can be filled by public transport before people jump to electric cars and we end up with both cleaner air and less congested roads.