7 ms·

Just about anyone who has breathed London air in the last 30 years sees how it is progress. Dirty, smelly and unhealthy that creates a coating on clothes, furni

Just about anyone who has breathed London air in the last 30 years sees how it is progress. Dirty, smelly and unhealthy that creates a coating on clothes, furniture and windows. That's probably not ideal for lungs. We notice, and hate it every time we visit the relatives down there. "Start breathing crap" kicks in around Hendon.

mattlondon 7y ago
It is the heavy diesel vehicles that are the problem - i.e. buses and taxis mainly, but also commercial vans and trucks. A universal diesel ban (including public transport) would go a long way to improving air quality IMO. There are viable electric buses, but apparently the way TfL runs it's contracts means it is not commercially viable for bus companies to use EV buses (due to requiring new vehicles on new contracts, but the contracts not being long enough to recoup the costs of EV buses Vs cheaper diesel) Unfortunately the black cab unions have TfL by the balls so they'll never ban them (just like how black cabs are somehow exempt from ULEZ) Yes EV vehicles still create brake and tyre particles, but EVs use brake pads less, and I'd rather have just the brake pad and tyre particles to deal with, rahlther than brake, tyre AND diesel particulates.
- Reason077 7y ago
  New diesel cabs can no longer be licensed in London. All new licensed taxis must be zero-emissions capable, ie: electric. As London taxi licenses expire after 15 years, the last diesel cabs will be gone by the end of 2032. But given how many electrics there already are, in practice the vast majority will be electric long before then. I agree that more needs to be done about buses. We are starting to see some electric buses, but they're not being rolled out fast enough. TfL needs to stop buying new diesel buses immediately.
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  Well if BoJo had thought a little more on the new Routemaster. Contracts may be from Westminster - as that sounds just like the idiocy of UK railways that had a very similar issue. Exempting cabs from the ULEZ is bizarre and unforgivable. It could have been a perfect push to electric.
- detaro 7y ago
  Not just new vehicles: moving to electric busses also needs a bunch of other initial infrastructure investment, from chargers, potentially more depot space to power grid improvements to actually feed a depot full of charging busses.
rubyboss 7y ago
It sounds like you are agreeing with me that you don't want people to own their own cars? I suppose we should all just do as the millenials do: rent cars by the mile (Uber) at ridiculously expensive rates.
- matchbok 7y ago
  For most people in cities using ride-share/taxi is much cheaper than owning car. What I pay for rides a month is just a monthly parking pass.
- NeedMoreTea 7y ago
  Even when I briefly worked in London in the 90s there was no point having the car. I am truly puzzled so many locals bothered. Uber or cab should only need to be occasional - there is great, albeit crowded public transport. It was entirely counter-productive, slower than cycling, expensive and just about zero chance of convenient parking. After one or two attempts, I left it at home and took the train down each week.
  - rubyboss 7y ago
    I take public transport or cycle to work every day as I work in the City and it's faster and more convenient. People should be inspired to take public transport instead of driving because it's better and faster to do so, not restricted by levying giant taxes and blocking roads.
    - freeone3000 7y ago
      These are comparative measures - you can make public transit better and faster by making driving expensive and worse, even if public transit doesn't improve.
- megaremote 7y ago
  Or, you know. Catch the bus. Or the tram, or the train, or the ferry. Or walk. Or run. Or ride. Or get on a scooter. Of roller blade. Or use a skateboard.

mattlondon 7y ago

It is the heavy diesel vehicles that are the problem - i.e. buses and taxis mainly, but also commercial vans and trucks. A universal diesel ban (including public transport) would go a long way to improving air quality IMO. There are viable electric buses, but apparently the way TfL runs it's contracts means it is not commercially viable for bus companies to use EV buses (due to requiring new vehicles on new contracts, but the contracts not being long enough to recoup the costs of EV buses Vs cheaper diesel) Unfortunately the black cab unions have TfL by the balls so they'll never ban them (just like how black cabs are somehow exempt from ULEZ) Yes EV vehicles still create brake and tyre particles, but EVs use brake pads less, and I'd rather have just the brake pad and tyre particles to deal with, rahlther than brake, tyre AND diesel particulates.

Reason077 7y ago
New diesel cabs can no longer be licensed in London. All new licensed taxis must be zero-emissions capable, ie: electric. As London taxi licenses expire after 15 years, the last diesel cabs will be gone by the end of 2032. But given how many electrics there already are, in practice the vast majority will be electric long before then. I agree that more needs to be done about buses. We are starting to see some electric buses, but they're not being rolled out fast enough. TfL needs to stop buying new diesel buses immediately.
NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Well if BoJo had thought a little more on the new Routemaster. Contracts may be from Westminster - as that sounds just like the idiocy of UK railways that had a very similar issue. Exempting cabs from the ULEZ is bizarre and unforgivable. It could have been a perfect push to electric.
detaro 7y ago
Not just new vehicles: moving to electric busses also needs a bunch of other initial infrastructure investment, from chargers, potentially more depot space to power grid improvements to actually feed a depot full of charging busses.

rubyboss 7y ago

It sounds like you are agreeing with me that you don't want people to own their own cars? I suppose we should all just do as the millenials do: rent cars by the mile (Uber) at ridiculously expensive rates.

matchbok 7y ago
For most people in cities using ride-share/taxi is much cheaper than owning car. What I pay for rides a month is just a monthly parking pass.
NeedMoreTea 7y ago
Even when I briefly worked in London in the 90s there was no point having the car. I am truly puzzled so many locals bothered. Uber or cab should only need to be occasional - there is great, albeit crowded public transport. It was entirely counter-productive, slower than cycling, expensive and just about zero chance of convenient parking. After one or two attempts, I left it at home and took the train down each week.
- rubyboss 7y ago
  I take public transport or cycle to work every day as I work in the City and it's faster and more convenient. People should be inspired to take public transport instead of driving because it's better and faster to do so, not restricted by levying giant taxes and blocking roads.
  - freeone3000 7y ago
    These are comparative measures - you can make public transit better and faster by making driving expensive and worse, even if public transit doesn't improve.
megaremote 7y ago
Or, you know. Catch the bus. Or the tram, or the train, or the ferry. Or walk. Or run. Or ride. Or get on a scooter. Of roller blade. Or use a skateboard.