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Ditch the car and ride - say campaigners

Reporter: Kirsty Rigg
Date online: 01 December 2008

Campaigners in favour of the congestion charge have said “on your bike” to motorists.

Cyclists from Rochdale got on their bikes and rode across Greater Manchester on Saturday (November 29) – to promote anti-congestion transport, and to encourage a “yes” vote to the charge.

The ride passed ten town halls, including Rochdale.

Starting from Swinton Civic Centre the Tour de TIF will traveled 80 miles around Greater Manchester via the town halls of: Wigan, Bolton, Bury, Rochdale, Oldham, Ashton, Stockport, Altrincham, Sale and Trafford, finishing at Manchester Town Hall.

A spokesperson for Clean Air Now, an anti-pollution campaigning body said: “We believe that the TIF package will be good for motorists, public transport users, cyclists, pedestrians - and for air quality. Reducing traffic congestion helps not only drivers but will encourage more people to cycle in Greater Manchester.

“Since the introduction of the congestion charge in London in 2003, cycling levels in the capital have nearly doubled.”

Councillors Wera and William Hobhouse took part in the bike ride.

Wera Hobhouse commented: “It’s good fun to campaign for something you believe in, together with like minded people.

“Our Vote YES jackets attracted a lot of attention, some positive and some negative. The best comment, as we struggled up the hill, was someone shouting from behind his wheel: “Buy yourself a car”. "

William Hobhouse said: ‘We just want to get a real debate going. Road traffic levels are now eight times what they were in 1952.

“Cars are going to get cheaper and they will get cheaper to run as manufacturers respond to the demand for greater and greater fuel efficiency. Congestion is going to get a lot worse. This referendum is about whether we invest in alternatives to the car”.

Comments

Singularly irrelevant to Rochdale with the current congestion charge zoning. If you are within cycle range, you are unlikely to cross the congestion charge zone.

Do the campaigners intend to compel businesses to provide showers and changing facilities for their cycling members?

Thought not.

If the government was serious about investing in alternatives to the car it would pay for these alternatives with the billions of pounds it already takes from the motorist every year.
Did the number of cyclists in London (which is far drier than Rochdale, by the way) increase more after the terrorist bombings of public transport in 2005 as after the introduction of the congestion charge?