One of the interesting and challenging aspects of spending a week in London, or any big city, is getting around.
Despite an excellent public transportation system and charging most people for driving around the central city, the English capital didn’t seem any less congested than it did six years ago when we last visited.
But at least their people seem to accept efforts to try alternatives, not to mention that they support paying for infrastructure that does not use asphalt.
Which is a very different attitude from here in the US capital where any effort by the District government to reduce the traffic mess and make the city more livable is seen as a war on suburban workers.
City officials say that the moves are part of a policy of putting the needs of its residents and businesses before those of suburban commuters and that they are trying to create a walkable, bikeable, transit-oriented metropolis.
Like New York, London, Stockholm and Portland, Ore., District officials said, the city is reclaiming its streets for the people who live there. With billions of dollars invested in the Metro system, there are plenty of ways for commuters to get into the city without bringing exhaust-spewing vehicles with them, officials said.
Well, I’m not so sure about there being “plenty” of alternative ways to get in and out of the city.
However, considering almost everyone in this area assumes a God-given right to drive, and no one wants to pay a dime to improve things, anything DC leaders can do to discourage driving in the city is a step in the right direction.