The Prime Minister has said that the Government would not introduce road pricing without significantly reducing other motoring taxation, and with a possible 2p per mile rural rate, that would make rural motoring far cheaper than at present.
The danger is that rural and inter-urban motoring could become too cheap, encouraging thirstier cars, and much longer journeys.
No one should pretend that deeply rural public transport offers a real alternative to most car journeys.
However, Brighton has shown that bus and rail transport in urban areas can be good enough to offer a realistic alternative to the car.
It is mostly urban areas, where congestion is at its greatest and the congestion charge is likely to be at its highest, that public transport offers the greatest alternative. However, if road pricing is to cut congestion (its primary aim), it is essential there is considerable investment in public transport, including highfrequency competitive integrated services and ticketing.
And we should be worried if transport modellers suggest this is unnecessary.
Peter Elvidge
Wish Road,
Hove
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