Feb/March 2007

'Our government proposes introducing a road pricing system to increase the cost of congested roads coinciding with your travel to and from work. This journey is not optional for most people and increasing the cost to work will have a minimal impact on congestion.'

So says Peter Roberts, the man behind the Downing Street petition, in an extended explanation of his position on the E-Petitions Web site.

He continues: 'There are many alternatives to a complex and expensive road pricing system. Initially, our government must address the design of our roads with the ambition of increasing capacity and flow rates. Today, most road engineering appears designed to reduce capacity and reduce traffic flow. We see dual carriageways reduced to single lanes, traffic lights on free flowing roundabouts and bus stops pushed out into the road preventing cars passing when the bus is stationary.

'Before we even consider this massive, complex and hugely expensive road pricing system, we should offer a comprehensive network of free school buses, staggered school opening times, decent park and ride schemes and tax breaks for people working from home, and encourage commercial vehicle movements outside peak journey times.'