Bus companies call for congestion charge to get car users off roads

BUS operators say car drivers should be charged to use the roads, in a bid to cut congestion.

They told MPs that cities and towns should introduce a congestion charge similar to the one operating in London, to get cars off the roads.

And they suggested that employers could be forced to charge their own staff for using company car parks. The proposals came from bus firms Arriva and Stagecoach in submissions to the House of Commons Transport Committee, which is conducting an inquiry into urban congestion and how to cut it.

Arriva operates buses in Sutton Coldfield and Erdington, in Birmingham, as well as Wasall, Cannock, Telford and Stafford. The firm also runs buses in Wales, the North East, Yorkshire and Hertfordshire.

It told MPs in a written submission: “London’s Congestion Charge has helped to facilitate a significant modal shift of people from cars to buses. Other cities should look at the experience of London in developing road pricing measures as part of a holistic anticongestion strategy.”

It also suggested that a workplace parking fee introduced in Nottingham should be extended across the country.

It said: “Schemes such as workplace parking levies can deliver sizeable improvements to journey times in urban centres. Nottingham’s Workplace Parking Levy, which has placed a modest charge upon the use of commuter parking places, has proven particularly effective in reducing traffic levels and raising revenue for further transport improvements.

“The scheme’s success is due, in part, to the fact that any proceeds are invested directly back into public transport in the region. This in turn has encouraged people to make the modal shift from using their cars to using public transport.

“More local authorities should adopt workplace parking levies to help manage road space and contribute to the further development of integrated public transport solutions.”

It added: “Given the scale of the urban congestion problem, Arriva urges local and devolved government to seriously explore this option and for central government to remove any barriers that may be preventing them from doing so.”

Arriva said action was needed because traffic congestion was affecting bus services.

It told MPs: “Urban congestion creates serious problems for the operation of bus services and the disruptive effects it has on passengers, businesses, high streets and communities are considerable.”

Similar warnings came from Stagecoach, which also operates buses in the Midlands.