Congestion Is London's Biggest Issue Says CfIT Survey

London's traffic congestion is the single most important issue to people living in the capital. In all 72% felt it was a serious problem in their area according to a Commission for Integrated Transport survey.

Unprompted, one in five said it was one of the key problems where they live - 50% higher than in the rest of the country.

The national survey, carried out by MORI which included 490 people in London, revealed some strong distinctions between the views of Londoners and the rest of the country.

A far higher percentage of people use public transport in London with 38% of them saying they were prepared to pay higher taxes to fund better services.

Congestion charging is backed by 53% of Londoners - if the revenue is solely used for making significant improvements to local public transport.

27% of Londoners use the railways at least once a month compared with a nationwide figure of 14%. Londoners are more than half again more likely to use a bus at least once a month than those living elsewhere - 62% compared with 37%.

Londoners come out of the survey as much more tolerant of the school run than the rest of the country. Only 54% say parents should not take their children to school by car compared with 65% elsewhere.

The costs of owning and operating a car are not so important to London where fewer people drive and those that do, drive less. The cost of using a car (including the cost of petrol) is a concern with 62% of people elsewhere but 49% in London. Meanwhile the cost of owning a car concerns 63% elsewhere but 48% in the capital.

71% of Londoners are in favour of more bus priority measures compared with 66% across the country.

Commission Chair Professor David Begg said: "Londoners are already far greater users of public transport than the rest of the country but nonetheless congestion is being flagged up as the overwhelming transport issue for Londoners. Congestion will not be reduced without congestion charging."

"This is clearly recognised by Londoners. More people would back congestion charging in the capital than oppose it even if the revenue raised was not going to go back into transport - a different picture to the rest of the country."

"Londoners are sending a strong signal that more investment is needed in the network quickly so that improved services can kick in before introducing controls on traffic to ease congestion."

Technical details

1. MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 2,002 adults aged 16+, including a boosted sample to 490 in London. All interviews were conducted face-to-face in respondents homes between 9 June - 5 July 2001 in 204 enumeration districts throughout England. Data was weighted to reflect the correct geographic and demographic profile of the population.
2. The full CfIT report is available from the CfIT website at www.cfit.gov.uk

HIGHLIGHTS OF LONDON SURVEY

ROAD

• Traffic congestion is a bigger problem (20%) than crime (19%) to Londoners
• It is an issue with 50% more people than the rest of the country
• 7 in 10 people think road congestion is a serious problem
• 53% support congestion charging if the revenue is used to improve local public transport
• Nearly 6 in 10 (57%) think vehicle pollution is affecting people's health
• People living in London are less concerned than the rest of England about the cost of owning and running a car - at the same time fewer people drive and those that do drive less
• Twice as many people in London are prepared to pay something as a congestion charge as nothing (67% something, 33% nothing) and, of those, approaching half would be prepared to pay 1635 or more

PUBLIC INFORMATION

• 41% of Londoners planning a journey are not always sure of the best means of transport to their destination
• 15% of them say it happens up to four times a week
• 92% of them say they would use a single enquiry service that could help choose between car and public transport and gave information about time and cost

UNDERGROUND

• 63% are dissatisfied with the overcrowding on the Underground
• 3 in 10 do not think there will be any improvements in the Underground over the next 10 years

RAIL AND BUS

• Londoners are more regular users of public transport than the rest of the country
• More Londoners use the bus at least monthly than any other form of transport
• 62% travel by local buses at least once a month compared to 37% elsewhere
• 71% support more bus priority measures
• A quarter (27%) use local rail services at least monthly compared to 12% elsewhere
• 3 in 10 are fearful of using public transport

WALKING AND CYCLING

• Half are dissatisfied with road and pavement maintenance
• One in three would drive less if local walking conditions were better
• 35% would cycle more on short journeys if roads were safer