Now from a Taxi trade perspective traffic lights can cause delay and create congestion on roads that were once used to free flowing traffic and more than likely had a zebra crossing which allowed pedestrians the right of way with out the need for pelican crossings.
The Shadow Transport Secretary Theresa Villiers MP spoke of the need for local flexibility and the devolvement of decision making from central Government plus the recognition that previous adminstrations may have gone too far with planting traffic lights at many junctions. John Kennedy Vice Chair of the RMT London Taxi branch informed the Shadow Minister and the forum that a future Government needed to look at the many road narrowing programmes in combination with the many hundreds of newly planted traffic lights if we were to seriously tackle congestion within the urban environment. What was clear from the meeting/forum was the need for change and Cynthia Grant of London first delivered a very balanced presentation with a member of tranport for London showing great concern at a picture of a row of buses on Oxford Street creating congestion.
Kulveer Ranger Mayor's Director of Transport spoke of the need for change but also confirmed that the congestion charge had reduced the amount of traffic travelling through the centre of London but that congestion had in fact increased in recent years. This statement was worrying for it really shows that the policy of grabbing road space, planting traffic lights and creating transport for London and or local authority bottlenecks is having an adverse effect on the environment and the road network.
The RMT London Taxi branch attended and was interested to see the competition Addison Lee was present, the great shame was no other group or trade body from the London Taxi trade were present. It seems this trade is sleepwalking and not getting fully involved in the many issues that face our industry. We at the RMT specialist transport union will get involved at all levels from Parliament to the GLA and your Taxi rank/stand. So if you have never joined a trade union before or you're sitting on the fence and wondering if the RMT is the union for you give yourself the Green light and don't get stuck on Red or dither on Amber but contact the London taxi branch via email or phone and join a real trade union that won't just bat for you on paper but will get involved at local, London and at national level.
You can contact us at Londontaxi@rmt.org.uk or contact the Branch Secretary David Vidgen on 07899 786 433 we look forward to hearing from you.
