Mayor Livingstone Extends Congestion Charge Westward
The BBC reports:
By
Jason Varone
11:18 AM EST on February 22, 2007

The BBC reports:
London’s congestion charge zone roughly doubled in size with a westward expansion coming into force. The £8-a-day road toll scheme now takes in most of Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea in west London.
Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said: “The zone was, until now, one of the most congested areas in the UK and first indications are that traffic levels have been reduced as expected by the scheme. “London is again taking the lead in tackling the problem of traffic congestion and emissions which blight virtually every major city in the world.”
Of course, the American media has a slightly different perspective. MSNBC’s headline reads, London’s Eccentric Mayor Opens New Traffic War.
Photo: Andy Lock/Flickr
Jason Varone battles the streets everyday during a 9 mile commute on his bicycle from downtown Brooklyn to the Upper East Side. In addition to his efforts on Streetsblog, he is an artist making work related to the environment and technology. Examples of his work can be found at www.varonearts.org.
Read More:
More from Streetsblog New York City
Some of NYC’s Worst Super Speeders Are City Marshals (You Know, The Guys With Badges)
They get justice for private citizens — yet they endanger them at the same time.
November 6, 2026
Mamdani Administration Battling Yet Another Suit By Delivery Apps Fighting Worker Protections
Uber, Instacart and Amazon are suing the city over a law that would force them to be more transparent when they remove workers from their platforms.
November 6, 2026
OPINION: New York City’s Trash Revolution Should Be an Accessibility Revolution, Too
The city has a rare chance to solve two major problems at once.
November 6, 2026
Friday’s Headlines: MTA Tin Cup Edition
The MTA hopes a Democratic Congress means more money for New York City straphangers. Plus more news.
November 6, 2026
Sunset Park Blaze Kills 6 As Lithium-ion Battery Fire Crisis Rages On
The city is experiencing a huge increase in fires caused by the lithium-ion batteries that power the delivery boom. A Thursday fire may be linked.
November 5, 2026