Mayor Boris Johnson and Transport for London have unveiled wide-ranging new plans to tackle the capital's air quality crisis, setting out proposals to invest £330m through to 2020 in new green buses.
Transport for London yesterday published its draft business plan for the rest of the decade, confirming plans to support the launch of the Mayor's Ultra-Low Emission Zone in 2020 by rolling out a further 2,400 hybrid buses
The transport authority also revealed plans to provide £40m of assistance to black cab drivers who will be affected by a proposed new 10 year age limit for their vehicles as part of the ultra-low emission zone.
That's £2k each, to encourage drivers to invest £50k + in technology that appears to be nowhere ready to handle. In Osaka Japan, drivers are leaving the taxi trade in drives stating that they can't make a living driving electric Taxis. But the Mayor seems to be oblivious to all the warning signs.
Boris appears to have made his mind up not to be the trade saviour he promised when seeking election. A 10 year age limit on diesel vehicles will cost the trade millions. Many drivers are still recovering from the financial impact of the 15 year age limit where 6,000 Taxis were removed from the fleet and are being replaced by vehicles with worst pollution problems.
The Mayor and TfL seem intent on expanding the bus network, even after reports that the congestion caused by empty buses clogging up the major transport network, is causing dangerously excessive emissions.
Many in the travel industry are of a mind that the reason behind the removal of licensed Taxi facilities at large events, is an underhanded attempt to encourage an increase in footfall on tubes and buses.
Last month TfL announced a new record for tube journeys for the capital, while the Taxi trade has seen 3 major events left without adequate Taxi ranks.
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