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| Green wall planters |
It seems the biggest threat to clean air in the capital is the emission of small particles of unburned fuel, known as PM10's. These particles are emitted from exhausts mainly when you put your foot down and accelerate in a low gear, or when an engine is turned over by the starter motor.
We've all seen the soot that come out of the exhaust when starting the engine first thing in the morning. This can leave a black residue on garage walls and road surfaces. Also, we notice the puffs of smoke when a cab speeds away from the lights, but as acceleration levels out the smoke disappears. This phenomenon is not unique to older vehicles, the same road staining and emission of smoke can be seen on newer models too.
The Green lobby want a blanket reduction in the speed limit to 20 mph. Their argument (with no scientific proof), is that reducing speed will lower the emission of PM10's, while making it safer for cyclists.
Reducing the speed limit to 20 miles an hour causes more congestion, resulting in worse pollution levels (Just look at the queues of traffic using Tower Bridge). Modern diesel engines are not designed to operate efficiently at lower speeds in a low gear. As form cyclists, they would be better off observing traffic signals, have better spacial awareness and stop wearing earphones that cut them off from the ambient sound of oncoming traffic.
Lets not forget that during Ken Livingstone regime, 3,000 extra sets of unnecessary traffic lights were installed.
In November, TfL will be using the services of "Eco-Marshals", whose job will be to advise Taxi drivers on eco-driving methods and to ask them to switch off their engines while waiting at pick up points or sitting on ranks.
This argument which has not been investigated scientifically, has no substance, as cold engines give out more PM10's than warm engines. When an engine is idling hardly any PM10s are emitted. Its only when the accelerator is depressed and the engine labours that particles of unburned fuel (PM10's) are emitted, this is a proven scientific fact. Idling on a taxi rank releases less PM10 than if you repeatedly have to start up and move forward a few feet.
Funny how this fact has never been explored by the mayors so called pollution experts. It seems common sense, logic and lateral thinking are not required qualities for researchers at the Mayors office.
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| Two lanes, now down to one! |
The erection of "Green Walls" and the spraying of Calcium Magnesium Acetate on the road is not only costly, its like trying to stop the Luftwaffe with Fly paper and popguns.
I wonder what happens when it rains and this calcium magnesium acetate gets into the water supply?
ReplyDeleteThe truth is unimportant to Boris
ReplyDeleteIt's what his spin doctors can make people believe.
He doesn't care how much it costs us the tax payer as long as we believe he is doing a great job.
Most traffic lights are unnecessary outside of rush hour. Since LEDs can be any shape and can be flashed indefinitely without burning out, new LED traffic lights could be introduced which would display the existing three colour sequence during rush hour, but at quieter times would show a large bright red "Give Way" triangle in one direction and a flashing green light in the other. The flashing green light would alert traffic on the main road that even though they have priority, the junction has become an unsignalled junction, and they should not panic if the bonnet of a car appears to be inching out from the side road. The pushing of a pedestrian button would cause traffic in both directions to receive a normal red light, so pedestrians would not be affected. This would increase average speed, so would put up taxi drivers hourly wages while simultaneously reducing the fares paid by passengers and increasing the availability of taxis, especially at night. It would reduce PM10s as all vehicles would be able to drive for miles along the major arteries out of London without ever stopping. The new lights would presumably require a change in the law - but so would limiting taxi ages to 15 years, which Boris cannot legally do at the moment!
ReplyDeleteAll this green stuff, it's prity transparent than some one is making a fortune at the Tax payers expense
ReplyDeleteThe Bike manufacturers
The Green wall providers
The adhesive providers
The road surface gangs
All making money that should be better spent.
You're wrong to be anti-cycling safety. Taxis should want more safe infrastructure for cycling - because the more private motorists that take to the roads on their bikes rather than in their cars, the less congestion (and pollution) there will be.
ReplyDelete20mph does not increase congestion and pollution, it reduces it, because of less stop-start, and less hard acceleration and braking. Check Google for all the evidence you need. Tower Bridge has queues because it's a pinch-point, not because of the speed limit.