Shouldn't some of these "alternatives" be considered in tandem with congestion pricing? For example, public transport. It could be a "safety valve" for congestion pricing by providing an alternative and effective transport mode, and could even be "subsidised" by the funds generated by the pricing model. I travel on public transport, and there is a busway just around the corner. At peak times those double deckers can be carrying 20-40 people. Are they being subsidised, or are they actually the heroes of the game who are freeing up road space to car-borne commuters (since they might otherwise be using that road space to get to work)? There have been many occasions when I have been on a single decker jam packed with commuters. Rather than deriding them as subsidy receivers let's laud them for being prepared to open up a bit of road space for the car-borne commuters!
Shouldn't some of these "alternatives" be considered in tandem with congestion pricing? For example, public transport. It could be a "safety valve" for congestion pricing by providing an alternative and effective transport mode, and could even be "subsidised" by the funds generated by the pricing model. I travel on public transport, and there is a busway just around the corner. At peak times those double deckers can be carrying 20-40 people. Are they being subsidised, or are they actually the heroes of the game who are freeing up road space to car-borne commuters (since they might otherwise be using that road space to get to work)? There have been many occasions when I have been on a single decker jam packed with commuters. Rather than deriding them as subsidy receivers let's laud them for being prepared to open up a bit of road space for the car-borne commuters!