MISSION IMPOSSIBLE 2? GLC FIREBRAND WETZEL BIDS ANEW TO MAKE LONDON TRANSPORT WORK

D Wetzel, who was transport chairman of the former Greater London Council (GLC), was recently appointed vice-chair of Transport for London (TfL), and has in effect become its day-to-day leader. He also chairs TfL's Executive Management Committee and the board supervising London's bus, taxi, and river public transport services. This article reports an interview with him. He still believes in a 'socialist' transport policy, and intends to be even stricter on car users than when he worked for the GLC. Congestion charging is one specific toll that he plans to introduce, but he also wishes to promote a more consensual approach, especially as the TfL board has members from different political parties, together with trade unionists, academics, and campaigners for the environment and better access for disabled people. Wetzel considers that a 'socialist' transport policy is also a sensible transport policy. Despite some disagreements, all TfL board members agree that they want to achieve the best possible transport system for London in the shortest possible time. They are not dogmatic about how this should be done. Wetzel wants to see several specific improvements to London bus services so that they are seen to be like the best tram systems in Europe. He also wants to create 'seamless' journeys across London.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/09626220
• Corporate Authors:

  LOCAL TRANSPORT TODAY

  QUADRANT HOUSE, 250 KENNINGTON LANE
  LONDON,   United Kingdom  SE11 5RD
• Authors:
  • Millard-Ball, A
• Publication Date: 2000-7-20

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 10-11
• Serial:
  • LOCAL TRANSPORT TODAY
  • Publisher: LOCAL TRANSPORT TODAY
  • ISSN: 0962-6220

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Administration; Buses; Decision making; Improvements; Interviewing; Local government agencies; Optimization; Policy; Public transit; Transportation; Travel; Trolley cars; Urban areas
• Uncontrolled Terms: Optimum
• Geographic Terms: Europe; United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 155: Administration; 1272: Bus; 2248: Decision process; 8034: Europe; 9108: Improvement; 9147: Interview; 698: Journey; 192: Local authority; 173: Policy; 744: Public transport; 1284: Tram; 1155: Transport; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Policy; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00799646
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 6 2000 12:00AM