Traffic levels in central London dropped by a quarter on Monday as the world’s largest congestion charge scheme went live under the watchful gaze of urban planners across the globe. Cyclists celebrated and motorists fumed as the scheme began in a bid to cut traffic by 15 per cent in the city centre where average speeds have dropped below 16 km an hour — barely above those in the 19th century horse-drawn era. ‘‘It has been very quiet today — partly because of the school holidays and maybe also because people were a bit scared to drive in,’’ a spokeswoman for the Automobile Association lobby group said. ‘‘Tomorrow or next Monday might be a better test.’’ Hong Kong and Tokyo are among several cities to have expressed strong interest in the London scheme, which dwarfs those operating in Oslo and Singapore, as crawling traffic queues and lung-choking pollution become hot political topics. ‘‘If the congestion charge works here, it will spread around the world before the end of the decade,’’ said maverick city Mayor Ken Livingstone, who has staked his turbulent political career on the success of the London scheme. Livingstone, who earned the nickname ‘‘Red Ken’’ for his Left-wing politics when he ran London in the early 1980s, readily admits to having borrowed the congestion charge idea from free market economist Milton Friedman. Transport for London, which manages the scheme, hailed it a major success, saying it was an historic day for the city but cautioning against leaping to any conclusions. ‘‘Central London congestion charging has got off to a good start, but it is still very early days. Congestion charging will take time to settle down,’’ transport Chief Derek Turner said. Shares in Capita, the company that installed and will run the system, shot up nearly six per cent. Bikers were triumphant. ‘‘It’s been so nice cycling into college this morning,’’ Saida Triumphant university student. ‘‘A lot less nerve-wracking’’. (Reuters)
