A national opinion poll conducted ahead of International Car Free Day suggests a wide-spread congestion charge will do little to alter motorists travel habits on its own.

When asked what would change the way people travel to work, only six per cent said congestion charging like that introduced in Central London would have any influence.  The figure fell to as low as four per cent in the West Midlands, where congestion is estimated to cost business more than £9 million a day.

Improving public transport was highlighted as a far more important factor right across the country.

“If we’re talking about a carrot and stick approach, then we need to be offering motorists some big juicy carrots,” comments Cllr Gary Clarke, chairman of the Passenger Transport Authority in the West Midlands.

In Birmingham’s morning rush-hour, more people now travel on buses, trains and trams than drive in their cars – although Cllr Clarke says a great deal more investment is still needed.

“There are some positive signs around – but our buses are still not reliable enough, we need to press on with extending the Midland Metro network and on the railways we need to reverse the funding bias towards the South East,” he says.

The national survey conducted for the TravelWise campaign highlighted more reliable public transport (58%), subsidised passes for rail/bus/metro (41%), free park and ride (39%) and better public transport information (32%) as things that persuade people to change their travel habits.

Centro, the public transport promoter in the West Midlands, is working on all these fronts.  For example, it offers subsidised travel passes through the Company TravelWise scheme and now provides more than 5,000 free park and ride spaces which take more than two million car journeys a year off the region’s congested roads.

Related stories:
More than half Birmingham commuters now use public transport
Centro launches a beginner’s guide to beating the jams
Region comes top for park and ride