Or as its better known, Congestion Zone.

Started at new job on Monday in South Kensington and relied on sat-nav to get me there. Big mistake, its close to useless in London, so it pulled me into the Congestion Zone.

Now I hate to drive in London at the best of time FULL of w@nkers on the road.

But little did I know you had to pull into to a shop or ring a Congestion number to pay them.

Call me uneducated but I just didnt know and was expecting a letter or something, where I can send away a cheque.

Only when I told my Boss today, I found out. So I rang them and guess the charge?

thought it as a fiver a day

you can do it online iirc, on the day you have been into the zone. not sure of the site. but do a search.

Also can you not buy a zone tag like the ones you can get on the toll roads?

Doesn't the charge zone have big red C's printed on the road and signage idicating costs and stuff? Must just have missed them as that would be a legal requirement. Traffic congestion in the zone however has reduced- the weekday PM peak period has less congestion than the Saturday Lunchtimes!

There's signs to say your in it, but nothing indicating how you pay. If there was, then how the hell are you meant to jot down a number when your driving?

It does work? Didnt for me, absolute grid lock through the hole thing...

Arrrgh I hate driving in London

you can also pay at the services on the way out, you live in milton keynes so if you stop at scratchwood services there is a machine to pay inside the services. by the way how are you finding the run down from milton keynes in the morning, i am in northampton and its the journey i hate more than any other

I never go into London by car so never get stung with the charges.

A client of the company I work for has set up a service where they pay for the congestion charges on your behalf and then send you an invoice at the end of the month. Their website is: www.fivepounds.co.uk (although the congestion charge has gone up now ) . From the feedback I have had from friends that I have recommended this to I have heard nothing but good things so maybe some of you regular London visitors should check it out.

I would just like to add that I have no connection to the company other than through my employment and I am not trying to sell their service.

Of course there will be gridlock - it's X-thousand vehicles running on a road network laid-out in the 1500s!

It's been proven that it has reduced central London traffic. But it also has a whole bunch of downsides, namely the effect on small businesses inside the zone. And now they want to increase the charging area across west London as well.

I always thought the 'Congestion' charge was about increasing space on the roads, but if you drive an alternative fuel car (such as a Prius), it won't cost a penny.

I just use public transport or cabs if I'm down there - I don't waste time with the stress of the drive to the office.

It's now

the reason you didn't know, is because Ken Livingstone deliberately made it 'bloody hard to pay' so people would get fined. He's quoted as saying this too!

the reason you didn't know, is because Ken Livingstone deliberately made it 'bloody hard to pay' so people would get fined. He's quoted as saying this too!

Thats because he is a useless kn*bhead! How he got back in again I'll never know!

Yes, the congestion charge is a good thing, the 'effect' on small businesses is actually over empahsised. It does have an effect, but it's isn't that bad and is limited to those close (but not right on) the edgw. What I don't understand is peoples hatred of bus lanes!

I was secptical about them, until I started working in the transport industry, and I now see them as a good thing in most areas! Personally I have no problem in bus priotity mesures to reduce both congestion and pollution and where used sensibly and correctly, they work fantastically well.

Mr Clarksons M4 bus lane. If we took that away do you know what happens... Congestion increases! How? It's due tothe fact that the road narrows just past the junction onto a viaduct, and the bus lane is a way of moving the majority traffic over and actually reducing congestion.

As for expanding the CC zone, there has been talks of taking it out as far as heathrow, which I hope they dont as it will cost me

However' date=' if you lived in the congestion zone, you'd be able to buy a resident's permit, which is discounted by 90% IIRC.

Which would mean you'd then be able to travel anywhere within London for a lot less than if you were to try and do it with the existing zone...

Rob.[/quote']

but why would I want to lol! You mean aswel as the parking pemit that is already need in London boroughs.

my old man lives in hampsted and he has a permit but still cant pack his car outside his own house, i drive in london for the simple fact i'd rather be in my own car than stuck on filthy public transport,a mate of mine works in the city and i used to be based in liverpool street and some nights i would be home before him, he got the train,i think if you all the back doubles it helps.

my old man lives in hampsted and he has a permit but still cant pack his car outside his own house.

either can I, lucky for me I have a drive for the fabia.

so my old man got so fed up he decided to ride into the city on a bike beacuse public transport annoys him so much and his car is now outside the house so he's scared if he moves it he will have to park in the next borough, anyway 2nd day on his bike and some idiot in a taxi hits him,bloke didnt even get out.

Balgate - MK to central London at the time I left was the worst jouney I have ever made, absolute nightmare took 2.5 hours, christ I could of been past Leeds in that time!

Unfortunatly I've only been driving 3 years and have little experience with London, so i've considered it a lesson lernt!

Mike - I'll bare that in mind

When I said started a new job I meant project, as in electrical work on site, fortunatly I only had to be there mon - tue and will never return

Cheers

walkie the thing with driving from MK to london is this either leave before 6 or after 7 any other time and your asking for trouble, i've done that journey a million times and believe me i've seen it all, its taken me 6 hours one way before

As for expanding the CC zone, there has been talks of taking it out as far as heathrow, which I hope they dont as it will cost me

so my old man got so fed up he decided to ride into the city on a bike beacuse public transport annoys him so much and his car is now outside the house so he's scared if he moves it he will have to park in the next borough, anyway 2nd day on his bike and some idiot in a taxi hits him,bloke didnt even get out.

You must be well p*ssed to post it 5 times , F*ckin cab drivers .... and they can use bus lanes, and they can use bus lanes

and they can use bus lanes,

Steve

P.S James where abouts in South Ken ?

P.S James where abouts in South Ken ?

Imperial College, down Exhibition Road, no where near a McDonalds for brecky :(

Nearest one is on Brompton rd about 100yrds before Harrods-10 min walk,

Steve