The Times, 16/2/04
KEN LIVINGSTONE made it awkward for drivers to pay the congestion charge to make them think twice before bringing their cars into Central London, according to the man who designed the scheme. The Mayor of London chose to make drivers pay every day rather than offering them a discount for block payments or allowing them to settle their account at a later date.
Derek Turner, the former Transport for London director who introduced the £5 toll a year ago, told The Times that the payments system had intentionally been made inconvenient. “Having to pay every day makes you think about your choice of transport. We wanted to give drivers a daily reminder that they are using a public facility which doesn’t come at no cost.”
Well well. All those people who have been fined because they found the system difficult to use now have a good excuse to sue the backside off TfL. Go to it, boys.
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