In all seriousness, Boris does actually have some very sensible transport policies:
- Londoners must see more police on the buses, especially in outer London. This is why I will double the number of police officers to patrol them.
- Suburban stations need to be safer, which is why I will provide funding for 50 extra British Transport Police Officers to patrol the worst stations.
- The bendy bus is unsuitable for London's streets, they are twice as dangerous as non-articulated buses and have almost three times the rate of fare evasion. I will phase out bendy buses and run a new competition to find a 21st century Routemaster that has full disabled access, runs on clean fuel and has conductors.
- I will introduce live, interactive bus tracking so you can see where your bus is and avoid long waits at the bus stop.
- The tube needs to be rescued from the ruins of Gordon Brown's finance deal, so that vital upgrades that were promised actually happen. I will look again at having an air-conditioned tube. We need to take the thumbs of the RMT off the windpipe of London commuters with a no-strike deal that gives both sides the benefit of an independent arbitrator.
- The Congestion Charge must be reformed. Congestion has now risen above pre-Congestion Charge levels. Ken Livingstone's £25 levy will not improve congestion or emissions and will hit families and small businesses - it is a stick with which to beat motorists which is why I will not introduce it.
- Cars stuck in traffic emit more than cars that are moving so we need to rephase traffic lights to get traffic moving more smoothly and to achieve this, I will lobby government for powers to fine utility companies that run overtime when digging up the roads.
- We must also encourage Londoners to walk and cycle more and I will provide £2 million for safe cycle parking. I will work with boroughs to improve existing cycle and walking routes.
- I will fight for London's rail commuters and campaign for longer trains, more frequent services and Oyster at all stations*.
- The Freedom Pass will be protected as an untouchable right for London pensioners.
- Injured veterans who live in London will be able to travel free on London buses.
- I will lobby for long-term projects that London needs, including the Oxford Street Tram, East London Line Phase 2, DLR and Transit extensions and the Crossrail to Ebbsfleet.
- We will continue to oppose the construction of a third runway at Heathrow airport.
*My personal favourite.
EDITED: 2 May 2008 15:12 by RENDLE