The British government yesterday signalled a crackdown on congestion by announcing plans to charge for driving into town centres and for workplace parking. Moves to cut down on the "school run" were also announced, with safer walking and cycling routes, aimed at reducing the need to take children to school by car.
The details came in a long-awaited transport White Paper, launched by the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr John Prescott.
"After 20 years in the wilderness, this is the date transport policy bursts out into the light of a new dawn," Mr Prescott said as he published the 170-page White Paper. He said that charging policies could also be developed on motorways and trunk roads.
But Mr Prescott added that the car would "remain an important symbol of a prosperous, inclusive, mobile society".
He pledged an extra £1.8 billion for local transport, bus services, road maintenance and railways and a doubling of transport investment over the next seven years.
He announced plans to put passengers first on the railways - including £300 million of extra money, a new strategic rail authority, two new investment funds and stiffer regulation.
The White Paper promised a public transport information system by the year 2000, which would use new technology to improve the reliability of services and provide integrated timetable information.
The plans also include:
:: Legislation to allow local authorities to charge drivers for going into urban areas and for workplace parking
:: A "dedicated income stream" which would be used to boost public transport
:: A "safer route to schools" policy to reduce the number of cars taking children to school
:: More money for bus services and camera enforcement of bus lanes in London
:: A new deal for motorists which will mean better maintained roads, better traffic information and a clampdown on "cowboy" clampers and unscrupulous second-hand car salesmen.
The Royal Automobile Club said it was concerned there was a credibility gap between the vision in the White Paper and the resources available for implementation.
Friends of the Earth spokesman, Mr Roger Higman, said: "It is a stride in the right direction, but it's not the great leap forward."