Excellent work by Highways Magazine on the Greater Manchester #CleanAirZone - as currently configured it will have virtually no effect on GM's poor air quality. @mumsforlungs.bsky.social @walkridegm.org.uk - ThreadSky

andydrummond.bsky.social • 4 days ago

Excellent work by Highways Magazine on the Greater Manchester #CleanAirZone - as currently configured it will have virtually no effect on GM's poor air quality.

@mumsforlungs.bsky.social @walkridegm.org.uk

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manbikesdog.bsky.social•4 days ago

Great investigation. As an aside I wonder what would happen to public perception of traffic deaths if - like air pollution - they were also measured in ‘years of life lost’. Especially when factoring in the high number of child victims.

ashbycloudtrail.bsky.social•4 days ago

To change behaviour the most effective way is both carrot and stick. The CAZ option could be introduced with low fees initially to get people used to the idea. Any fees generated could accelerate the investment in public transport and active travel.

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

I think most #CleanAirZone fees or congestion charges *do* generally get reinvested into alternatives.

The experience in most places is that six months after any scheme is introduced, no-one can remember what the fuss was about. Many of those protesting in GM were, in fact, exempt.

andygeology.bsky.social•4 days ago

I admire Burnham for much good work in GM but given his personal mandate it's a failure of leadership to not confront the traffic lobby.
I'm more sceptical of Sadiq Khan, but kudos to him for implementing ULEZ over harsh criticism and actually changing behaviour/decreasing pollution.

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

This is the thing, isn't it? Leadership is about doing the right thing even though it's unpopular (and actually, apart from the Rethink GM headbangers, is there much evidence that cleaner air *is* unpopular?) rather than shying away because of that.

And he has huge political capital.

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

He has considerable political capital, and an unwillingness to use this to press the 10 GM council leaders (or even just MCC & Salford, where air quality is worse) to introduce a charging #CleanAirZone makes him look weak.

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

Remember - a charging #CleanAirZone is *also* investment-led, and one would assume it would have *more* money to invest in public transport, #ActiveTravel and cleaner vehicles in a city where car ownership is rising at twice the national rate.

andygeology.bsky.social•4 days ago

Burnham is happy to spend UK cash improving GM transport (can legitimately be argued to cover historic under investment) and show results. But given key plans now in place + more mayors in cities with worst public transport than GM (Leeds!) its time for GM to start raising their own money.

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

We're also still cringing, nearly 17 years later, about the GM congestion charge referendum. The world has changed a lot since then though, and when does the previous mandate cease to exist?

andygeology.bsky.social•4 days ago

He's sorted major issues (new trams, bike lanes, bus reorganisation, soon thru ticketing on bus, trams and eventually trains). Bravo.
But it amounts to little if he doesn't then confront traffic and pollution. Khan sees it as a public health issue. Burnham got 63%, he could push it through.

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

I don't think it's quite as straightforward as that - I think Khan can push it through directly, the GM Metro Mayor has less actual power and needs to bring the 10 GM council leaders with him.

If he stood up and said 'this is the right thing to do' then that would help, but he won't #CleanAirZone

andydrummond.bsky.social•4 days ago

Meanwhile, GM has the highest NO2 level in the country, worsening the health of those with chronic respiratory disease. On its worst days, children with asthma may be unable to go to school.

Please, Mr Burnham, do the right thing on this important public heath measure #CleanAirZone

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