If ken is serious about emissions then lets start by making all buses, taxies and public transport meet these targets eh. Its not the cars that gave be hell when I used to cycle in to London. It was the buses and taxis.

craig, London,

I live in the congestion zone and recently changed my new shape BMW 5 series for a newer same shape BMW 5 series because my old 2.5 litre car had emissions of 239 grams per Kilometre - my new 2.5 litre diesel car has emissions of 177 grams per kilometre. I would have kept my old car another 2 years if not for the new regulations. BMW's production of a new car for me and its subsequent delivery to England has probably produced ten times more carbon emissions than my old car would have spewed into the atmosphere in two years. Because distances are so short within the congestion zone it is clear that my car and the car of almost all other drivers gives off most of their emissions outside the zone. This is a badly thought out tax. Heavy emission cars use more fuel and drivers pay dearly for extra fuel. Encouraging drivers to keep their old car for longer would be a far more efficient way of protecting the earth's ozone layer.

Nigel Gee, London, England

Vehicles such as Land Rovers have an average useable lifespan of 20-30 years. The majority of pollution over any vehicles "whole life" cycle is in the manufacture and disposal - not the amount of fuel it uses in its lifespan. A large number of these vehicles run on LPG - a fuel which is more environmentally friendly than 'normal' petrol and a huge amount healthier than the emissions from diesel fuelled vehicles. This is ignored by environmentalists in the UK as it ruins their argument, instead they campaign that people should drive smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles (using dirtier fuels) or incredibly, that they should drive hybrid vehicles - which have a short useable life and huge environmental implications when they're worn out.

People should not let this type of revenue raising legislation go ahead, but they do without complaint or without even checking the facts. Like lambs to the slaughter they'll to the party line.

I'm leaving the UK in the next 2 years. Can't wait.

Pete Murray, Liverpool,

Having been encouraged to buy hybrids we now find that some hybrids with low emissions will be caught with the huge daily charge with no discount for residents. This is absurd and those who oppose this must galvanise opposition. He has no mandate to do this and by changing the rules he penalises those who have followed his encouragement to go hybrid. Please lets not let complacancy let this slip through.

Neil, London,

Just recently, I have been visiting London for a few months of the year having lived abroad, not returning, for a couple of decades. One of my many pleasures has been being able to get round London easily ,hopping on and off buses. For me, at least, the congestion charge seems to have worked, so far.

Geoff, Sydney,

Ken's friends must drive round in Freelander 2's, Volvo XC 90s and BMW X5s - all 4x4s with emmissions low enough to escape the new higher charge. And anyone with any sense who owns a large petrol 4x4 probably runs it on LPG and completely escapes the charge!

As mentioned, if the idea is to cut congestion then upping the charge on everyone would be the fairest way.

andrew holden, oxford, uk

Good exposition of the polkitics of envy, Kim.

The numbers of 'tractors' you go on about is tiny and most are smaller than modern Mondeos or Passats or people carriers. Most are smaller than vans and pick up on business.

If emission control is so important why does it not extend in to east london?

Do not make me laugh, the fact that ypu are willing to vote for Comrade Ken and his disreputable cronies tells us all we need to know about you.

TrevorH, OXON,

Can we have a similar system in Northampton please

Gordon Lonsdale, Northampton, UK

There is some proper rubbish spoken here. 4x4s are NOT more dangerous to pedestrians: when hit by a larger vehicle such as a 4x4 a person is more likely to survive! there is not enough space to explain the physics here, but use common sense.

Also people/cars/machines produce a TINY TINY amount of CO2 compared to say, the ocean, which emits 98%+ of CO2 in the atmosphere.

Cars produce carbon from fossil fuel. The arguement that this is differnet to plant derived CO2 is a short term equation, typical of humans who think in single years when planets operate in millions.

Paulo, Milton Keynes,

It is very easy to condemn Ken for his interesting ideas on traffic control. But just like many views posted here they lack any true vision on traffic control in our towns and city's. And that is why today from such a blinked approach to transport of the past decades we are in this position.

Clive, Dartford, Kent

Anyone driving into Central London will know that the C charge has worked. Anyone with any common sense will know that effectively banning tractors from central london will make it easier to move around.

As a bus passenger I have lost count of the number of times(along with tens of other passengers) these tractors, because of their sheer size, block my bus in by thinking they can manovure around traffic.

As a driver (of a sensible city car) I have lost count of the number of times these tractors, because of their sheer size, push in or block junctions causing traffic jams.

As a pedestrian it comes a relief that I will no longer have to worry about my highly likely death should I be hit by one of these monsters who, if they were human would have the manners of a chav!

And if I was a cyclist or motorcyclist, I would be delighted!

And as a human being I am delighted that these tractors will not be polluting my air and destroying my environment.

Ken gets my vote again!

kim, London,

You all are amazing! This isn't surprising to me, aren't you tired of government telling you what to do? I guess being a liberal
means , the government knows what's best for you. You all are taxed to death and you don't seem to mind, that's what's amazing to me. If driving SUV's and other big cars that are gas hogs than why not make them illegal, but if you do that than the govt. can't collect taxes on them. Stupidity gone to new height.

Jonah Rawal, Louisville, Kentucky, USA

I'm sick of being demonised for having a 4x4. We have a 4x4 because we have 3 tiny kids who all need baby seats and only 4x4s have back seats wide enough for 3 of them. Also, if a car hits us on the side it's better to be hit below rather than at child seat height. Why does nobody ever allow for these obvious facts?

Chris, London,

Janice turner without any sense of irony that her car is a volvo estate. That says more about her class (and age) than her accent! She then say's that she used to back the C Charge and like Ken.

If Ken's idea was to annoy the posh, rich, middle classes then he's succeeded, eh Janice?

However, me not being posh, rich or middleclass support him 100%.

Oh and let's not forget about the damage these Tractors to do the environment and the roads. And let's not forget the damage they do to people - you are extremely likely to be killed if you are hit by one doing 20mph whereas you are extremely likely to live if hit by a smaller car doing the same speed. And let's not forget that they can't see small children close by out of their back or rearview mirrors.

Forget these posh people pretending to be right on poor people. If you want to know the true class of someone, just ask them whether they support Ken's latest C charge!!

Kim, London,

Janice, move back north., you would have a much better quality of life.

Malcolm Pye, Aberdeen, UK

There is an altenrative who has greener policies and bags of common sense and who represented London's police after the 7/7 bombings and reassured everyone who watched and listened. Vote for me!

BrianPaddickDelivers, Lonodn, UK

Might I suggest that you support Paddick? The defects of Ken and BoJo are fairly obvious, but you haven't got to choose between them, since there is another! And remember, there's always a second vote if you don't think he can win...

HH Asquith, Staffordshire,

"the Ken I backed delightedly in his first and second terms now sees London only as a monument to his ego, his sole goal perpetuation of his own power."

Mug.

It never ceases to surprise me that apparently intelligent people, who ought to know enough history to understand the nature of socialism, nevertheless keep getting fooled.

Alex Swanson, Milton keynes, UK

"I am looking forward to warm Winters"

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but the winters will most likely be much colder. It is likely it will change the course of the Gulf Stream, which means the UK and other C climate countries will get a D climate: hot summers, icy winters. Or worse: more something akin to the climate in Alaska and Siberia.

starling, Lancaster,

I dont understand why you are surprised Janice. This is the Ken we all knew was there, he hasn't changed since the days of the GLA. Why did you think he had?

Michael Carlin, Auckland (formerly London), New Zealand

Mr Wood of Camberly, just to correct you, petrol actually comes from decayed marine life, mostly in animal form. But that is not the point.

The carbon cycle over millions of years need not worry us. Animal and plant life has evolved on this planet in conjunction with the slow changes of carbon levels which occur because some carbon gets buried (turning in some cases into coal, oil and gas), and some gets released (volcanoes, upthrust and erosion of land containing carbon). The problem is that we have artificially released massive amounts of carbon into the current, fast moving, carbon cycle, by deliberately digging up and burning those ancient carbon stores, as well as reducing the amount of carbon in the biosphere by decimating the forests of the earth.

Burning petrol moves carbon from deep under the earth into the atmosphere. Eating plants and breathing merely moves it around in the ongoing cycle. That is the point.

Martin, Bristol,

Motorists, Pah! Nail 'em up I say, Nail some sense into 'em!

M Palin, Jerusalem, Palestine

"Of course everyone wants to combat global warming..."

Everyone? You don't speak for me, I am looking forward to warm Winters, and the "globe", or properly, the lower atmosphere has not been warming these past ten years, despite increased carbon emissions.

The globe, by the way, has been cooling for millions of years as its core cools.

John Bowman, Sarlat, France

Where does Redcliffe of London think the CO2 from burnt petrol originally comes from? Actually its plant life, even if it was a long time ago!.

C.Wood, Camberley, UK

Mr McLean in Bradford says that "Mr Livingstone should have the courage to impose a complete ban on private cars within the M25"

So, would that not effectively ban everybody living within the M25 from, owning a private car? How democratic, or even fair, would that be when the good citizens of Bradford were free to drive around in whatever privately owned vehicle they pleased?

Bill, Suzhou, China

Who needs to drive in London? Me, I live here. What if I drew a ring around your house and said that for the priviledge of moving your car around monday to Friday you'll have to pay £8? We'll give you a 90% discount for being a resident, but you'll have to pay for a full week regardless of how many days you use your car.

Mark, London, UK

he does not want to ban he wants to tax all vehicles within m25 and if he wins he will. that is what the lez is for--and hes after motorbikes

terry sullivan, london, england

"a once genuinely democratic Mayor"!? Come on, Ken's never had a democratic bone in his body, he's always pursued his own agenda (aKenda, even).

Faustino, Brisbane, Australia

The roads in London should be limited to

1. Those who NEEDS to drive (due to disability, businesses reasons)
2. Those who can afford it

Not because its a CHEAPER option than a £4 tube fare or a train ride into central london.

D Young, London,

Its true that the majority are destroying the world not the rich and envied.

wayne, huntingdon, cambridgeshire

Redcliffe, London states: "Its been calculated that 4 cyclists on the London to Brighton run emit more extra CO2 than they would if they put the bikes on the roof and all went there in a Ford Fiesta."

Calculated by whom? This is a ludicrous argument. Carbon generated organically by the expenditure of energy by cycling, by definition, comes from plant life, which in turn takes it from the biosphere. Assuming that no hydrocarbon based fertiliser is used, this does not add to the volume of carbon in the atmosphere, unlike the burning of petrol, which does.

Martin, Bristol,

Thank you Ken. 4WD's are squandering the earth's finite resources, and it has to stop. I drive my family of five around town in perfect comfort in a low emissions car. There is no justification for using what is in effect a small lorry just to go the shops. I agree with the exChairman of Shell, we should ban all cars that exceed 35 mpg, especially in areas of high density population like London.

Ian , London, UK

Mr Livingstone should have the courage to impose a complete ban on private cars within the M25.
Then he'll have a secure place in history as the first municipal leader to really tackle traffic. I suspect it will also win him re-election, because the relief at having a car-free London will be so huge. But if not, at this stage in his political career, he needs to make his mark rather than to win appointments.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK

excellent article; thank-you for voicing how this Londoner feels too

jane, london,

The congestion charge has not decreased congestion. Congestion is the same as it ever was, due to road narrowing and traffic light rephasing (by which TFL mean leaving the lights on red for longer). Check TFL's own figures.

Bus passengers during the day are amongst the worst emmitters of all on a passenger/mile basis (i.e. when the buses are running around almost empty)

Its been calculated that 4 cyclists on the London to Brighton run emit more extra CO2 than they would if they put the bikes on the roof and all went there in a Ford Fiesta.

What makes an economical new Freelander a "quasi-green tank", while your dirty old Volvo (which I'll bet is bigger and heavier than the diddy little Land Rover) is just fine?

Why would a cyclist change to a little car just to avoid the congestion charge? Where can you park your car all day in central london without the cost exceeding the congestion charge saved?

You're all over the road.

But Ken still sucks.

Redcliffe, London,