One year ago this week, London began to charge private automobiles and commercial vehicles £5 ($12.50) a day if they either entered or left its downtown core between 7 a.m. and 6:30 pm. The reviews of this unprecedented experiment – designed to reduce traffic jams in one of the most heavily congested cities in the world – are now in, and they're rave. The pundits who almost all predicted disaster are red-faced. London has cracked gridlock and unlocked economic efficiencies.  Full story »

Canada's mayors are thinking big transportation thoughts this week, full of hope that Next-Prime Minster Paul Martin will finance a new era of public transit lines, roadways, trains and other showcase projects.

While they're waiting, they might turn their mind to long-neglected little improvements. Though unsuited to ribbon-cutting ceremonies, taken together they would dwarf the benefit of any new infusions of cash they're likely to get.  Full story »

Wednesday, Nov. 5: "We've been impressed by your recent columns on auto insurance in the Post," the insurance industry's public affairs rep tells me over the phone. "Would you be willing to go to Fredericton next week and offer your views at a luncheon?" Thus began my adventure into the zany workings of lawmaking in New Brunswick.  Full story »

[Excerpt] New Brunswick: If New Brunswick adopts a public insurance system, it will be a disaster. That from a leading consumer and environmental advocate Larry Solomon. He has studied auto insurance systems across Canada and the world and believes that public auto insurance results in higher deaths and accident rates.

CKHJ-FM Radio (Fredericton) by Leigh Watson  Full story »