> On 17 Sep, 15:30, "Brimstone" yahoo.co.uk> wrote:

>> Doug wrote:

>>> So what will happen when this supply led demand increases and
>>> congestion again becomes as bad as ever? How will the emergency
>>> services cope with no vacant hard shoulder? Let me guess, more
>>> motorway widening/building?

>>
>> If the demand is supply led how come they having to widen the
>> motorway? If it was supply led the capacity would already be there.
>>
>> Add "supply and demand" to the list of things that Doug knows SFA
>> about.

>
> Think of congestion as subject to feedback. Attempts to decrease it
> will encourage more/longer vehicle journeys which will in turn return
> congestion to its previous level. OTH, if congestion increases, due to
> a number of possible factors, this will deter vehicle journeys which
> will also return congestion to its previous level. Despite perpetual
> roadbuilding for many years, in an attempt to decrease congestion,
> this has largely failed and congestion is as bad as ever due to the
> above mentioned feedback loop.
>
> The only way to reduce congestion is to reduce the number of vehicles,
> mainly cars, on our roads.