§ 20. Mr. GARDNERasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consult the Traffic Advisory Committee with a view to arranging for the tramway and omnibus authorities in London adopting the Parisian system, which enables passengers in the order of their arrival at busy stopping places to hoard tramcars and omnibuses by the use of numbered tickets affixed to lamp standards?
§ The MINISTER of TRANSPORT (Colonel Ashley)Consideration has been given to the suggestion that the system in vogue in Paris whereby passengers boarding omnibuses and tramcars do so in the order of numbered tickets obtained from lamp standards at the various stopping places, but I am inclined to the conclusion that this system will not suit London conditions. As a practical objection, it would have the effect of slowing down both omnibuses and tramcars very considerably.
§ Mr. GARDNERSurely the right hon. Gentleman and his Department have not made many observations in regard to this system. Is he aware that there is no slowing down where it is in operation, and that under the present system with the great congestion of passengers, the aged and the infirm have to go to the wall. What objection can there be, in view of the fact that the police will not permit queuing up at busy tram stopping places?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe conditions in London are not the same as the conditions in Paris. The lay-out of Paris is very different from that of London. In the case of London, generally, there are many instances IA here omnibuses and tramways of several routes have common stopping places, and there would be very considerable confusion and certainly delay.
§ Colonel ASHLEYI will consider that suggestion.
§ Colonel DAYSeveral routes have a common stopping place in Paris.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMy answer is that the lay-out in London is very different from that of Paris.
§ Sir HARRY BRITTAINIs it not a fact that the traffic in Paris moves considerably quicker than the traffic in London?
§ Mr. GARDNERWill the right hon. Gentleman make an experiment at Hammersmith Broadway, where people have to tight for omnibuses and trams on cold and wet nights?