Code to crack tourist jams
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• A new Bus and Coach Council code of practice designed to ease coach congestion in Britain's top tourist spots was launched this week.
The code aims to get tourist coach drivers and operators to: El Use only designated coach arking areas; U Ensure that coaches stop only as long as is necessary when setting down and picking up passengers; Avoid driving coaches down narrow residential streets; ID Stop running engines close to houses unless it is essential.
Welcoming the code as a breakthrough, especially for Londoners, David Mitchell, Minister of State for Transport says: "While tourism earns London £4.7 billion a year and creates 200,000 jobs, it is just as important that coach operators do everything possible to avoid congestion and nuisance to residents in tourist centres throughout the country.
"In London alone, this Code will help minimise the impact of over half a million tourist coaches using the capital's streets every year. It will help take many of them off narrow residential streets into coach parks and meter bays. Any attempt by the industry to balance the needs of tourists and residents in such a way is to be welcomed".