School's Out ! (well, nearly...)

Here is a list of things to do over summer...
You will get points for each of these that you do...
Anyone getting 10 points will get a special bonus prize !!

1. Send us a postcard (don't forget the competition) - and claim 2 points
2. Save a ticket from a form of transport and bring it in - train, plane, tram... - 1 point for UK and 2 points for foreign tickets

3. Take a picture on a digital camera or mobile phone camera of a sign relating to traffic management: it could be warning of rising bollards (see earlier post), details on car parks, congestion charging sign etc. - 1 point (plus a bonus point for 'interestingness'...

4. Send me an e-mail to geoblogsATeurope.com to recommend 1 site which has information on ideas for sustainable transport - 1 point for a site (and 2 points if it's one that I haven't heard of before - which will be quite difficult !)

5. 1 point for each of up to 3 RELEVANT comments made on previous postings on this weblog !

6. 2 points for cutting out 5 newspaper stories relating to the issue of traffic and transport problems either in the local area or nationally and bringing them in on the first day back....

Also, don't forget the CD pack - please return this on the first day back too if you haven't already put it in the box...


And here's your work for today!

CONGESTION CHARGE

One way to reduce traffic in city centres is to impose a charge for any vehicle entering the area. This has been used in London, and a number of other cities around the world.

1. When was the congestion charge introduced in London ?

2. How much was the congestion charge when it was introduced and how much is it now ?

3. What are the limits of the congestion charge in terms of timings and areas covered. What are the future plans regarding the area covered by the congestion charging zone ?

4. How is the charge policed ?

5. What types of vehicles are exempt from the congestion charge – can you think of some ways that people have tried to avoid paying the charge bearing in mind these rules ? If you lived just outside the congestion zone and had to travel into it each day, how could you avoid paying the charge ?

6. Mark other cities which have a congestion charge onto the map of Europe (include at least one other city in the UK)

Weblinks

http://www.geographypages.co.uk/congest.htm

Congestion Charging

When you want to reduce traffic entering city centres, it's important to try a combination of measures. These can be broadly divided into 2: the 'carrots' and the 'sticks'...

One carrot is the CONGESTION CHARGE.
This has been introduced in London. The edge of the zone is marked by large letter 'C's painted onto the roads, and plenty of signs...

The 5th annual report on the impact of the congestion charge was released last week, and can be downloaded by following the link. This looks at the longer term impact of the introduction of the charge.

We will be doing some work on this, and this will form part of your summer task that I will post later.....

For more congestion charging materials, see the GeographyPages page.

Penultimate day of term...

Nearly there folks !
Tony Cassidy has posted about a site called ScreenOnline.

This has some Citizenship resources related to film and TV, but on the relevent theme of Britishness. The few I've looked at so far are rather good for the Pilot GCSE.
If you have non-terrestrial TV, keep an eye out for the first of a new mini-series tonight.
More 4 has the first of 3 shows in a mini-series called THE BRITISH EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.

Rising Bollards

One way of allowing buses access to speed up journeys is to have bollards which only allow the buses through. There are some of these in Cambridge. Watch these people below trying to get through the bollards before they go up again by following the buses...

Trampe in Trondheim

One problem with using a bike to get around is that there are those pesky hills in the way. Not so much in King's Lynn or York or Hull or other places that I've lived, but certainly in Rotherham and Sheffield there were hills which could put people off cycling.
In Trondheim in Norway, where there are some rather steep hills, they have an interesting way around this problem. Useful YouTube video below:

Sustainable Urban Transport

This will be our first unit in Year 11.
I have started to collect together details on a page on GeographyPages, but it is important that you get a head start on reading some of this material.

The Geographical Association has a page which describes the unit, which was written by Di Swift from the GA and other people.One organisation which you must become familiar with is Sustrans: which as you might guess is short for Sustainable Transport.
They are involved in campaigns to get people to switch their mode of transport.
I like their slogan: "Change your world, one mile at a time..." and their useful LINKS PAGE and other resources.

More to come soon...

Parents' Evening

It was good to see you and/or your parents tonight...
Just been sorting through some materials ready for the final few lessons, where I need to set you up for the summer.
Remember that the weblog will be added to during the summer, and it's important to check it, especially in the last part of August.
Don't forget to send us a postcard... (for more details see the final few lessons)
Add a comment if you have one...