Road toll scheme in Central London, implemented by 'Red Ken' Livingstone. Drivers entering the central zone must pay £8 per day (up from £5 at its introduction in 2003) or risk a heavy fine and/or impound of their vehicle.
The charge operates on weekdays from 7:00AM to 6:30PM. Electric vehicles and buses are exempt (along with other exemptions).
The system is enforced by ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) CCTV cameras on all roads entering the zone. Motorists pay by giving their car number plate details at the counter of an appropriate petrol station or shop.
The zone is due to be extended soon, doubling its size.
Needless the say, the scheme is unpopular with motorists, although London has relatively low rates of car ownership in relation to the rest of the UK, or the US.
Plans for similar schemes in other UK cities are currently on hold.
High-profile opponents to the scheme include Madonna and the Evening Standard newspaper.
The charge operates on weekdays from 7:00AM to 6:30PM. Electric vehicles and buses are exempt (along with other exemptions).
The system is enforced by ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) CCTV cameras on all roads entering the zone. Motorists pay by giving their car number plate details at the counter of an appropriate petrol station or shop.
The zone is due to be extended soon, doubling its size.
Needless the say, the scheme is unpopular with motorists, although London has relatively low rates of car ownership in relation to the rest of the UK, or the US.
Plans for similar schemes in other UK cities are currently on hold.
High-profile opponents to the scheme include Madonna and the Evening Standard newspaper.
by oracle April 12, 2006
Get the congestion chargemug. An unspecified short amount of time (usually less than an hour).
Can be used to indicate that events will follow a normal timescale, or otherwise be used to postpone an event for a time.
A 'bit' usually refers to the expected or average amount of time that should be taken to complete the task in question.
When postponing an event, however, a 'bit' can be considerably longer.
Eg, If you are due to visit a friend who lives a 15 minute drive away, to be round 'in a bit' could indicate that you will be there in about 1/2 hour, 15 minutes preparation to leave and 15 minutes driving.
The expression 'in a bit' is often used in Midland dialect as a farewell, similar to laters.
'A bit' should not however be confused with 'Quite a bit', which always indicates an unusually large amount of time (or something else), and is analogous to a 'while'.
Can be used to indicate that events will follow a normal timescale, or otherwise be used to postpone an event for a time.
A 'bit' usually refers to the expected or average amount of time that should be taken to complete the task in question.
When postponing an event, however, a 'bit' can be considerably longer.
Eg, If you are due to visit a friend who lives a 15 minute drive away, to be round 'in a bit' could indicate that you will be there in about 1/2 hour, 15 minutes preparation to leave and 15 minutes driving.
The expression 'in a bit' is often used in Midland dialect as a farewell, similar to laters.
'A bit' should not however be confused with 'Quite a bit', which always indicates an unusually large amount of time (or something else), and is analogous to a 'while'.
by oracle October 27, 2006
Get the bitmug. Yellow reflective vest, popular with roadworkers, fork lift truck drivers, ravers and residents of Tamworth.
Oi! Who nicked my hi-vis?
by oracle February 05, 2004
Get the hi-vismug. 
by oracle March 12, 2004
Get the boredommug. Truely hard core road in north Birmingham, officially the A38(M). 7 lanes of mayhem, with tidal flow and no divider, which all ends up at Spaghetti Junction. Class.
by oracle January 25, 2005
Get the aston expresswaymug. by oracle March 12, 2004
Get the shit memug.