> why do you want to limit the usage of public transport? > If people don't take public, they will take > private transport (cars, etc)

This ignores two elements:

- congestion differs by time of day, and

- capacity is constrained differently by mode

In London:

- it's cheaper to take a bus than to take an underground train, and

- there are ticket types that are only valid after the morning rush hour

Both of these decrease peak congestion on the transport system.

The differential pricing would not push people to private transport, but might push them to buses (whose capacity can more easily be increased) or to postpone their journey to later in the day.

You know what might push people to private transport? Severe congestion on the underground. If you are not fit and aggressive, then trying to get on a Central Line train in the morning might mean waiting for 2-3 full trains to pass before you can get on one.