Advocates of London-style congestion pricing in New York ran into two roadblocks late last year.One was politics. Mayor Michael Bloomberg surprised them by declaring after his November re-election that road pricing was not part of his second-term agenda. The other obstacle was the three-day strike by transit workers just before Christmas, which vividly demonstrated the problems that arise when limits are placed on traffic flowing into Manhattan. Strict rules imposed during the strike meant deliveries of everything from medical equipment to fresh flowers were delayed. And frustrating bottlenecks were created when the restrictions were lifted.The strike "raised more issues" that people studying a congestion pricing plan had not considered, admits Kathryn Wylde, chairman and chief executive of the pro-business Partnership for New York. "But it also gave us the beginnings of some ideas for how to implement a plan without hurting business."Ms Wylde's group is leading the drive to introduce congestion pricing and a wide range of other measures to reduce traffic and air pollution in New York. She faces significant political opposition, starting with the mayor's office.Mr Bloomberg failed when in his first term he tried to introduce tolls on bridges into Manhattan, a setback that some say has influenced his position on congestion pricing. Last week he set out an ambitious agenda for his second term in office, but congestion pricing was not mentioned.His indifference to the idea has led some advocates, including Transportation Alternatives, to leave it alone for now. Paul Steely White, the group's executive director, says most discussion of congestion pricing is being deleted from its coming report detailing traffic reduction strategies for New York."We're recasting our report so that it is not as much a foundation for congestion pricing as a rethinking of transportation in New York," he says.Undaunted, Ms Wylde says she still believes a comprehensive traffic-reduction plan could be in place within five years. Her group, whose membership includes Chuck Prince, chief executive of Citigroup, and Dick Parsons, Times Warner's chairman and chief executive, is a powerful force in the city.The Partnership will release a report in March that details a number of recommendations. Rising traffic, a result of economic growth, will be presented as an obstacle to productivity - an argument aimed at gaining support from businesses in the city.Along with congestion pricing, the report will propose increasing ferry services, equipping city buses with global positioning technology and broadening city sidewalks.The group is taking a hard look at London's congestion pricing scheme. Though planners are inspired by London's success, they warn that the density of Manhattan's business districts is a logistical obstacle.Parsons Brinckerhoff, an infrastructure firm that worked on London's scheme, is working on the New York proposal, along with DMJM Harris, an engineering firm, and Siemens.Details are still being worked out. Planners have floated the idea of using video cameras inside a payment zone to record licence plates, which would be matched with a list of drivers who had paid online or at vending machines. About 840,000 cars would be affected. "We have the benefit of London's experience, and technology that's significantly better than they used," Ms Wylde says.Tim Tomkins, president of the Times Square alliance, says he favours a thorough study of congestion pricing but stops short of endorsing it. His district is choked by a confluence of office workers and tourists, who are forced off the sidewalks and into the streets - which creates more traffic congestion.Mr Tomkins wants a system that could somehow distinguish between commercial vehicles, residents and tourists - all while not scaring away suburban visitors driving to a Broadway show."[Congestion pricing] is worth investigating, to see if there are ways to address the legitimate concerns about driving business away while also addressing the very real problem that it takes two hours to drive to midtown Manhattan."