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Boris considers bringing in off-peak rate for C-charge
Katharine Barney, Evening Standard17.03.09
MOTORISTS could be charged varying amounts according to when they enter the congestion zone.
The £8 daily rate could be lowered in the middle of the day to help businesses operating in the zone while the higher tariff could operate in the rush hour.
Boris Johnson is also considering applying different charges according to the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by different vehicles.
If follows the Mayor's announcement that he would scrap the western extension of the zone after a public consultation voted in favour of its abolishment.
The consultation document complied by the Mayor's office and Transport for London also asked the public if they would like to see adjustments to the current scheme.
Options include applying a peak rate in a similar way to how the Tube network operates.
A spokesman for the Mayor said: "The basic rate will not go up, this was a manifesto commitment, so if we were to do anything we could lower it which no motorists would object to. There would have to be a premium rate for certain types of vehicles at certain times of the day.
"What we have always said is that we want to make it easier for people to pay the charge, and the work that Transport for London has been getting on with since the consultation is to implement a payment account. The idea of variable payments is something they have been looking at as part of that."
One model TfL having been considering is the "intelligent" congestion system pioneered in Stockholm.
Under the Swedish system, payments depend on the time of day that motorists enter the congestion charge zone. At peak hours drivers pay 20 krona (£1.65) but in some off-peak hours the charge is half the price.
Drivers are charged each time they cross the city boundary but the charge is capped at 60 krona a day. Most drivers pay much less than that because they cross the boundary only twice, on the way into work and on the way back home again.
The system has reduced traffic into the city by 25 per cent, twice as much as achieved in London, and reduced carbon emissions by 15 per cent. In London congestion has been increasing since Ken Livingstone introduced the road toll in 2003.
The Swedish scheme uses computer technology in the form of a chip which picks up the vehicle as soon as it enters the zone.
The technology was implemented by IBM which will take over the contract for congestion charging in London in November.
Kulveer Ranger, the Mayor's director for transport policy, said: "There is a potential of the £8 charge rising at peak times and falling at others.
"The Mayor has always been very much in favour of account payments and these will almost certainly be put in place to help drivers."
The latest c-charge plan comes after Mr Johnson scrapped his predecessor's plans for a £25 charge for gas-guzzlers within the zone which had been due to be implemented last November. Mr Livingstone had wanted to penalise four-wheel drive vehicles, but critics warned normal family cars would have been caught up in the increased charge.
Reader views (33)
Still think Boris was wrong to punish 4x4 gas guzzlers that could steam roll over a normal car in an accident just so the snotty kids in the back are safe. Sure their was a brown envelope somewhere!!!
- Dc, Ealing, London
This is a case of the mayor listening to the people and reacting to what they say.
It's pretty good, isn't it!
- St, London
What about a c-charge rebate system where you get a free entry if you spend over certain amounts . Over £40 one free entry; £60 two and so on validated by the shop to encourage shoppers to visit.
- Albert Hall, hove england
Marco, Notting Hill
Try to be objective, London is about making money, why should bussinesses be held up all day, everyday, whilst the elederly and school kids, both of whom should be walking in anycase, have a fun days out on filthy buses!
Bus lanes are an economic wastland to London - DUMP THEM and the RIP OFF CHARGE!
- George, gillingham
"...critics warned normal family cars would have been caught up in the increased charge"
Well, maybe they shouldn't buy unnecessary, high-polluting and dangerous four-by-fours to ferry their families around in. Yes, punish them for it!
- Alastair, Hackney
Don't touch the C-Charge unless you want to increase it!
Selfish "economic contributors" (eh George?!) can take the bus like the rest of us and get to work on time as the streets will be clear of traffic.
- Marco, Notting Hill
There is only one solution in my opinion bring back the trams get rid of bus lanes bring back the routemaster.
- Jaz, LONDON
You either have a congestion charge; or you do not.
Those that live inside the congestion area’s, are now breathing much cleaner air; those living outside the congestion areas are still breathing all that pollution they always have breathed.
Asthma is increasing; not decreasing in the UK.
Is health the main priority; or selfish lazy motorists the main priority; you can’t have both.
- Mickyinlondon, london
Stop pussy-footing around and just scrap the darned thing will you Boris?
- Mike, London
I'm asthmatic and I've lived right on the boarders of the Zone in Bermondsey for the last ten years and the zone has done nothing for my consumption of expensive inhalers or general wellbeing. I have stopped shopping at shops just across the boarder though because I can't afford it
Also, it's a matter of record that the border zones that get the discounts are all in the rich areas: Kensington, Chelsea, etc you get big discounts to drive into the zone. If you live in Elephant or Bermondsey or any of the poor areas you get nothing but grief. Look at the map!
The bus lanes here are causing huge congestion and bottle necks and have ever since they were introduced. On the New Kent Road three lanes go into one because of the damn bus lanes. It's murder in the rush hour and you can't take the bus if you want to keep your job. Too unreliable. You can't cycle either if you are asthmatic.
You want to get the traffic moving and reduce congestion and air pollution? get rid of the bus lanes. Also get rid of at least half the traffic lights. I speak as a pedestrian also.
- Thalia, London
If the congestion charge is supposed to prevent people driving to work you only need it from 7am till 10am. Go on Boris I dare you to change the hours.
- Dan, London
The last thing we need in Central London is more cars.
The introduction of the Congestion Charge may not have dramatically decreased the number of cars entering Central London. At least it has stemmed the growth of traffic.
Nobody has asked where the revenue shortfall will come from. It will come from the empty pockets of the London Council Tax payers. If you want to drive in to our congested, polluted city, be prepared to pay for the privelege.
Employee car parking should also be taxed as an incentive to get people out of their cars.
Kimberley, you are far more likely to get stabbed walking to and from your car than you are if you are on a bus.
George, I am sure that the huge number of commuters using the bus to get to work every day are delighted to be called "non-economic contributors".
- Andrew, London W1
Over complicated or what! Scrap the whole complicated scam and be done with it! Sounds like Boris might be turning into Ken! Free the streets of 'street furniture' clutter and privilige lanes for a minority. Look at old photo's of London and see how wide the streets look without the last twenty years of congestion making schemes.
- Terry Hudson, Herne Bay, Kent
To increase traffic flow, just destroy Bus lanes!
Simple, they are a comnplete waste of space, just look at how many businessmen/woman use them - hardly any, the Bus is used mostly by "non economic contributors".
In essence, let them wait like everyone else, London is ramped up with traffic all day, every day, so that school kids, the elderly and a few tourists can get from A to B - CRAZY!
Get rid of the CON charge and Bus lanes, no more jams, end of...
- George, gillingham
Mr Windebag from the Boris-free zone in Essex please note.
A former Chief Medical Officer has debunked restrictive measures on air quality grounds, and I think you'll find the asthma claim is a red herring.
If vehicles that will be travelling anyway get detoured outside the congestion charge zone, their emissions will just be carried in by the wind. Transport for London have been stumped in finding actual environmental benefits from the congestion charge.
It is worth remembering that the congestion charge also failed to deliver Red Ken's hyped transport funding and that road speeds actually got worse in many places.
- Jools, London
The main deterrent for those planning to bring cars into Central London is the availability and cost of parking.
The congestion charge is irrelevant, and should be abolished.
- John Jones, Westminster, London
And Boris continues to pander to London motorists. Bring back Ken and raise the CC. Get pointless motorists out of central London.
- Mcw, London
Scrap this money grabbing charge now. It does nothing but destroy business's who are already suffering from high rates.
- John Smith, London , England
well i hate to say 'i told you so' to all you boris voters - you see its like David said different major same polices.
- Kh, London UK
Some might say "Boris Tinkers While London Burns" of course what it burns produces pollution that can kill many people with conditions like asthma or brochitis.
Those who oppose the charge fail to understand the millions of pounds lost to the economy because of congestion, one novel idea would be to charge cars more than vans and lorries! £8 per Lorry and £12 per car.
As for pollution charges well he cancelled the £25 charge Ken had ready for highly polluting light vehicles.
As usual Boris does not know his Annus Horribilus from hill Elbow!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
change one side of all motorways into London to train tracks. spend proper money on it with plenty of high speed trains. put up the congestion charge to £25 per day so it's more than the equivelent train fare. Pedestrianise most of central london but allow pedal-bikes. stop this culture of dog eat dog, obesity, carbon emissions etc etc etc somebody with guts could sort this out
- James Ruth, London
Borris, I hope you are reading these comments.
If you have an ounce of political sense, scrap the charge now!
- Stephen, London
Different mayor, same policies.
- David, London
Wasn't Ken looking at this very same idea?
Seems like all that voted for Boris have been duped! The C Charge is here to stay, very much alive and well, unlike the RouteMaster, or its successor, which will never see the light of day, mark my words.
And where will these empty election promises rank amongst the others?
- Fresh, London
Driving in London should be made as easy as possible, it is after all the quickest and safest way of moving around London. I've never been injured inside my car, whereas people on bicycles get killed everyday and people on buses get stabbed. The tube is also dangerous because of terrorism. Scrap the charge now and build us better roads.
- Kimberley, London
Boris, You may not be aware of it, but you were largely elected because we are sick and tired of this congestion charge facade, You are going down a sure fire road to be kicked out next time round,
- S James, london
Increase it to £100 per day. That really will cut down the traffic.
- Thomas, London
we need tram systems in central london theres far to many private cars with i person in. to do away with c charge would mean total gridlock boris was crazy to do away with extention to zone 30 000 cars a day more will use it then reducing the air quality most of the 30 000 will have i driver in the car crazy
- C May, biggin hill
Boris hassn't got the bottle to abolish the congestion charge so he continues to tinker with it. I suspect it will end up costing more to administrate than it charges.
- Mick, London, England
What happened to scrapping the whole scheme, seeing as it made no difference whatsoever to the speed of traffic in London? Oh sorry, forgot the whole thing was a fundraising esercise!
- Marianne, SW France
Nobody I know drives in congestion for fun, and it is totally wrong to have a tax on going to work.
Instead of bringing in a spy-in-the-dash system, Boris should use emergency powers to scrap the charge.
Property developers are currently tasked with providing affordable housing. Boris should investigate requiring them to provide more facilities that make life easier for those who have to drive. How about more affordable parking, park and ride options, etc...?
- Brian, London
One thing you can be sure of whatever they decide with the Con charge and that is it will cost the motorist more.
- Mr S.Port, London
For the love of god Boris! There is a recession on. Get rid of the damned thing all together and people will respect you.
- Jimbob, Kensington
