Congestion pricing is a system where drivers are charged a fee to enter certain high-traffic areas during peak times, aiming to reduce traffic congestion and pollution. Proponents argue that it effectively reduces traffic and emissions while generating revenue for public transportation improvements. Opponents argue that it unfairly targets lower-income drivers and may simply shift congestion to other areas.
Narrow down which types of responses you would like to see.
Narrow down the conversation to these participants:
Ideology:
@9NXHSGB7mos7MO
No, you can't expect people to not drive when there are few, no or poor public transport alternatives. Park and ride systems would be more effective.
@9MQKDQT8mos8MO
Only if they invest that money in public transport so people can still get to work
@6STLFZ9 1mo1MO
Not unless companies provide relief for the employees they're forcing back into the office and thus pay the fees
@9ZV4F9Y2mos2MO
No, and there should be a push towards using electric vehicles and public transport instead of using petrol and diesel cars
@9ZPK6TL2mos2MO
I am uncertain of whether this works on its own. It requires other strategies such as ensuring public transport is invested in so that people can still get around if they can't afford pricing.
@9ZDJ68Z2mos2MO
Yes, but the fees collected should be reinvested into transportation infrastructure, helping fund road maintenance, public transit projects, or other urban planning initiatives.
@9WQ48H23mos3MO
Ideally no as it will be financial strain on working people but if it clear it is being invested back in clean fuel and energy or better public transport I suppose it's passable
@9S8WSXY5mos5MO
No. This puts people who cannot afford to pay the fees yet require a work van at a disadvantage. Yes, if this price is subsidized.
@9QPX5PN6mos6MO
Cities should implant better planning and transport policies to promote and integrate use of bikes and public transport to reduce congestion and reliance on cars
@9QPNJL86mos6MO
Yes, but exemptions should be available so as not to penalise low income families which cannot afford a cleaner vehicle.
@9QKTS3H6mos6MO
No because people can not afford it… change the road designs so government are not causing more congestion and pollution by forcing cars along one place to entice people to use public transport but only cresting more pollution and poor unhappy people.
@9QHMH9D6mos6MO
The current London congestion charge is expensive to lower paid households. Balance needs to be made.
@9QGNFXQ6mos6MO
Creating ‘congestion zones’ in cities just pushes extra traffic and resulting pollution into the suburbs
complicated answer, it tends to disadvantage low income families and push pollution out to other areas
@9QBP4NL6mos6MO
Not a Yes/No answer. Needs greater consideration, with elements of charging only considered alongside other measures.
@9QBLXM8Liberal Democrat6mos6MO
Yes with exceptions for disabled people so that it doesn't prevent the urban areas from being accessible, particularly where public transport is unsuitable
@9Q7XG4H6mos6MO
More useful would be improving accessibility of public transport, ie: cheaper, more frequent and easily accessible. Then fewer people in busy urban areas would feel the need to drive.
@9Q5ZK246mos6MO
It shouldn't be priced, but should be like the French system where communities can decide to limit the emissions permitted in their town. All vehicles required to display their emissions via a windscreen sticker
@9Q5W3CB6mos6MO
Yes, but only if the city transport infrastructure meets acceptable levels for the removal of traffic from busy urban areas.
@9PVN5BW7mos7MO
Yes, but only after developing the infrastructure to lower the need for needing to use cars in busy urban areas.
@9PV7DPW 7mos7MO
No. First, invest in public transport before unfairly targeting low-income drivers with this kind of initiative.
Yes, but carefully zone it to avoid hurting businesses such as shopping centres or make it impossible to drive in and out of surrounding residential areas
@9N857SGLiberal Democrat8mos8MO
Only on vehicles with emissions over a certain amount; sports cars and big trucks etc. The signage and zoning should be VERY clear also.
@9N668PH8mos8MO
Yes, and invest the money into public transport, bike lanes, and subsidies to purchase bikes.
@9N63NKN8mos8MO
Yes, but use the revenue raised to improve public transport.
@9N5YLG7 8mos8MO
No they need to provide better infrastructure first (public transport, bike lanes etc)
@9N22RKV8mos8MO
Yes as long as other suburban areas don't suffer as a result of heavier traffic.
Yes, but there should be exceptions for electric cars, people who are dependent on cars for commuting e.g. wheel chair users, low income families
Drastically improve and subsidise public transport before introducing congestion charging so there is a cost effective or free viable alternative
@9MYTVMB8mos8MO
The roads are a mess what happened to park and ride = Car free city centres? And bypasses = no through traffic
@9MY8B3J8mos8MO
No, The government should invest in affordable public transport instead.
@9MY6LSP8mos8MO
They should make more walkable and pedestrian focussed cities
@9MY5KQ4 8mos8MO
Yes, with concessions for people on low incomes and local residents
@9MY56828mos8MO
Yes, but only if there is a reliable public transport service available.
@9MY48WG8mos8MO
No, I Don't Think That Will Help The Situation As Many People Need To Get To Work By Car, Bus, Or Train!
@9MXXW238mos8MO
It should be about money. It should be about pollution. You drive a polluting car, you pay for it.
@9MXGX3F 8mos8MO
No, not until adequate public transport is made affordable and accessible
Deleted8mos8MO
No, but city councils can opt to tax the providers of roads as a sort-of congestion charge in-kind, where the costs of the tax would be passed on to the consumers of roads, otherwise known as drivers
@9MX5L368mos8MO
Yes, but the funds raised must be put towards improving public transport infrastructure
@9MWTJLQ8mos8MO
yes, but only in clearly defined areas and at specified times
@9MWQ884 8mos8MO
Only if the entirety of the money received goes into local transport infrastructure
@9MW3F8J8mos8MO
No, this unfairly targets low income households. It would be fairer to have a quota system.
@9MV5PTP8mos8MO
More park and rides or free parking. More bypasses
@9MTQM4H8mos8MO
Yes but only if sufficient public transport alternatives are available
@9MSW6V98mos8MO
Yes it should be scientifically worked out how much a single car is emitting co2 in that time frame and charge for the environmental damage in £
Yes but only if there are efficient and practical alternatives to using a car.
@9MSCN2T8mos8MO
Yes but to do this there must be good transport infrastructure in place already. If there isn't this is a bad idea
@9MS5NLQ8mos8MO
Yes, for the benefit of the rich, not the environment.
@9MRJN7M8mos8MO
No, but instead focusing more on accessibility of public transport and encourage people to walk more
@9MRFWZW8mos8MO
Yes, but money should only be used for improving public transport or transport infrastructure
@9MRFHJG8mos8MO
No, there should be an increase in public transport spending to give people alternatives means of travel, that is both reliable and affordable.
@9MRB9J88mos8MO
Up to each individual city. the current system is fine.
@9MQZQT58mos8MO
Yes if better cycling infrastructure is implemented like Netherlands
@9MQZDFP8mos8MO
Improve public transport, reduce road use that way!
@9MQLKR28mos8MO
Yes, but only if other acceptable, effective forms of transport around the city exists.
@9MQRVKTWomen's Equality8mos8MO
Only if the city has excellent and affordable public transport
@9MQPMNH8mos8MO
Yes but this shouldn't penalise people on lower incomes. If someone has to drive into a city for work then government should work with employers to ease costs if there are no other commuting options available
Money should instead go on quality public transport to encourage people to use that instead.
Yes, but there should be exceptions for people who are dependent on cars for commuting e.g. wheel char users
@9MPZ7CY8mos8MO
No, but offer incentives to get more efficient vehicles
@9MPDR79 8mos8MO
No, I think there should be incentives to avoid these areas, but low income drivers should not be punished.
@9MPH7LH8mos8MO
Only if they have invested in keeping traffic flowing
They should make public transport 100% reliable and as convenient as using your own vehicle
@9MP4N7N8mos8MO
Only if there are viable alternatives to using a vehicle
@9Q22KFF7mos7MO
No. What is really required is sustainable realistic alternatives to cars and Lorrie’s then this would be a non question
@9PYPX8GLiberal Democrat7mos7MO
once again this could be a two-pronged approach, but improvement of public transportation to be -better- than private transportation would probably solve the problem halfway on its own.
@9PYMG6F7mos7MO
The system needs improving as some vehicles need to be in the area. The charge should focus on unnecessary vehicles in the area.
@9PMBCBN7mos7MO
Only with exceptions to reduce costs to businesses and public services and residents of congestion charge zones.
@9PLFPJLPlaid Cymru7mos7MO
Depending on whether it will negatively affect residences living in said zone. I live quite near the centre of a capital city and require a car for work and I don't want to be penalised for simply having a car parked in that zone/driving down my own residential road. I would want to see a very chunky discount if that were the case cause I can't park my car anywhere else. Unless infrastructure is greatly improved I don't see the point of penalising motorists for trying to get by
@9PJ25Z57mos7MO
No, everyone needs to get to work, traffic increases due to so many transport strikes, charging people will still mean the traffic exists and will not reduce it.
@9PHC26S7mos7MO
Yes, but not for those with blue badges or other forms of special access to allow for those to continue ease of travel regarding their conditions.
@9PH25PX7mos7MO
No, they should make improvements to city transport networks and negate the need to bring private cars into the cities and allow the movement of freight by electric propulsion. Bring back trams and create monorail systems
@9PH24QN7mos7MO
Yes, but in conjunction with increased and easier access to other alternatives such as improving public transport and increasing cycle lane capacity.
@9PGJZTT7mos7MO
As a disabled person I simply can’t go anywhere that doesn’t allow for local parking. So if I was going to get congestion charges I would be even more resisted in my day to day life.
@9PD3S4LLiberal Democrat7mos7MO
Yes but these should have exemptions for residents or those under a certain wage bracket who need access for work
@9PCSB6S7mos7MO
Only if they make it easier for people to leave their cars outside the city or provide adequate public transport
@9PC8YXNLiberal Democrat7mos7MO
Yes, only at busy times and sufficient public transport/parking must be provided outside of the congestion zones
@9PBVLJY7mos7MO
Yes but allow those with access issues eg disabilities that prevent them from traveling in a different way free access
@9P8C8S97mos7MO
There should be better parking on the outskirts and public transport into the inner cities to reduce the need or want to drive in. Companies have to go into cities, especially with all the internet purchasing.
@9P7MM3H7mos7MO
Only if it's accompanied by heavy investment in public transport. For London it's fine, but other places aren't as easy to get around without a car.
@9P7FQK77mos7MO
No, pricing just means that those who can afford it will continue to use it; bans and limitations of use should be imposed.
@9P6LYBDConservative7mos7MO
No, people should be incentivised to use public transport, not taxed for using a car that already get taxed on a lot
Introduce a system that charges a greater price for persons causing greater pollution/with more wealth.
@9P6B5NR7mos7MO
No congestion charges for cities, but incentives off yearly bus passes and major bike brands. Encourage people, not bully their wallets.
@Sum_WunLiberal Democrat 7mos7MO
No, but incentive schemes should be introduced instead - perhaps, lower car tax for cars that do not enter low emission zones, calculated on a monthly basis.
@9P4GG7F7mos7MO
Encourage working from home - unless travelling for face to face meetings or needed to be on site - this will reduce traffic and prevent build up around start and end of day.
@9NYLWQH7mos7MO
There can be a compromise for this. Those that aren't able to use public transport to get to work can have their travel fines subsidised by their employer's travel budget. In the case an employer can only get to work via a car. For the rest, the travel budget is used to subsidise their bus/train fairs.
Not all areas have good public transport and a car may be their only way to work and most work is in the city. Unless they provided parking outside the main areas and then have everyone proceed on public transport thereafter. It could work but it just moves the traffic there and not in the city. Congestion occurs because public transport is not an option for them so better to provide more options.
@9NY9DCW7mos7MO
This has proved to not work in London with either the CC or ULEZ. I have been driving in London for 25 years and traffic has worsened each year. CC and ULEZ have probably raised a lot of money for the government but it has done nothing to alleviate traffic. You could not fit more cars into the streets if you tried
@9NM3C9S7mos7MO
Yes, but only if the infrastructure is there to support it, such as good public transport links and prices
@9NM4J497mos7MO
This just penalises those who can’t afford the fees. How about just banning cars in cities and making sure there is enough, efficient, cheap public transport
@9NLJFZD7mos7MO
Yes for private vehicles but increase provision of public transportation to these areas such as Park and Ride
@9NJL3HB7mos7MO
Depends on the city and its road layout. Its not fair to penalise working people who are just trying to get to their place of employment. Public transport is expensive and not reliable or covers all areas.
Yes, as long as the revenue raised is put back into road safety and other taxes aren't invented to further hurt drivers
No just ban private vehicles from City Centres. Re-Pedestrianize these areas which would bring back foot traffic and allow businesses to thrive again.
@9NDSRLL7mos7MO
Affordable and reliable other methods of travel such as tubes trains trans and buses need to be better
@9NBJBCG8mos8MO
Yes, and funds raised by conversation pricing should go directly to improving public transport in those areas
@9NBB2V8Women's Equality 8mos8MO
I agree it will make things better for the environment but it is unfair on those who are travelling for work, for example, as it may not be a 'choice' that they are travelling through said areas.
@9N9D2W78mos8MO
Only with solid public transport infrastructure. So masses of secure park and ride that's cheap. £3 and fre busses all over the area
Loading the political themes of users that engaged with this discussion
Loading data...
Join in on more popular conversations.