Put Your Hyde in Park

London mayor triples fee for most-polluting cars entering city center

Posted at 5:44 AM on 12 Feb 2008

London Mayor Ken Livingstone tripled the fee drivers of the most-polluting vehicles will have to pay to enter the city center beginning in October, from about $16 to $49. The so-called congestion charge was introduced in 2003 in an effort to decrease traffic and greenhouse-gas emissions, encouraging Londoners and visitors to use public transportation instead of cars. Today's changes to the congestion-fee program include exempting drivers of the most-efficient vehicles, including the Toyota Prius, from the charge. Another change would erase the exemption that had been in place for residents who live within the congestion zone, subjecting drivers of the most-inefficient SUVs and luxury cars to the $49 a day charge for driving in downtown London even if they live there. "I believe that this groundbreaking initiative will have an impact throughout the world with other cities following suit as they step up their efforts to halt the slide toward catastrophic climate change," Livingstone said.

sources: Bloomberg, Reuters

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Comments: (4 comments)

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At Least One Political Leader Gets It

Too bad we don't have anyone like that in the U.S. or even in the supposedly progressive San Francisco Bay Area, which is just as addicted to its cars as anywhere.

by Wolverine at 7:25 PM on 12 Feb 2008

Livingston's Green Folly

London, a city with a population the size of Israel, is being run by a fraudster with a grudge against the middle-class, not some eco-warrior as he'd have you believe.

The new 'congestion' charge of twenty-five pounds ($50) aimed at vehicles which emit 220g or more of CO2 per km or have an engine size above three litres has nothing to do with climate change, but more to do with a class war.

I'm all for saving the environment but Livingston's plans for a greener London just don't add up. This move will add more cars to our roads, not less.

Does Livingston think that Range Rover drivers are going to give up their beloved cars? All they are going to do is buy another car that doesn't have to pay the charge, whilst using the Range Rover for trips to the country on the weekend.

So what we end up with is more cars manufactured and more cars in and around London, causing much more pollution.

It makes even less sense when you consider that Livingston presides over the most expensive metropolitan transport system in the world, two pounds ($4) for a single bus and four pounds and fifty pence ($9) for a single underground journey, putting paid to any myth that he is trying to create a greener city.

Something needs to be done, but not like this, and not by Livingston, London's Hugo Chavez wannabe.

by Blueplanet at 6:51 AM on 13 Feb 2008

Ban Cars Altogether

If you're opposed to charging gas guzzling vehicles more money but you say you're "all for saving the environment," what's your plan? I think your is just another anti-environmental post. Your derogatory comment about Hugo Chavez belies your true feelings. And if by "middle class" your mean people who want to drive SUVs and other gas guzzlers but who aren't rich, you get no sympathy from me.

by Wolverine at 2:40 PM on 14 Feb 2008

Yeh,

Get the lazy fat bastards out of their cars and walking and they won't have to worry about being obese ...... I can see them now standing in line at the McDonald's Drive-Thru .....

"We Have Found the Enemy and It Is Us" ... Pogo

by rrecroc at 6:29 AM on 19 Feb 2008
[ Parent ]

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