£200 Charge to Drive in London
by Matthew Sparkes, London, UK on 05.10.07
The mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, is outlining plans for a low-emission zone (LEZ) in the capital. Under the plan, highly polluting commercial vehicles like buses and lorries could be charged up to £200 ($400) a day to drive in the city. Currently there is an £8-a-day charge to drive a car in Central London, but under the plans the most polluting cars will pay £25 a day to enter the zone, which will be extended to include all 33 boroughs. Penalties will also be increased, with a bill of up to £1,000 if caught without having paid the charge.
The congestion charge was devised to reduce congestion, not lower emissions, as the new plan aims to do. Hybrid cars are currently except from the charge, but even more economical standard cars are not. The LEZ should address issues like this, and encourage people to buy economical cars, not cars that provide a loophole. "London suffers from the worst air quality in the UK and the proposed low-emission zone would target those diesel engine lorries, coaches, buses, heavier vans and minibuses which are pumping out the most harmful pollutants," Livingstone said.
The LEZ should launch next year for cars and in 2010 for commercial vehicles. Transport for London, who regulate transport in the capital, estimate that the scheme will prevent about 40 deaths a year from pollution-related illnesses.
Of course, even in a city as expensive as London, walking is still free.:: The Guardian
So wait, he's essentially taxing public transportation buses?
I assume they mean the hundreds of tour buses that circle the city non stop all day long, and not city buses.
WIth a decent book you can take the normal city buses and see the same sights for less money, with the tour guide of course. Tourists tend to use the tube and tour buses, and locals don't care to see the view so the upper deck of the double deckers are often rather empty.
Once again it appears this isn't about making the world a less poluted place, but about taxes and money for the government.
Trams run on renewable energy would be the best option but rebuiilding the infrastructure is a problem.
Why not electric buses?
There's a few hybrid buses (and lots more to come, I think!) and a few hydrogen powered buses too.
All the public buses are relatively new, so they should be reasonably OK for emissions. The tour companies often use old buses, they're much smellier when they drive past :(