With lack of fanfare and arguably hidden beneath their controversial plans to extend London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) almost to the M25 this summer, the next assault on the pocket of motorists from the London Assembly looks likely to be road charging and they quietly sneaked in their plans for this a few weeks ago.
Don’t live in London? Don’t ignore this because the Low Emission Zones currently spreading across the UK started in the capital and pay-per-mile road charging will be next, if it’s allowed to come into being.
On the 9 February 2023 the London Assembly quietly launched an investigation into Road User Charging that will last all of a month until 10 March 2023. Remember, February only has 28 days! Click this link for details.
The investigation page states, “We would like to hear from those who regularly need to drive in any part of London who would be directly affected by the introduction of road user charging, as well as from any Londoner who would be affected by the policy and its potential goals. Therefore, this Call for Evidence is open to all who would like to respond.”
Hopefully the likes of the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA), Motorcycle Action Group (MAG) and British Motorcyclists Federation (BMF) will be responding on behalf of the industry and their members, because pay-per-mile can only affect sales and use of scooters and motorcycles in a negative way, when in fact the use of powered-two-wheelers (PTWs) in cities around the UK should be constantly being promoted as solution to traffic congestion and the excessive pollution caused by cars.
Unfortunately, as riders ourselves we also need to be fighting for our rights and I suggest as many as possible contact the London Assembly with evidence and reason as to why pay-per-mile is a bad idea that will affect individual commuters, those who use PTWs for work and businesses within such areas that will no doubt see a reduction in trade.
Of course petrol-powered scooters and bikes pump out emissions, but the nature of small capacity lightweight two-wheeled vehicles that can filter past stationary traffic and get from A to B is less time than those cars, makes them less polluting for a shorter amount of time, and that’s before you consider that six to eight scooters or bikes can be parked in the same space as one ridiculously large SUV type car these days.
The investigation can be read via this link here.
It asks that you, “Please send evidence by email to: scrutiny@london.gov.uk ” and reminds that the deadline for submission is 10 March 2023.
Remember folks, if you think the cost of riding your scooter is expensive now, it will be even more if you have to pay per mile for the right to do it. And you can bet any money that if Road User Charging does come into force, the quality of the roads won’t improve either. Don’t ignore it, have your say today.
**Edition 36 of ScooterNova magazine is available now from all good scooter shop and selected independent retailers, or visit our online shop for home delivery.
