TOPIC GUIDE: Congestion Charging
"The London Congestion Charge model should be adopted by all major cities"
PUBLISHED: 01 Aug 2008
AUTHOR: Justine Brian
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INTRODUCTION
On 17 February 2003 London’s first directly elected Mayor, Ken Livingstone, launched the world’s largest congestion charging scheme for motorists. Described at the time as the decision that would ‘make or break’ his mayoral career, the London scheme is the most ambitious of its type ever implemented and has been watched by city authorities throughout the world. A radical departure from traditional road charging, which was a way of directly funding the construction and maintenance of road routes, the London Congestion Charge was explicitly presented as a means of reducing the number of cars travelling into London. Its introduction was controversial, and the practical issue of road congestion was only one part of a broader debate about climate change, city centre pollution, personal mobility and the freedom to travel. Whilst some suggest that the congestion charge has been successful in ‘creat(ing) a truly sustainable transport system’, others say it shows an ‘utter lack of imagination’ in dealing with the modern problems of transport. Should the congestion charge be rolled out to other cities across the UK, or stay parked up in London?
DEBATE IN CONTEXT
This section provides a summary of the key issues in the debate, set in the context of recent discussions and the competing positions that have been adopted.
What is the London Congestion Charge?
The charge obliges road vehicles to pay a daily charge (currently £8) for entering the Congestion Charge Zone (CCZ) in central London at certain times, although some vehicles are exempt [Ref: Transport for London]. The perimeter of the zone, and key thoroughfares within it, are monitored by street cameras and roving camera vehicles operating automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology. The majority of vehicles are captured on camera and their number plates checked against payment records. Those that have not paid are fined.
Why is traffic congestion a problem?
Supporters of the congestion charge argue that in a city as large as London measures have to be taken to reduce congestion and gridlock; congestion is said to represent a total loss of £20 billion a year to the UK economy [Ref: BBC News]. Public transport, such as buses and trains, carry large numbers of people into the city, whereas cars are often used by single drivers and therefore deemed inefficient in comparison. Some have also said that an incentive to help people change to public transport, or other alternatives such as cycling and walking, has a beneficial effect on the city’s overall environment [Ref: Friends of the Earth]. But critics of the congestion charge suggest that we have misdiagnosed the problem. They say that we have forgotten how much freedom increased car travel has brought, and how profoundly modern transport has improved our lives [Ref: spiked]. Driving, they argue, is being unfairly cast as an act of complacent self-interestedness, rather than a benefit of modern society that should be applauded. Questioning whether the only solution to transport problems is making people travel less, critics have pointed to the fact that the UK has built fewer roads than any other large developed country in the last twenty years. Rather than penalising the public for driving, they argue that the government should be looking for alternative solutions to congestion problems, including building more roads [Ref: Times Online] and changing traffic light flows [Ref: spiked].
Was congestion charging the way forward for London?
Early critics of the congestion charge doubted if it would succeed in reducing the number of cars entering London [Ref: BBC News]. A Transport for London review indicates that car numbers have fallen by 70,000 a day, but while the congestion charge has reduced numbers, the report shows that congestion and travel times are no better than before, due to traffic calming measures, car lane restrictions and an increase in bus and cycle lanes [Ref: Transport for London]. Businesses also claim to have suffered financial losses since its implementation [Ref: Telegraph]. There are other suggestions that the congestion charge has led to unequal access to roads. But supporters of the charge put their argument bluntly: the era of the car is over, and people need to cut back, congestion or not. With cities like London growing year on year and environmental considerations ever more important, the congestion charge is a necessary way of changing behaviour for the greater good [Ref: Guardian]. But critics suggest that there is little evidence to support the ‘benefits’ the charge is purported to bring. With a recent study finding that the congestion charge has had no impact on pollution levels in London, they suggest that this is a moral rather than an evidence-based crusade [Ref: New Scientist].
What is the future of congestion charging?
Major cities across the UK and around the world have looked to London as a template on which to base their own versions of a congestion charge. But whilst some (Stockholm and Durham) have introduced the charge, others (New York, Cambridge and Edinburgh) have rejected it. Supporters of tax-based incentives to change travel habits argue that ultimately they work in shifting the focus of traffic policy from private car owners to pedestrians and other forms of transport [Ref: Guardian]. But critics argue that the London scheme resorts to the age old method of taxing people’s behaviour and is an attack on individual freedom. The question remains: is congestion charging an effective way of dealing with modern transport problems?
ESSENTIAL READING
It is crucial for debaters to have read the articles in this section, which provide essential information and arguments for and against the debate motion. Students will be expected to have additional evidence and examples derived from independent research, but they can expect to be criticised if they lack a basic familiarity with the issues raised in the essential reading.
The Big Question: Has the congestion charge been effective in reducing London’s traffic?
Nigel Morris Independent 13 February 2008
FOR
In praise of…London’s congestion charge
Editorial Guardian 7 August 2008
Decongestant drops: It’s high time Manchester had a congestion charge
Ally Fogg Guardian Unlimited 10 June 2008
Admit it, we’re travel addicted. Let the taxman put the brakes on
Simon Jenkins The Times 3 December 2006
The global transport challenge
John Whitelegg openDemocracy 26 April 2005
AGAINST
Nico Macdonald spiked 19 March 2007
The car represents freedom and progress so lets build more roads
Mick Hume The Times 30 August 2004
Hamish McRae Independent 27 July 2004
Stephen Bayley Independent 6 February 2003
IN DEPTH
In support of the congestion charge
Cameron Munroe Washingtonpost.com 6 August 2007
Mick Hume spiked 1 February 2007
Road pricing is necessary for UK
David Begg FT.com 15 May 2005
Laura Blow, Andrew Leicester, Zoe Smith The Institute for Fiscal Studies - Briefing Note No.31 2003
KEY TERMS
Definitions of key concepts that are crucial for understanding the topic. Students should be familiar with these terms and the different ways in which they are used and interpreted and should be prepared to explain their significance.
BACKGROUNDERS
Useful websites and materials that provide a good starting point for research.
Friends of the Earth v Porsche
Sky News 1 February 2008
Motoring towards 2050 – Roads and reality executive summary
RAC Foundation
Guardian
Charging schemes around the world
Commission for Integrated Transport
ORGANISATIONS
Links to organisations, campaign groups and official bodies who are referenced within the Topic Guide or which will be of use in providing additional research information.
IN THE NEWS
Relevant recent news stories from a variety of sources, which ensure students have an up to date awareness of the state of the debate.
Congestion Charge plan proves unpopular
Lancashire Evening Post 8 August 2008
Transport: London still gridlocked despite congestion charge
Guardian 7 August 2008
BBC News 6 August 2008
Is congestion charging a price worth paying for £3bn worth of public transport improvements?
Manchester Evening News 1 July 2008
£2.8bn for Manchester transport as congestion charge plan confirmed
Guardian 10 June 2008
London congestion charge did not improve air quality
New Scientist 30 April 2008
Congestion is good for business
Whatcar? 30 April 2008
How the congestion charge lost its principles
Independent 10 March 2008
British cities shun London’s wasteful car tax
The Times December 2007
Rush-hour is slower than before C-charge
Evening Standard 6 November 2007
Road pricing is only one cog in the machine
Independent 22 May 2007
New York to follow London’s example with congestion charge
Guardian 23 April 2007
Embassy road toll row continues
BBC News 14 May 2006
Edinburgh rejects congestion charge
BBC News 25 February 2005
Should congestion charging be extended?
BBC News 20 June 2003
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