Would You Pay A Fee To Drive Into A City?

Starting next February, English drivers entering London will pay £5 (about $7.80) a day for the privilege of driving into the city.

1 minute read

September 14, 2002, 11:00 AM PDT

By Chris Steins @planetizen


"However, says the paper, "critics, including small businesses and residents' associations, cannot quite believe it is actually going to happen." The plan is an attempt to tame London's terrible traffic. Each morning, 40,000 cars, trucks, and buses an hour pour into central London on roads meant for horses, carriages, and pedestrians. Traffic moves at an average of less than 10 miles an hour. Businesses estimate that some £3 million a day is wasted because of gridlock. Mayor Ken Livingstone hopes the "congestion charges" will reduce traffic in the center of London by 10 to 15 percent, while raising some $204 million a year."

Thanks to Dateline APA

Thursday, September 5, 2002 in The New York Times

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