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London looks like it will be taking a Singapore type solution to it\'s traffic woes. How long before it is suggested here.
London Mayor, Ken Livingstone, is proposing a levy of up to 5 pounds a day to enter the English Capitol from late next year.
The Singapore system works on over the street gantries and prepaid cards, when drivers and riders go under the gantries scanners deduct a set charge from the value of the card.
Mayor Livingstone is at the moment supporting a free or much reduced fee for motorcycles.
A transport spokesman commenting on his behalf said:. \"There is no question of the Mayor not introducing a congestion charge for cars At the moment, a figure of £5 per day has been proposed. But powered two-wheelers, as the document has called them, could be charged a lot less or go free altogether. We are asking 300 groups, including the BMF and MAG, what they think bikers should be expected to pay. The Mayor is not blind to their advantages.\"
Bike dealers in and around London have already reported an increase in enquiries Liam Reid, sales manager for the Tottenham branch of dealer Bikerama, said: \"We\'re really excited at the prospect of bikes going free. We\'ve already had commuters coming in asking about two wheels. They\'ve heard bikes may be exempt and want to take advantage of the savings. Most are interested in the larger scooters capable of carrying plenty of luggage.\"
My two bobs worth:The danger here is that, as in Singapore once this type of system is in place every time the Government (Local or National) want a few more bucks another ring of Gantries goes up in a ripple effect of tax collection devices.
This means those who travel further into the city get taxed several times (and don\'t forget they get you going home as well). Add that to your parking charges and you begin to see why there are so many motorcycles and scooters in Singapore. Motorcycles pay a fee there but it is less than cars.
Once this sort of system is in operation in places like London it will be touted by some local and national politicians as the cure all for OUR traffic problems. Especially in Auckland and Wellington. First they make it attractive to use bikes then they devise taxes because people are using them. It is easier to devise new taxes than to use the money they already collect properly, and for the use it was collected ie petrol taxes should be spent on roads, NOT used for other Government purposes, the likes of which will never be known
It\'s the way of the world and something we can all look forward to .
