London Congestion Charge and ULEZ to Recommence

[219]

Yep, here’s the TfL checker:
Check your vehicle
Forum members noted anomalies early on, but hopefully it’s updated and accurate now.

Anything which qualifies for ‘Historic’ tax category will be exempt - this opens up a whole list of wonderful and ecologically sound vehicles -

W100 type 600
300SEL 6.3
some 450SEL 6.9 ( depends on build date )
some R107
any Pagoda SL
300SL Gullwing Coupe or Roadster
Any Adenauer , Ponton , Fintail
any W108/9
any W114/5


For the more patriotic you might choose from
Jaguar E Type , esp V12
XJ6/12
Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow or earlier
Jensen Interceptor or C-V8
That nice pre war Blower Bentley
any pre 79 Bristol
any pre 79 Aston Martin

Of course , if you want something compact for driving in the city there are plenty of qualifying small cars

Any pre 79 Austin/Morris/BMC Mini
Triumph Herald
Ford Anglia
Messerschmitt KR 200
BMW Isetta
BMW -01/02 series
Original Fiat 500
Citroen DCV

and lots more . It is heartwarming to know that the green credentials of owning and running a timeless classic are endorsed by the government.

 

[Screwdriver]

I was just informed that TFL are surprised by the public outcry and are reviewing written feedback on the charge increase. You can file a written complaint here - my note below for inspiration

"I am writing to complain about the widening of the scope of the congestion charge in London. The charge is meant to serve as a disincentive of vehicle use during the hours of actual vehicular congestion in London. There is little to no congestion after 6:30pm and definitely no congestion on weekends in the congestion zone. This arbitrary increase is draconian in nature and targets the vulnerable. At a minimum, I expect the TFL to exempt the following two categories from the charge entirely: 1) Care workers 2) Historic vehicles (40 years or older) Kindly confirm you will review this matter immediately"

 

[Gollom]

I was just informed that TFL are surprised by the public outcry and are reviewing written feedback on the charge increase.

Totally gobsmacked that they were "surprised" What planet do they inhabit?

 

[SW18]

I was just informed that TFL are surprised by the public outcry and are reviewing written feedback on the charge increase. You can file a written complaint here - my note below for inspiration

"I am writing to complain about the widening of the scope of the congestion charge in London. The charge is meant to serve as a disincentive of vehicle use during the hours of actual vehicular congestion in London. There is little to no congestion after 6:30pm and definitely no congestion on weekends in the congestion zone. This arbitrary increase is draconian in nature and targets the vulnerable. At a minimum, I expect the TFL to exempt the following two categories from the charge entirely: 1) Care workers 2) Historic vehicles (40 years or older) Kindly confirm you will review this matter immediately"

I do see where you are coming from. But I am not sure about your statement of no congestion after 6.30 and definitely not on weekends. I (used to) often see crawling queues of traffic all around the West End on evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. I don’t think a reduction would be such a bad thing. Who really needs to drive there on a weekend? It’s a very small zone after all. The current levels of weekend traffic there are sufficient to be causing illegal NOx emissions and make it unpleasant to be a pedestrian. Yes, for sure, some essential users may be impacted and I would hope that can be thought through.

 

[Kongshavn]

Thanks for posting the link. I have filled a complaint for the good it will do. If you have to travel into central London for work at weekends like I do and there are engineering works on the trains then I drive.
I think this will have a negative impact on retail and hospitality in central London and is a backward step....

I was just informed that TFL are surprised by the public outcry and are reviewing written feedback on the charge increase. You can file a written complaint here - my note below for inspiration

"I am writing to complain about the widening of the scope of the congestion charge in London. The charge is meant to serve as a disincentive of vehicle use during the hours of actual vehicular congestion in London. There is little to no congestion after 6:30pm and definitely no congestion on weekends in the congestion zone. This arbitrary increase is draconian in nature and targets the vulnerable. At a minimum, I expect the TFL to exempt the following two categories from the charge entirely: 1) Care workers 2) Historic vehicles (40 years or older) Kindly confirm you will review this matter immediately"

 

[markjay]

I think this is in part due to the historic ambiguity regarding what the Congestion Charge is and what is its purpose.

Some of us will recall that the US Embassy refused to pay the Congestion Charge because diplomats are exempt from taxes. TfL argued that Congestion Charge zone was akin to a toll road, and so the Congestion Charge wasn't technicality a tax. The Americans disagreed...

Then the Prius was exempt. The hybrid Prius occupies as much road space as any other car. So why is it expemt from Congestion Charge? Because the Charge was used in this instance to encourage drivers to take-up hybrid cars, a move that was supposed to help improve air quality in Central London. Great idea, but then the Congestion Charge should have been renamed 'The London Congestion and Pollution Charge'. It wasn't.

Then, cars with very low CO2 emissions were exepmt. But again, CO2 has nothing to do with either congestion, or air quality. Yes, it's a good idea to reduce our CO2 emissions, but how is this related to the Congestion Charge? Or air quality?

And now we hear that the Congestion Charge will be used as means of collecting funds from the public (or, from those who drive into Central London anyway) to pop-up TfL's depleted coffers.

So should it now be renamed 'The London Congestion, Pollution, CO2, and COVID-19 Non-tax Charge'?

I think that we need to remove the ambiguity, and to determine what is the purpose of the Congestion Charge, and who can change it. Perhaps another Act of Parliament is needed?

 

[Bellow]

Totally gobsmacked that they were "surprised" What planet do they inhabit?

The one that has to recoup costs to cover the Covid calamity.

 

[m80]

Totally gobsmacked that they were "surprised" What planet do they inhabit?

Planet London, definitely another world.

The pollution answer is simple. Vacuum charge the sewer system, I can't understand why Albert missed that one.
The polluted air is sucked off the roads at low level and magically doesn't have to be worried about after that as clearly any pollution in London only has a very local consideration.

This would mean the air is replaced by the much prettier air like the stuff we breath up here in the High Peak.
Then we charge London a tax for our air.
Americans won't need to argue non payment as they talk so much cr*p they will disappear down the sewer.

Win, win ,win.

 

[st13phil]

I think this is in part due to the historic ambiguity regarding what the Congestion Charge is and what is its purpose.

You have accurately described a classic example of the "mission creep" that is endemic with taxes that are introduced with the alleged purpose of encouraging "virtuous" behaviour.

Once the money starts rolling in it becomes a cash cow that cannot be done without.

 

[SW18]

You have accurately described a classic example of the "mission creep" that is endemic with taxes that are introduced with the alleged purpose of encouraging "virtuous" behaviour.

Once the money starts rolling in it becomes a cash cow that cannot be done without.

E.g.
Duty on alcohol - 1275
Business rates - 1601
Income tax - 1799
Purchase tax (later VAT) - 1940
Most of these started to fund war debt but are still with us, via many adjustments and changes along the way.

 

[markjay]

You have accurately described a classic example of the "mission creep" that is endemic with taxes that are introduced with the alleged purpose of encouraging "virtuous" behaviour.

Once the money starts rolling in it becomes a cash cow that cannot be done without.

Ah... you were thinking of the Dartford Crossing, weren't you?

 

[C240Sport97]

London buses cannot be boarded at the front currently. As a result, there is fare evasion on a epic scale. You are supposed to touch in at the readers in the middle doors but around 90% did not during a bus journey I took on Thursday.

bus drivers are completely separated from passengers with plastic screens, I don’t understand why front boarding is prohibited and front areas cordoned off. completely OTT

 

[markjay]

London buses cannot be boarded at the front currently. As a result, there is fare evasion on a epic scale. You are supposed to touch in at the readers in the middle doors but around 90% did not during a bus journey I took on Thursday.

bus drivers are completely separated from passengers with plastic screens, I don’t understand why front boarding is prohibited and front areas cordoned off. completely OTT

Presumably to reassure drivers who might otherwise be reluctant to show up to work.

As for the readers not being used.... I often wondered what percentage of bus users are exempt anyway? Kids don't pay, the over 60s don't pay, people on certain benefits don't pay, disabled people don't pay, etc. I am not complaining, BTW, as over-60s both me and the missus are benefitting from it... just wondering about TfL finances.

 

[Bellow]

I read that front door use is to be reinstated. Next week?

 

[SW18]

Presumably to reassure drivers who might otherwise be reluctant to show up to work.

As for the readers not being used.... I often wondered what percentage of bus users are exempt anyway? Kids don't pay, the over 60s don't pay, people on certain benefits don't pay, disabled people don't pay, etc. I am not complaining, BTW, as over-60s both me and the missus are benefitting from it... just wondering about TfL finances.

This is true - I’m fairly sure the tube is TfL’s big earner...

 

[C240Sport97]

Presumably to reassure drivers who might otherwise be reluctant to show up to work.

As for the readers not being used.... I often wondered what percentage of bus users are exempt anyway? Kids don't pay, the over 60s don't pay, people on certain benefits don't pay, disabled people don't pay, etc. I am not complaining, BTW, as over-60s both me and the missus are benefitting from it... just wondering about TfL finances.

the sample of my journey was not them, except those on benefits .. I didn’t know that those on benefits got free travel

 

[C240Sport97]

I read that front door use is to be reinstated. Next week?

about time too!

 

[markjay]

Well, at some point of time during the lockdown, Park Lane northbound has undergone a transmission.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Park Lane, it's a very busy London artery that runs along the East side of Hyde Park, and has 3-4 lanes in each direction, and a speed limit of 40mph.

It has now been converted to the following:

The inside lane is a very wide two-way cycle lane, physically separated from the main road.

There's one middle lane, and it's a Bus Lane.

The outside lane is the only lane for private vehicles, and the speed limit is now 20mph.

Good luck to those who need to use this road....

 

[markjay]

Before:

 

[markjay]

After: