Ken calms C-charge fear

Transport for London has issued a statement from London Mayor Ken Livingstone stating that bikes and scooters will remain exempt from congestion charging in the capital, as a response to an Evening Standard article.

The Standard claimed that bike accidents were not falling quickly enough and that a number of measures were being considered, including the £5-a-day fee.

“Both motorcycles and scooters are exempt from the congestion charge as they do not cause congestion. The Mayor wishes to make it crystal clear that he has absolutely no intention whatsoever of making scooters and motorcycles pay congestion charge. Motorbikes and scooters will not be charged.

“Despite the increase in numbers of motorbikes and scooters in the zone, there continues to be a decline in the number of accidents involving powered two-wheelers since the introduction of the scheme.”

See more on this story in MCN, out Wednesday, March 30

The story prompted plenty of discussion on the Have Your Say forums, and you can join in by following the Related Topics link on the right. See the report which prompted the response, here.

Although the number of bikes increased almost 20 per cent in the first year of the charge, and bike casualites decreased by 15 per cent, TfL is aiming to cut the numbers killed or seriously injured by 40 per cent by 2010.

In 2004 1,000 bikers died or were seriously injured in Lodnon, down from 1,163 in 2003, but short of the target in 932. The idea is that motorcyclists would switch to other forms of transport to commute into the capital.

Other safety ideas include allowing the use of more bus lanes, and increasing awareness with television adverts. The This is London website also suggests TfL may lobby the Goervnment to increase the minimum age for riders or fit speed-limiting devices to bikes. Click here to read the story.