ABSTRACT
The congestion charge scheme was initiated to counter the congestion problems Central London had been dealing with since the 1990s. A congestion charge scheme has been introduced in several cities around the world, but the most well-known European example is the one in London, UK. The congestion charge scheme is thus only one aspect of a wider transport strategy that focuses not only on congestion problems but also on radically improving public transport, increasing the capacity of London’s transport system, improving journey time reliability for car users and so on. The congestion charge in London is a fixed daily charge for driving or parking a vehicle on public roads within the congestion charging zone. The congestion charge scheme is closely monitored and, if appropriate, variations are proposed to the scheme to make adjustments and improvements to it or to extend it. The congestion charge experience in London indicates that private automobile travel is more price-sensitive than was widely believed.
