So what's happening about congestion charges?

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Ok, I know I don't live in London but as these charges are bound to spread I thought I'd find out what was happening.

One story from the London Evening Standard says scooter and bikes face £5 a day charge.

Then this is contradicted in another article in MCN.

Since then learnt on another site a message from a journalist

[feef]

There are not going to be any charge for bikes and scoots.

Aparently it was all a bit of scare mongering.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Personal feeling is that they will eventually go for it. Too much revenue they are missing, and congestion is just an excuse when really it is just a method of raising revenue.

Next time expect it to be more carefully leaked to the press, with stories of motorcycle related deaths and pollution, along with a bit of effort into getting some car drivers calling for equality (divide and conquer).

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[feef]

[White Noise]

[Kickstart]

[Bespoke]

[MissFickle]

Apparently Ken Livingstone said it wont happen..

[Bespoke]

[Sadie]

Just a couple of points from the lobbying point of view, just so you know we're on the case!

Leon Mannings (BMF Chairman) is talking to Dave Weitzel (TfL No. 2) who is cited as one of the prime movers of this subject and is meeting him this week. However, there has been a lot of negativity towards PTWs from Lynn Sloman (also involved with TfL and a greenie of the worst kind) who is heavily biased against motorbikes and steadfastly refuses to recognise their rôle in any sustainable transport plan. The time may be right to do a number on her. Certainly her credibility with the GLA has been undermined by Uncle Ken's statement.

There are also the practicalities of the proposal if it was ever a serious one. Proposals to increase the charge from £5 to £8 and the extension of the Congestion Charging Zone to the West have been subject to extensive and long-term consultation. If the GLA/TfL decided to charge PTW users, it would be at least a year away and not set in concrete anyway.

This seems to be linked to the Thames Gateway Bridge toll orders in which PTWs are included with 'cars and caravans'. There were also the statements made by Dave Weitzel last year in the Evening Standard and subsequently MCN for which he was never available for comment. We are addressing the bridge issue through the public inquiry. For the overall congestion charge, there are no proposals in the consultations in upping the price to £8 or extending the congestion zone to the West. So it would take some doing to put motorcycle charges in place if they're serious. Green GLA representative and former Deputy Mayor also called for a congestion charge for motorcycles but was never taken seriously.

From some of the reactions from BMF activists in London, there was going to be a major shit storm bringing London to a halt if the proposal were serious so I doubt that it ever was. I suggest someone was flying a kite to see how it was received.
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With experience comes age.

[MissFickle]

[pocket_Rocket]

I don't think it will happen as the government want more people on bikes n London as they don't causes as much congestion, emmisions.

isnt there free training for new motorcyclists. I saw somthing about it in MCN.

[Project9928]

Theres a bit in MCN that says he won't be charging us, but seeing as it will generate loads of money something tells me it won't be long till he trys.

[Kickstart]