The London 'Toxicity Charge' / 'T-charge' / Ultra-Low Emission Zone (ULEZ)

Sadiq Khan is proposing the 'London Toxicity Charge' (I somehow think that it won't keep this name), as well as a couple of other measures. A press release from a while back:

https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/bold-plans-to-clean-up-londons-toxic-air

Much of what was in that seems to have been the subject of a launch by the Mayor today:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/sadiq-khan-unveils-new-10-pollution-tcharge-which-is-added-on-top-of-the-london-congestion-charge-a3288056.html

Lots to be said, of course. Most of the measures are very motorised carriage-centric; one wonders if it will uncork an effect similar to that which Congestion Charging initially (all too briefly) had, e.g. on cycling, or if it will mainly stimulate the car greenwash industry. The political will is clearly there; hopefully the measures will be effective.

Announcement on the Ultra-low Emission Zone (ULEZ):

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-plans-to-create-ultra-low-emission-zone-in-central-london-by-2019-a3364961.html

https://www.london.gov.uk/press-releases/mayoral/mayor-introduces-10-toxicity-charge

Mayor: £10 ‘Toxicity Charge’ for most polluting cars starts October 23

Unsurprisingly, there are lots of articles on it:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-s-10-toxicity-charge-will-cost-londoners-23-million-a-year-but-hardly-improve-air-quality-a3438481.html

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-suggests-driving-could-be-banned-on-certain-days-in-central-london-to-cut-pollution-a3470516.html

An observation.

Was in city on Sunday. Along embankment, loads of empty parked up non TFL private coachs all with engines running, drivers milling around smoking, drinking tea.

Outside St Pancs/Kings Cross, empty taxis, parked up, pretty much all with engines running.

Outside St Pancs/Kings Cross, empty taxis, parked up, pretty much all with engines running.

Yeah, I find that a bit annoying as well. At times there must be well over 100 black cabs from o/s St Pancras all the way back to York Rd. All idling.

Easily 30+ cabs on Sunday, St Pancs road ? the one with the Evans shop.

We have trackers on works fleet, the new system counts engine idle time and records it, we just got our first "Leader Board" print out, up till now no one from management has mentioned what data the tracker records and the large vehicles don't have idle-stop mangement, the cars do, so start stop automatically.
As it's kinda fresh in my head and a way to add a couple of percent to my score i have sort of taken notice of idle running vehicles around me.
But factor in, how many black cabs, mini cabs, ubers and daily private coaches are sat around all day.........
:) ban them, should clean things up a bit (impractical i know)

yeah, ban them. ban them from idling at the very least...

if supermarkets were putting diesel particulates into our cornflakes, it would be a huge scandal.

cos it's just in the air we breathe, apparently it's no big deal. weird.

The latest:

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/sadiq-khan-plans-world-s-first-ultralow-emissions-zone-with-new-daily-charges-for-swathes-of-london-a3506561.html

Is it not fair to assume that a large amount of pollution in London is down to construction vehicles, taxis, lorries and delivery drivers? All of whom can pass these new taxes onto their customers.

As regards idling engines:

It is already banned - the fines are laughably low and I've no idea if it's ever been enforced or how I'd find out.

But I have asked idlers to not do this, and started a twitter acc Stop Idling Motors (@IdlingVan) to try to name and shame liveried commercial vehicles. I must admit I've not been very active lately, as it is overwhelming how many vehicles do this. I gather you're not even supposed to idle if you pull over to use a phone! Some chance it will ever be enforced.

It contravenes section 42 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, enforcing Highway Code rule 23.

The new traffic pcsos are meant to be enforcing idling regulations. It has started in the City of London.

Classic nimbyism here but I'm annoyed this will penalise me for the occasional use of my 25+ year old classic car (is a citroen bx 16v a classic car? yes it is thanks), when the real pollutants are diesels in central london, many of whom are taxis who are going to be exempt!

For how long are we going to venerate our tradition of ancient black cabs pumping out toxins?

Not for long http://europe.autonews.com/article/20170424/ANE/170429944/how-volvo-helped-to-electrify-the-london-black-cab

Sounds pretty good.

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/mayors-tcharge-to-tackle-pollution-will-begin-in-three-months-time-a3597426.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/three-quarters-of-londoners-back-mayors-tcharge-to-tackle-pollution-a3663576.html

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/london-tcharge-everything-you-need-to-know-about-sadiq-khans-10-payment-to-tackle-pollution-a3664011.html

While it's great that it might be getting put in place, what about zones 2+?

As has been the case for a long time, that area of policy remains almost completely unaddressed. There has been some talk about local authorities implementing their own schemes, but of course nothing has happened.

The existing schemes (CZ, TZ) are blunt tools, anyway, but smarter road user charging is considered a political hot potato.

smarter road user charging is considered a political hot potato.

So they plan only to tax stupid people?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/23/london-10-pound-t-charge-comes-into-effect-toxic-car-fumes

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/new-dcharge-to-bump-up-cost-of-parking-diesel-cars-in-london-a3692691.html

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2018/jun/08/sadiq-khan-unveils-plans-london-ultra-low-emission-zone-pollution

https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/new-emissions-zone-to-hit-drivers-with-1250-a-day-pollution-tax-a3858531.html

Oliver, expect a backlash from those just inside the N Circular, ie me. People are becoming aware that they may have to pay the charge to drive what they consider to be a perfectly sound car. It may be a sound public health measure but poor politics.