AT midnight this morning (29 August) the London Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) expanded and now covers a much larger area than before.
The move, pushed through by the London Mayor, Sadiq Khan, will now see those driving or riding non-compliant vehicles charged a £12.50 daily charge for travelling anywhere within the new zone.
The ULEZ was introduced to try and improve the air quality in central London, although its expansion has been met with resistance from many living in the outer reaches of the new zone. For some, in areas like Waltham Forest and Kingston upon Thames - which are now included in the ULEZ, the argument is that the air quality isn’t yet bad enough to warrant the scheme. Others argue the expansion of the zone is less about air quality and more about lining the coffers and filling a void in the city’s finances. The cash raised by the ULEZ is ring-fenced, and can only be spent on the development and delivery of traffic improvements within the capital. Because of this, money can be saved and spent elsewhere in other public sector areas within the authority.
Ironically, there is a threshold for vehicles travelling in the ULEZ, meaning vehicles over 40 years old are exempt from the charge. Because of this, road users can travel through central and Greater London in a huge gas-guzzling classic car, yet those in a more modern less polluting non-complient vehicle would still have to fork out for the £12.50 per day charge.
For a more detailed look at the ULEZ and what it means for motorcyclists, head to this page.
