You could be PAID to walk or cycle to work rather than drive in new scheme
BRITS could be paid to walk or cycle to work rather than drive in a new scheme.
Paying those who use greener transport options would be a smarter alternative than a “blunt instrument” Ultra Low Emissions Zone, an expert said.
The current ULEZ, Congestion Charge and Low Emissions Zone in London are “primitive” for charging someone for travelling 100 yards into a zone, Simon Birkett, founder and director of Clean Air in London, said.
He revealed he drew up a plan for a new smart road-user charging system.
It is unclear how technology would work to pay people or how much they would be paid.
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London’s City Hall has committed to finding a replacement for the charging system by the end of the decade but Mr Birkett said changes could be brought in within three years with a full public consultation.
He said: "I’d like to get a commitment from the mayor to introduce a bigger, stronger, fairer, smarter scheme.
"The beauty of it is that you could actually pay people to walk or cycle."
Air pollution is a major killer in the capital. Many areas far exceed legal limits for particulate matter and toxic nitrogen, reports.
Brixton Road in Lambeth, South London, is seven times the new World Health Organisation maximums on some air pollution readings.
Elliot Treharne, Head of Air Quality at the Greater London Authority said ULEZ was the “jewel in the crown” of air pollution efforts, but admitted much more needs to be done.