The Metropolis

How about an Oyster card for London's roads?

Mike Pollitt | Thursday 26 April, 2012 16:37

Think tank (or “policy wonks”, if you prefer) Demos are outlining 10 policies they think would benefit London. The latest:

“One simple idea might be for the Mayor to refund to all car owners the cost of their annual vehicle tax, while introducing road pricing at the same time, perhaps paid for via the Oyster Card. Those that make little use of their cars could well find themselves better of at the end of the year than they are currently. Similarly, discounts could be offered on less polluting, greener vehicles. Integrating congestion charging with the Oyster Card, would allow people to make a direct calculation as to the costs and benefits of using the car versus using public transport.”

This won’t happen anytime soon. We’ve seen the uproar that ensues when a council tries to take away a few parking spaces. But it feels like an idea whose time might not be all that far away.

With three more yet to come, here’s the full list of Demos’s ideas so far:

#1: Let London employers decide on transport
#2: Pop-up Parishes for London
#3: Give the Mayor control over JobcentrePlus and the Work Programme
#4: Tighten London’s property tax loopholes for foreigners
#5: Give cyclists more freedoms on London’s roads
#6: Create a London Commissioner for Schools and Young People
#7: Introduce an Oyster Card for London’s roads

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