Blackwall Tunnel Motorcycle Charging Plan ‘Flawed’
The BMF and NMC have called for plans to charge motorcycles to use the revamped Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels as ‘flawed’
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The British Motorcyclists Council (BMF) and the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC) have responded to a Transport for London (TfL) consultation on the proposed charging of motorcycles to use two key tunnels in the capital.
The as-yet-unfinished Silvertown and heavily used Blackwall tunnels are at the centre of the consultation, with TfL looking to charge users in a move that it claims will help to manage traffic levels and help to pay for maintenance.
The proposal was met with criticism, though, from motorcycle groups like the BMF and NMC, among others. They are pointing out that motorcycles are exempt from similar charging schemes, such as the congestion charge (if the bike is eligible) and claim that charging bikes overlooks the positive impact motorcyclists have in a congested city such as London.
Blackwall Tunnel and Silvertown Tunnel Pricing
Vehicle | Off-peak (Autopay) | Peak (Autopay) | Non-Autopay price |
Motorcycles and scooters | £1.50 | £2.50 | £2.50 |
Car or small van | £1.50 | £4.00 | £4.00 |
Large van | £2.50 | £6.50 | £6.50 |
HGV | £5.00 | £10 | £10 |
TfL argues that the charging of vehicles is necessary to help pay for ongoing maintenance and to help reduce congestion while improving the environment and air quality in central London. Sceptics claim this is just another cash grab move, putting more financial pressure on residents and businesses that have no other option than to utilise the capital’s roads.
The move to charge bikes at the same level as cars is, the BMF claims, a move which is “seriously flawed”, going on to state that it demonstrates “little, if any, analysis or modelling in respect of motorcycling and its positive impacts on pollution levels and traffic congestion”
Speaking about the plans, NMC Executive Director, Craig Carey-Clinch said:
“The NMC urges TfL to reconsider their proposals to charge motorcyclists to use the Silvertown and Blackwall Tunnels, to carry out proper modeling and analysis around motorcycle use of the tunnels, and to exempt motorcycles from charges in order to recognise and realise the significant benefits motorcycling offers as an accessible, affordable, cleaner and greener transport option than most other powered modes of transport. Motorcycling should be supported by TfL with concessions applied to encourage their use as part of the development of a greener and more sustainable future transport model for London.”
Lead image credit: Mutney, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
