ULEZ charge to bring misery to London's motorcyclists from April

APRIL 8th is just around the corner, and with it financial misery for many motorcycle and scooter riders in London.

The ULEZ (Ultra Low Emission Zone) will launch in four months’ time, and drivers or riders of older vehicles in London’s central congestion zone will thereon face a round-the-clock charge of £12.50 per day.

Should they neglect to pay it, they will receive a £160 fine, which is halved to £80 if paid within two weeks.

The ULEZ, which has been described as the world’s most radical crackdown on vehicle emissions, is being introduced by Mayor Sadiq Khan in a bid to improve air quality. It will initially apply to older vehicles driving in the central London congestion charge zone, and will be charged alongside the current Congestion Charge – meaning some drivers will face paying up to £24 a day to drive into the Capital.

While motorcycles are exempt from the C-charge, those that fail to meet “Euro 4” emissions standards (typically those registered before 2007), will be required to pay the £12.50 a day ULEZ charge. This will spell disaster for many of the delivery and commuter riders in the capital, whose livelihoods are already threatened by moped-enabled crime.

Despite fervent campaigning by the likes of We Ride London and other campaign groups, Khan has not backed down and refuses to acknowledge the advantages that two wheelers bring, namely reducing both pollution and congestion.

Ahead of a consultation on the charge in February 2018, a spokesperson for We Ride London said: “The 28th of Feb marks the last day of the latest consultation on the introduction of the ULEZ charge which will impact most of the motorcyclists and scooters in London, forcing them to pay £12.50 per day to ride into and around our capital city.

“We Ride London is campaigning against this unfair and counter-intuitive tax. Motorcycles & Scooters are part of the solution to reducing pollution, congestion and overcrowding but we continue to be ignored by the Mayor.”

A TfL webpage on which you can check you ULEZ liability has been reportedly been visited almost 1.3 million times. It tells you if you are liable and presents different options. 

Click here to check your motorcycle.

According to the Standard, Drivers who are registered for the residents’ C-charge discount will get a 100% ULEZ discount until 24 October 2021, allowing them time to change their vehicle to meet the ULEZ standards. However, as two-wheelers aren’t party to the C-charge, London riders will not be registered for the discount, and so it is unclear as whether this rule will apply to them.

The charge will apply 24/7 and in October 2021 will be extended to the area inside the North and South Circular roads – multiplying the charge zone by 28 times.