London’s congestion charge, low emission zone and ultra low emission zone will cease to function from Monday in Transport for London’s latest move to ensure what it calls the capital’s “critical workers” to move around the city as easily as possible. None of these road-user charging schemes will operate until further notice.
TfL says Sadiq Khan had asked it to make the change, which comes on top of TfL’s sharp reduction of public transport services, including the closure of 40 Underground stations and the Waterloo & City Line.
The Mayor has stressed that drivers not making essential journeys should not take advantage if the suspensions. He said: “This is not an invitation to take to your cars. To save lives we need the roads clear for ambulances, doctors, nurses and other critical workers. This is an unprecedented time and I know Londoners are doing everything they can to look after each other.”
TfL has stressed “government advice that travel should only be taken if absolutely necessary” and states that “for some critical workers, in the current circumstances, driving to work will be the simplest option, which is why the charges have been lifted”. The “critical workforce” is defined by TfL as including supermarket workers, utilities engineers, refuse collectors and others, as well as emergency service workers.
Hospital staff will also be given a code that will enable them to waive the access fee require to make use of Santander hire bicycles, which will means any journey of 30 minutes or less will be free.
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