The fifth post in the Streetfilms series Moving Beyond the Automobile is focused on congestion pricing. Congestion pricing is a strategy whereby driving an automobile at peak hours is priced. People who want to pay the fees may continue to drive their cars at peak hours and enjoy faster moving traffic. People who prefer not to pay the fees are encouraged to take alternative modes of transportation such as public transit or bicycles. The fees are then used to pay for transportation infrastructure improvements. All-in-all it is a very effective way to place value on commuting in new and interesting ways. What the video doesn’t speak to however, is any sort of environmental justice issue this might create for people with low income and limited means. However, for the most part, it is probably beneficial to all, as it generally improves the flow of traffic and commuting.
Moving Beyond the Automobile: Congestion Pricing from Streetfilms on Vimeo.