Pay-as-you-go tax looms

The Government has outlined details for a radical ‘pay-as-you-go’ road charging system to replace road tax and fuel duty – but it has yet to explain if we will pay less to go by bike.

Transport Secretary Alistair Darling’s idea could see road users paying between 2p a mile on quiet roads to £1.34 per mile on the busiest stretches at the busiest times. You would be tracked by satellite to calculate what you owe – with the obvious potential to track all your movements and your speed.

When MCN asked the Department of Transport how bikes fitted into their plans a spokesman admitted : “We can’t answer specific questions yet!”

Darling outlined his proposals to the BBC, ahead of a speech to the Social Market Foundation on Thursday, June 9, 2005. He claims radical change is needed if the UK is to avoid ‘LA-style gridlock’ within 20 years.

Would you be willing to ‘pay-as-you go’ for emptier roads? Should bikes be exempt because we ride the solution to congestion? Does satellite tracking ring alarm bells for you? Have Your Say by following the related Topic link, right.