Beijing Considers Congestion Charges to Reduce Pollution ... Again

Sometimes Beijing feels like a Coke machine – whatever the issue is, you have to rock back and forth several times before it finally falls over.

The idea of a congestion fee or congestion charge is one such idea. Some major cities, most notably London and Singapore, charge fees or tolls to drive cars either at certain times, like rush hour, or into designated geographic areas, like the central business district. Raising the cost, the theory goes, will discourage people from driving and move them to public transportation instead.

Currently at the proposal stage, enacting congestion charges is apparently one of 84 ways the government plans to fight pollution this year and going forward, according to CRIEnglish. Other measures include closing coal burning power plants, along with other vehicle reduction policies.

Congestion charges are usually paid via electronic cards installed on a driver's windshield, either prepaid or linked to a bank account or credit card, similar to Beijing's Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) system. Penalties for failing to pay are often exorbitant, both to raise revenue and to punish non-compliance. In London, the fine is now GBP 130, or RMB 1,210. Yikes.

Photo: ETTBL