Under the plan outlined in "Road Charging Options for London," the city would charge employers who own parking lots or garages £3,000 per year, or £12 per day, for every parking space they plan to provide for use between 7am and 7pm, with exemptions considered for smaller parking lots of fewer than 10 spaces. The fee would be paid through the purchase of an annual license and administered by Transport for London. Bi-annual inspections would confirm registered spaces and up to £1,500 fines are suggested for violation of a license. All of the anticipated revenue of £90-100 million collected would fund London transportation improvements, particularly mass transit.

The concept faces difficulties. First, the cost of on-street parking and private garages is now cheaper than the proposed levy. Prices must be brought into line if the policy is to have any effect on congestion. Second, parking fees are not intended for residents and customers, so enforcement would be difficult at retail, educational, and health sites, for example, where both employees and customers park. Finally, as expected, the parking charge does not win high marks in the court of public opinion. 53% of those surveyed disapproved of the idea. Perhaps this last problem is why Mayor Livingstone has mentioned little of the scheme, while campaigning heavily for road pricing, although the former would be far less of a technological challenge.

• New Mayor Pushes Congestion Pricing 
• Truck Ban in Transition
• Universal Parking Fees

 

• Bus-only lanes and guided bus-way network 
• Ending driving subsidies for city officials