Motorcycles could be charged as much as £12.50 a day to enter London under plans for an Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ).

At the moment, motorcycles are exempt from both the Congestion Charge and the existing Low Emission Zone in central London. A consultation on the proposal has been launched by Transport for London (TfL), which wants to bring in the Ultra Low Emission Zone in September 2020. The aim is to at least halve emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter PM10 from vehicle exhausts.

TfL believes that many vehicles will already be compliant at that point in time. All motorcycles and similar vehicles up to and including 13 years old would meet the ULEZ standards and would not have to pay a charge.

However, a daily charge of £12.50 would apply to motorcycles and scooters, cars, vans and minibuses that do not comply with the new standards. HGVs, coaches and buses that are not compliant would have to pay a £100 daily charge.

The Ultra Low Emission Zone would operate in addition to the Congestion Charge and the Low Emission Zone. TfL acknowledged that motorcycles and similar vehicles account for only a small proportion of miles driven in central London, but said that they “can be extremely polluting on an individual basis”. Overall, motorcycles are expected to contribute less than 1% of NOx emissions in central London in 2020.

The consultation will run until 9 January 2015.

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