ALTERNATIVE POLICIES FOR REDUCING DEPENDENCE ON THE CAR

The author of this paper does not believe that urban road pricing in congested areas would provide the extensive benefits that its advocates expect: the end of congestion, better public transport, and less pollution. Trends for rising car travel are still strong, and most journeys now made by car were never made by public transport. Most increase in car transport preceded the decline in public transport and changes in land-use patterns. A shift from car use is only one possible response to road pricing, and not very likely for most journeys. Road pricing has several other disadvantages. To reduce car dependence, restraints must be applied everywhere, not only in areas where traffic is already reducing in response to congestion and lack of parking. The case for substantially increasing both fuel tax and car tax is compelling. Fuel price increases would need to be large to make a significant difference. Increases on taxes for purchase and annual use of cars would attack the problem at its root, because car owners mentally price all their car journeys at their marginal extra price. The author proposes the following incentives to less car use: (1) five measures to reduce car dependence; and (2) high-occupancy-vehicle lanes using linear box junctions. For the covering abstract, see IRRD 896867.