TfL suspends road user charging schemes to help critical workers

Coronavirus: Congestion Charge, Ultra Low Emission Zone and Low Emission Zone suspended and NHS staff to be given free access to Santander Cycles

Road user charges in London will be suspended until further notice

Road user charges in London will be suspended until further notice

Transport for London has announced that all road user charging schemes in the capital will be temporarily suspended. This will come into effect so that none of the charges are in operation from Monday 23 March until further notice.

The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan has asked for this move to ensure London’s critical workers, particularly those in the NHS, are able to travel round London as easily as possible during this national emergency. Khan argues that for some critical workers, in the current circumstances, driving to work will be the simplest option, which is why the charges have been lifted.

The move is also intended to support the supply chain, keep supermarkets fully stocked and the City of London’s continued operation.

Mayor Khan said: “People should not be travelling, by any means, unless they really have to. London’s roads should now only be used for essential journeys. To help our critical workers get to work and for essential deliveries to take place, I have instructed TfL to temporarily suspend the Congestion Charge, ULEZ and Low Emission Zone from Monday. 

“This is not an invitation to take to your cars. To save lives we need the roads clear for ambulances, doctors, nurses and other critical workers. This is an unprecedented time and I know Londoners are doing everything they can to look after each other. I continue to urge all Londoners to follow the advice of public health authorities and not leave their homes unless it is absolutely essential.”

TfL has taken account of government advice that people need to limit social contact and travel should only be undertaken if absolutely necessary. This will mean roads need to be kept clear for the emergency services and critical workers who need to get around by car. Drivers are being asked to consider the wider implications when thinking about using their vehicles.

To keep the public transport network running TfL has reduced the number of stations open and are ensuring they are appropriately staffed. 

To further support vital hospital staff getting into work during what are challenging times, NHS workers will be given a code that waives the 24-hour access fee for Santander Cycles, meaning any journey under 30 minutes is free. In addition to free access, docking stations near hospitals are being prioritised to ensure there is a regular supply of bikes for medical staff to use.

The Santander Cycles code for NHS workers will be valid until 30 April 2020. Any number of 30-minute journeys are included and users must dock cycles within 30 minutes to avoid being charged.

Paul Cowperthwaite, TfL’s general manager of road user charging, said: “What we are seeing through this crisis is that London’s critical workforce is wider than just the core emergency services. Emergency services workers are absolutely fundamental to our response, but supermarket workers, utilities engineers, refuse collectors, and many more, also need to be able to travel to keep the city functioning. This is why we have temporarily suspended road user charging in the capital.”