HUB Position: Mobility Pricing

The purpose of this article is to introduce HUB Cycling’s position on Mobility Pricing. Mobility Pricing or Congestion Charges or Transport Pricing are programs where vehicles circulating or entering a given area are charged a fee with the objective of reducing congestion, emissions, pollution, noise, or collisions in that area of interest. 

Impact of Mobility Pricing: 

Mobility Pricing programs have been implemented in several cities around the world: e.g. London, Milan, Singapore, and Stockholm among others. In all cases, Mobility Pricing has been demonstrated as an effective tool for achieving the proposed objectives and for generating public revenues. However, Mobility Pricing programs can trigger equity issues depending on their implementation and the incentives put in place to influence peoples’ behaviour. For instance: using revenues for tax reductions or to subsidize electric vehicles can mainly benefit high-income people while using revenues to enhance public transit and active transportation can be more beneficial for low-income people. 

Currently, studies are being carried out in several North American cities, including Metro Vancouver, aiming to implement Mobility Pricing programs in the mid-term future. 

Position:

HUB Cycling supports the implementation of thoughtfully designed Mobility Pricing programs 

Recommendation: 

In order to achieve its objectives in an equitable way, a Mobility Pricing program within the Metro Vancouver region should support the implementation of significant improvements in public transit and active transportation infrastructure through the reinvestment of all revenues raised with that purpose. In particular, the efforts should: 

• Accelerate the shift towards greater use of more sustainable transportation modes
• Encourage the growth of active transportation networks in Metro Vancouver
• Increase the safety and comfort of users on existing active transportation infrastructure
• Expand the public transit network, the active transportation network, and their infrastructure 
• Be fairly distributed geographically and with respect to income and transportation options 

Endorsed by RAC, February 17, 2022. Approved by the Board, March 9, 2022

Learn more about mobility pricing at movinginalivableregion.ca

Photo credit: Metro Vancouver Mobility Pricing Independent Commission