London ULEZ charge paused to assist key workers in coronavirus fight

Transport for London has announced it is suspending all road user charging schemes in an effort to ease the potential financial burden of key workers in the UK capital city in the wake of battling the coronavirus.

Introduced this week, the suspension means the congestion charge and the ultra-low emissions charges applied in the centre of London will be waived for the time being.

Prior to the suspension, motorcycles that didn’t conform to Euro 3 standards would need to pay £12.50 a day to travel through certain areas of London. The Euro 3 regulation generally applies to motorcycles, mopeds, tricycles and quads registered before 1st July 2007.

However, London Mayor Sadiq Khan says the suspension should not be viewed as an opportunity to utilise the roads more frequently, saying the move is targeted solely at allowing identified key workers to operate without restriction to help against the COVID-19 coronavirus.

He encourages people to continue heeding the official rulings laid out by the British government to limit social contact and make only essential travel – for supplies, medicine, to assist vulnerable people and make only necessary work journeys. Full details of the new regulations can be found HERE.

“People should not be travelling, by any means, unless they really have to,” Mayor Khan said. “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."