This is really bad news for owners of older bikes riding into London

[ysbytymike]

Its all about income generation. You can argue the merits of bikes all you want. They see a way of making extra cash so they'll implement it regardless.

Remember all the technical data that brought in the global warming taxes? Most of those arguments were proven to be inaccurate, 'but' the taxes are still there.
Its all a con, and they use technical arguments to justify.

They know we'll, 'huff and we'll puff' and then we'll pay.

[Tim Cullis]

Ultimately it's a health issue. At the moment London exceeds EU norms and faces potential fines, so something has to be done to cut emissions. Boris wants central London to be an Ultra Low Emissions Zone.

What are you complaining about—the amount of the charge or the fact it's levied at all?

Is it really such a big deal to be penalised for riding a 13-year old bike in the ULEZ?

Well, thats the sort of Tory response I expected from you. unfortunately, not everyone has the amount of money that you have, so will that be the end of classic bikes? why do you think people ride bikes that are around the 13 year old mark? well 'billy big bucks'? Its because they can't afford anything newer.

The sooner Boris dies the better.

Who the feck do you think you are calling me a Tory? Have you never heard of the Green Party? Go do one.

As for Boris I think he's a cuddly Teddy Bear compared to a stupid moron like you. So guess who I'd like to see die first?

[KEITH640]

Bloody great one more reason not go into that stinking sh#!t hole

[jonny955]

On a more constructive note, why not complete the on-line public consultation? There is a link in the Visordown article. It only takes a few minutes but the questions are clearly worded based on the ULEZ going ahead anyway. You do get an opportunity to comment. Here's my tuppence...

Motorcycles move quickly through traffic and are a solution to both congestion and emissions. The assumption that pre-Euro 3 compliant bikes will be heavy polluters takes no account of the comparative efficiency of motorcycles through traffic when compared to other vehicles. Please take into account of this when considering the comparative impact on air quality. Put simply, these advantages should allow for all PTWs to be used in the ULEZ zone free of charge, even if they are pre-Euro 3.
In addition to the ULEZ, I would suggest a Congestion Zone that recognises the actual congestion as per the original intention is introduced or at least the ULEZ becomes 'weighted' to recognise PTWs as part of the solution to the congestion problem.

Jon

(Jumped Up Tory Pillock/Gypsy living off everyone's taxes - delete which isn't applicable )

[Redmurty]

Perhaps they ride 13 year old bikes because they like them ?


does seem an odd tax though

cheers Spud

[byewayrider]

so by their own admission bikes of 2007 will be 13 years old? so worn out and modified :laugh: etc..with out a mot emmission test which wont happen as no std to start with..

just a ploy to get bikes out of central london...all they do is take pics of your number plate :whistle: and send the bill to redgistered keeper...

as said who`d want to ride a bike in central London anyway..scary and dangerous :woohoo:

[Richard Simpson]

The real reason urban pollution remains so high is that modern diesel cars are not as clean as they are supposed to be...particularly when it comes to NOx and particulates.

Also many Euro 4 trucks are running around with their SCR systems disabled: pumping out more NOx than a Euro 3.

The annual truck roadworthiness test does not check if the SCR system is disabled.

I don't see that four-stroke motorcycles can be that big a contributor to the problem.

[crofty]

Can,t really see this charge affecting many folk on here,but feel free to prove me wrong.
I mean why would you want to go into central London on a bike unless you worked there?
And if you worked there I would imagine you would be suitably remunerated to afford it.
If you can afford to live in London I imagine you are quite affluent and could afford a small newish bike/scooter, anyway you have a superb transport system so maybe you don,t even need to use a bike atall.
So can someone who will be genuinely disadvantaged by this charge chime in and explain
it to me

[AndyB]

It might not seem important to most of us and I haven't ridden a bike into central London since the M25 was built but my concern is where next? Are we eventually going to see an age tax put on older vehicles because they're not as 'clean' as a brand new one?

Cars are already banded according to their emissions with newer, cleaner cars paying less but that isn't in place for bikes and with a lot of riders wanting to de-cat their bikes they'd be knackered if they did.

[Richard Simpson]

It can only be a matter of time before the bike MoT test includes an emissions test of some kind. there's even one for pre-cat cars.

On diesel cars and vans, testers now don't just do a smoke test, they also have to check that the PM trap is still in place.

So if you've got a cat-equipped bike, I wouldn't de-cat it....or I'd keep the cat pipe to refit if I did.