More congestion pricing on menu for French cities

French cities could make congestion pricing a key means of managing urban traffic flow, if a new draft law comes into being.

Transport minister Elisabeth Borne has announced that legislation will be put before parliament in November, according to a Reuters report.

This would allow cities to introduce tolls – similar to the London congestion charge.

“Urban tolls will be part of the new mobility law, which will provide tools for local authorities to respond to mobility challenges on their territory,” Borne is reported to have said.

While no prices have been mentioned as yet, French political magazine Contexte suggested that cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants could charge cars up to €2.5 euros per journey into a zone, while that could be doubled for urban areas with more than 500,000 inhabitants – with trucks expected to fork out €20 each time they entered.

London drivers pay £11.50 per day for driving a vehicle within the charging zone between 07.00 and 18.00, Monday to Friday.