Sadiq Khan wants to cut 3m car journeys a day and encourage cycling and walking in effort to reduce congestion and air pollution

London is to consider pay-per-mile road pricing and banning car parking in new developments under plans to cut 3m car journeys a day in the capital.



A transport strategy to be published on Wednesday by the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, will set targets to ensure 80% of journeys are made by public transport, walking or cycling.

Khan said: “As London’s population is set to increase beyond 10 million, our future health and prosperity is more and more dependent on us reducing our reliance on cars.

“We have to be ambitious in changing how our city works. While there will be 5m additional journeys being made across our transport network by 2041, at the same time we’re setting ourselves a bold target of reducing car journeys by 3m every day.

“We have to make not using your car the affordable, safest and most convenient option for Londoners going about their daily lives. This is not only essential for dealing with congestion as London grows, but crucial for reducing our toxic air pollution and improving the health of all Londoners.”

Measures under consideration include more vehicle-free zones and car-free days. The mayor will look to restrict car parking provision within new developments, with those near public transport expected to be car-free. Secure cycle parking will be demanded instead, and electric vehicle charging points in any developments where car parking is considered appropriate.

We have to make not using your car the affordable, safest and most convenient option for Londoners Sadiq Khan

The mayor and Transport for London will also explore new schemes to update the current congestion charge – potentially bringing in a single charge based on road usage and emissions. Khan signalled he would also back London boroughs in considering local road charging to cut traffic.

Another element of the plans will focus on a “healthy streets” initiative, encouraging walking and cycling to combat diseases linked to inactivity, while cutting motorised traffic that the report identifies as responsible for half of air pollution in London. About £2.1bn has been allocated to double spending on cycling in the capital.

German Dector-Vega, the London director of the transport charity Sustrans, welcomed the plan and said: “London’s continued success as a great city depends on our ability to move around without the pollution, ill-health and congestion that comes with excessive car use. It’s now imperative that London’s boroughs – who own 95% of London’s streets – get on with delivering improvements that will make a real difference for walking and cycling.”

The transport strategy, which outlines plans for the coming decades, will be published for consultation on Wednesday.