As cities around the world return to life after the COVID-19 pandemic, one thing may be missed: the near absence of traffic jams during the pandemic years. Traffic congestion is costly. In 2016, motorists in the EU were estimated to have lost time worth €196 billion sitting in traffic.
But we could have the benefits of free-flowing roads while still allowing people to travel freely if we took a more efficient approach to managing traffic congestion.
Charging motorists who choose to drive during peak hours encourages them to drive during less crowded periods, carpool, or take public transport. It can sustainably solve traffic problems, unlike building more roads, which often just attracts new traffic. And, congestion charging is not a thought experiment: it has been implemented successfully in more than half a dozen major cities worldwide.
