Review of Urban Road Pricing: Public and Political Acceptability by Martin Whittles and Acceptability of Transport Pricing Strategies edited by Jens Schade and Bernhard Schlag.

Abstract

Review of Urban Road Pricing: Public and Political Acceptability by Martin Whittles and Acceptability of Transport Pricing Strategies edited by Jens Schade and Bernhard Schlag As cities in industrialized economies continue to grow and prosper, they are inclined to encounter unpleasant side effects, such as increasing traffic congestion and declining environmental quality. European cities in particular, with their historically strong central districts, have encountered rather severe effects. Urban road pricing, long discussed in academic circles, has emerged as a real strategy for European cities, thanks in part to the support of research projects initiated by the European Union (EU). Despite these efforts, the aspect of public and political acceptability of road pricing policies has proven elusive and remains the single greatest barrier to implementation of pricing schemes. In two recent books, Urban Road Pricing: Public and Political Acceptability by Martin Whittles and Acceptability of Transport Pricing Strategies, edited by Jens Schade and Bernhard Schlag, new light is shed on this subject and the reasons behind rejection of pricing schemes by political leaders and the general public are examined in greater detail.