Within the years since London’s Extremely Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) was established, Bikesure has carried out surveys to learn the way Londoners have obtained and reacted to it – and the way ULEZ might influence their lives trying into the long run.

With the zone increasing but once more, this time to cowl all London boroughs from August 29^th 2023, we need to perceive to what extent altering opinions in regards to the atmosphere – in addition to rising price of residing – have pushed modifications in opinions amongst completely different demographics and varieties of street customers.

Do folks really feel they’re being priced off the roads? How a lot curiosity is there in various transport like lower-emission vehicles and bikes? Is public transport the answer, or with 58.5% of respondents contemplating switching to buses and trains, will companies which might be already combating delays and strikes be capable of address the elevated demand?

Key findings

• 64% of respondents say the 2023 ULEZ enlargement will influence how a lot they are going to drive within the zone attributable to monetary or environmental influence, however 63% stay usually optimistic in regards to the ULEZ enlargement.
• 49% of motorcyclists suppose it’s a good suggestion, though almost a 3rd (31%) are feeling pissed off.
• 76% of motorcyclists imagine that ULEZ has made them much less more likely to drive within the zone as a result of price.
• Whereas the proportion of individuals in 2023 who say that ULEZ has accelerated their plans to purchase an electrical car is excessive (56%), this has dropped considerably since 2021, when the determine was virtually three-quarters of respondents (73%).
• Motorcyclists are extra seemingly (73%) than automotive drivers (54%) to modify to electrical because of the brand new ULEZ boundaries.

ULEZ 2023: Consciousness and engagement

Earlier than the ULEZ enlargement was introduced, street customers have been invited to participate in consultations, and a brand new £110m scrappage scheme was unveiled to assist the house owners of high-emission automobiles. However how lots of the individuals who could be impacted by the modifications have been conscious of the plans and the scrappage scheme?

Whereas most (88%) stated they have been conscious of how the 2023 ULEZ enlargement will influence the journeys they commonly make, simply over half didn’t take part in any of the federal government consultations. The exception was motorcyclists, who have been by far probably the most engaged group. Some 75% took half in consultations, in comparison with solely a 3rd of non-motorcyclists.

The scrappage scheme encountered an identical lack of enthusiasm. Over half of street customers with a non-compliant car opted not to participate, and one in 5 are nonetheless planning on utilizing their non-compliant car within the zone regardless of the fees.

As soon as once more, motorcyclists are revealed to be probably the most engaged group. Almost 4 occasions extra motorcyclists with a non-compliant car took half within the scrappage scheme in comparison with non-motorcyclists.

How are ULEZ opinions altering?

Adjustments since 2021

Since Bikesure’s 2021 ULEZ survey, residents of the zone have develop into much less supportive of the concept of additional expansions. Compared to 2021, the quantity of people that agreed with ULEZ however have been pissed off by the added inconvenience has dropped by 11%. In direct comparability, these considering there are simpler methods to guard the atmosphere, or that it’s a cash seize, have risen by a mixed 8%.

Whereas the proportion of individuals in 2023 who say that ULEZ has accelerated their plans to purchase an electrical car is excessive (56%), this has dropped considerably since 2021, when the determine was virtually three-quarters of respondents.

We additionally noticed extra scepticism about ULEZ being the perfect answer for reducing air pollution ranges. The proportion of respondents saying that ULEZ is a foul concept and there are higher schemes to sort out local weather change elevated barely, from 11% to 13%. Whereas this isn’t an enormous enhance, it means that as ULEZ expands, doubt over its effectiveness grows.

Motorcyclists are the one sort of street customers whose assist of ULEZ is rising. The variety of motorcyclists who suppose ULEZ is a good suggestion and are glad of it elevated by 12% up to now two years.

Differing opinions by age group

Probably the most distinct splits within the survey findings is the growing hole between older and youthful street customers. These teams break up down distinct traces, with youthful drivers extra more likely to perceive the necessity for environmental change and extra keen to assist it, even when meaning they’re priced out of driving in London.

Greater than a 3rd of 18-54-year-olds imagine that ULEZ enlargement is sweet and are glad it’s taking place, regardless of some 70% aged beneath 24 saying it is going to make driving in ULEZ zone unaffordable for them.

Older drivers usually tend to disagree. 4-in-ten of these aged over 55 stated they imagine increasing the ULEZ zone is a technique to gather cash reasonably than a reliable technique to cut back emissions.

Are folks being priced off London roads?

The sensible actuality of ULEZ, significantly throughout a value of residing disaster, is that most individuals shall be much less more likely to drive inside the zone as a result of it has develop into unaffordable for them. 

Understandably, youthful generations are feeling the pressure greater than different age teams, with greater than two-thirds of 18-34-year-olds saying they felt priced out.

In reality, the one age teams the place the bulk disagree with ULEZ being unaffordable are 55-64 and the over 65s, which means nearly all of working-age folks, significantly motorcyclists (76%), at the moment are much less more likely to drive within the zone for purely monetary causes.

Discovering various transport

With so many working-age folks feeling unable to drive into London’s ULEZ zones, how are they planning to get round?

Many stated they’d select to modify to a lower-emission car, however a slim majority of individuals (59%) stated they’d as an alternative contemplate public transport, which is a logical selection, significantly for commuters. Nevertheless, the August 2023 enlargement means there shall be near 700,000 vehicles required to pay for utilizing ULEZ zones. On a transport community presently combating strikes, this extra demand may have a unfavourable influence on the standard of public transport companies.

Switching from vehicles to smaller automobiles, resembling bikes and scooters, is one other common consideration. With ULEZ-compliant bikes being virtually as common another as public transport amongst commuters, bikes seem to discover a stability between private autonomy, price and environmental influence for a lot of street customers.

Discover out extra with Bikesure’s information to ULEZ for bikes.

An electrical future?

Doing all your bit to guard the atmosphere is a transparent plus level of ULEZ. Immediately due to the enlargement, nearly all of riders at the moment are extra conscious of their environmental influence and are consequently selecting to scale back their time on the roads in congested areas. Some 66% agree that the introduction of ULEZ and upcoming enlargement has made them extra conscious of their environmental influence and fewer more likely to drive or trip within the zone in consequence. Whereas it’s shut, extra individuals are postpone by environmental influence reasonably than monetary concern.

In fact, folks nonetheless have to get round – and the choice of electrical automobiles is changing into extra engaging. 54% of automotive drivers and 73% of motorbike riders surveyed stated they’re now extra more likely to contemplate switching their present mode of transportation for commuting to an electrical car.

Motorcyclists are the group more than likely to modify, with motorcyclists additionally extra more likely to contemplate e-scooters than automotive house owners.

Abstract

Because the 2023 ULEZ enlargement strikes from plan to actuality, we will see that this much-debated scheme continues to influence the best way that Londoners strategy journey and commuting. Bikes, electrical automobiles and public transport all look set to develop in recognition as a direct response, demonstrating that individuals perceive the environmental want for greener transport. Nevertheless, the scepticism we’ve got seen over latest years doesn’t appear to be fading, as street customers really feel pressured to vary their commuting habits attributable to their monetary state of affairs. Over time, this can ease as greener automobiles develop into extra widespread and extra reasonably priced.
Whether or not you’re switching to a motorcycle due to ULEZ or you will have been driving for many years, it’s essential to get the proper motorbike insurance coverage coverage in your bike. Name 0330 123 1028 or ebook a callback at a time that fits you.