Tax credits for going car free

How best to get people out of their cars in our increasingly congested and polluted cities?

California Senator Anthony Portantino believes his proposed tax credit of $2,500 for every adult who doesn't own a car could help. California is a state orientated towards driving so it's easy to overlook the millions of its inhabitants manage without owning cars, either because they can’t afford one or for environmental reasons.

The tax credit proposal makes us wonder why there isn't more creativity when it comes to encouraging folk to change their travel habits. For example, here in Britain, why don't local councils use resident parking charges to offer bicycle grants to car-free households.

Elsewhere in the world, the problem of increasing number of cars trying to park in a finite number of spaces has forced local authorities to impose tough restrictions on car parking.

Japanese law requires motorists to prove they have access to a local parking space. To register a car, or when changing address, motorists need to obtain a parking space or garage certificate from local police. With the exception, of ‘kei’ cars (tiny city cars similar to the two-seater Smart car available in Britain) if you don’t have access to a car parking space or garage of your own, you are unable to register a car. To reinforce this legislation, overnight on-street parking is outlawed in many areas. Metered car parking spaces may be free to use in the evening, but at 3am any cars that remain are towed away by police.

The ethical choice

The ETA was established in 1990 as an ethical provider of green, reliable travel services. Over 30 years on, we continue to offer cycle insurance , breakdown cover and mobility scooter insurance while putting concern for the environment at the heart of all we do.

The Good Shopping Guide judges us to be the UK's most ethical provider.

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