Acceptability of transport pricing measures among public and professionals in Europe

Abstract

Transport pricing has been an actively debated topic in the European Union for a number of years. This debate has been stimulated both by the European Commission policy and by a multitude of national policy initiatives. A central theme in this debate is the issue of the public and (linked to this) political acceptability of pricing measures. Indeed, concerns about acceptability now constitute the most significant single barrier to implementation, especially in the road transport sector. The results of recent research undertaken on behalf of the European Commission into the acceptability of different transport pricing measures to professionals and citizens and the factors influencing their acceptability are reported.