Accessibility charging for spatial quality : pleading for a broader approach of dynamic pricing. While social resistance for congestion charging in the Netherlands is declining, accessibility charging is becoming a more realistic option for the Dutch government. However, the arguments of road pricing are only based on the mobility system itself. This is incorrect: dynamic pricing could have a fundamental influence on the spatial quality because it effects several changes in accessibility profiles. The quality of a location is, for a part, based on its accessibility. The quality of accessibility is formed by individual considerations of traffic costs, traffic time and comfort. Pricing causes an incline in traffic costs which has an influence on the accessibility of a location. Because accessibility has an effect on the quality of locations, it can be used to influence the spatial organisation of cities. Flexible accessibility profiles (in time, location and quality) can be effected by pricing policy. By steering in these flexible accessibility profiles, governments could stimulate a certain space use on a location where it is wished and prevent it on a location where it is not. The Ministry of VROM (Spatial Planning, Housing and the Environment) needs to realise the spatial consequences of pricing policy of colleague Ministry of Traffic and Transport and should be aware that the spatial organisation of cities can be influenced by it. In a time when policy is looking for new spatial intervention tools, the Ministry of VROM should profit of the opportunity accessibility charging can offer! (Author/publisher)
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