This paper presents some results from a study of road pricing, that aimed to give short-term and long-term advice for designing and implementing price policies in the Rhein-Main region of Germany. Changes in the land use and lifestyle in the region are increasing the numbers of commuters and the length of commuting trips. These and other effects are causing increased traffic congestion and pollution. The model used is a sensitivity model, based on biocybernetic principles; its steps are connected by various feedback loops. It investigates three subsystems of the transport system: (1) regional transport; (2) traffic management; and (3) price policies. The model results need a long-term interpretation long-term interpretation to translate its abstract results into operational advice, and to stabilise the transport system at a sustainable level. As the sensitivity model cannot distinguish between various designs of road pricing, road pricing had to be defined generally as a spatially limited instrument for pricing entry into city centres. The study's hypothesis was that introducing a spatial limited road pricing causes higher price differences between the city centre and its suburbs. To evolve a sustainable urban transport system, the financial effects are as important as the direct effects on travel demand and car use. The study's results showed the possibilities and limits of the sensitivity model.
Abstract