Just charge a fee

What can be done to keep cars out of Brussels?  That's the question.  

You may remember a recent blog post of mine where I noted Brussels was awarded the prize for having the worst traffic jams in the world.

In our travels, we pay a good bit to drive on roads in Europe - in the form of tolls.  Roads in Germany, Belgium and Netherlands are free - no tolls - and Germany probably has the best roads.

The roads in France, Italy and Switzerland are NOT free.  It'll cost you about a $100 to drive from the north of France to the south of France and that's just in tolls.  

In Italy, where I consider driving to be suicidal, it'll cost you about $70 to drive half way down the peninsula - if you make it that far.

But the Swiss have got it all figured out.  Of course it's a small country - you can fit nearly 20 Switzerlands in France - but when you cross the border is when you pay up.  No need for toll booths. Anywhere.  You pay 40 euros or Swiss francs (they'll take both) and you're good to go for a year.  

Of course, we generally don't cross the border into Switzerland more than once a year and that's usually at the end of the year so there's that . . . 

but anyway, the Swiss border control puts this sticker on your windshield and you're off.

So, back to the original question . . . how to keep cars out of Brussels.  A recent study commissioned by the government suggests charging a fee of 12 euros ($16) per day would do it.  

Yes, I think a fee of $4000 - $6000 a year (weekdays or every day) would certainly be one reason to leave the car at home.  Oh, and did I mention this study finds that this fee would only reduce traffic by 20%?  

Apparently even an extra $4000/$6000 a year isn't deterrent enough for some.