The Acceptability of Urban Road Pricing: A Theoretical Analysis Applied to Experience in Lyon

This paper describes a framework for analysing the acceptability of pricing changes in the transport sector. This framework is based on Rawls' theory of justice and makes reference to economic efficiency (efficiently managing demand), spatial equity (guaranteed access), horizontal equity (the user pays principle) and vertical equity (the welfare of the most underprivileged). This analytical framework is then applied to an urban toll motorway that was opened in Lyon in 1997, in association with capacity restrictions on the parallel roads. The different types of efficiency and equity that were brought into play by this scheme are analysed and illustrated by quantitative results. We show how their negative aspects combined. This study shows that this framework can be applied to practical understanding of justice issues, and particularly for assessing the feasibility of road pricing schemes in urban areas. © The London School of Economics and the University of Bath 2004