Draft for a Road Use Charging Act (RUCA)
Preamble
Public space is the most valuable shared asset of our cities. It is funded and maintained by all citizens. However, current practice allows this space to be disproportionately occupied by private, passive mobility, even though in most city centers, only a minority of households actually own a vehicle.
The resulting negative impacts- fatalities and injuries from collisions, health-damaging noise, exhaust emissions, and urban heat – are currently socialized, meaning the general public bears the burden. While active mobility (walking, cycling, public transport) relieves the community and improves public health, motorized passive mobility is heavily subsidized.
A transparent, distance-based model is needed to ensure that our infrastructure remains sustainable and high-quality for future generations.
- Usage-based fairness
Those who use the infrastructure the most – and cause the most wear and harm -contribute the most. This “pay-as-you-ride” system is a direct, fair, and honest way to fund the mobility of tomorrow. - Traffic flow optimization
Smart pricing helps de-congest the city during peak hours, ensuring that the streets remain clear for those who truly need them, such as emergency services and public transport.
In light of the market entry of US companies and autonomous robotaxi services outside the US, there is a risk that public infrastructure and citizen data will be exploited for private profit maximization while the costs of maintenance remain with the city. This Act establishes the foundation to ensure that those generating socialized damages through passive mobility contribute a fair share to the costs they cause.
General Provisions
Purpose
The purpose of this Act is to:
- Ensure a fair, user-based financing model for transport infrastructure.
- Internalize external costs such as noise, pollution, heat and space consumption.
- Establish active mobility as a fundamental right.
- Secure municipal sovereignty over data and public space against global platform monopolies.
Definitions
- Active Mobility
Movement powered by human energy (walking, cycling) and public transport that minimizes the use of public space. - Passive Mobility
Movement via motorized individual vehicles or autonomous systems characterized by high space requirements and environmental impact. - Digital Street Twin
A real-time digital map of urban space used for the management and booking of curb and road resources.
Infrastructure fees and Road Use Charging
Distance-based usage fees (Pay-as-you-ride)
(1) A kilometer-based fee shall be levied for the use of the urban road network by motor vehicles.
(2) The fee shall be calculated based on vehicle size, weight, and specific environmental impact.
(3) The target of the fee is to balance real costs. Guidance is provided by the current subsidy ratio as data from München shows: while every car kilometer is currently subsidized by approximately €0.60, every kilometer cycled saves the community approximately €0.30 in health and infrastructure costs. This fee serves to close this equity gap.
Digital Space Management
Management of stationary traffic
(1) Public road space is not a permanent storage area for private property. Static parking shall be transitioned into a dynamic booking system.
(2) Every use of the curb (parking, delivery, loading) must be booked via the city’s Digital Street Twin.
(3) Priority in space allocation shall be given to:
1. Emergency and social services (e.g., mobile care, medical transport).
2. Logistics and trades to prevent double-parking.
3. Shared, space-optimized mobility modules (PUDO – Pick-up/Drop-off).
Regulation of autonomous services and robotaxis
Licensing and data sovereignty
(1) Operators of autonomous fleets (Robotaxis) require a municipal license to operate.
(2) A prerequisite for this license is the full provision of movement data in open, municipal standards. The city maintains “algorithmic sovereignty” over traffic flow.
(3) To prevent “zombie trips” (empty vehicles circling blocks), autonomous vehicles will be subject to higher fees unless they utilize pooling (carrying multiple passengers simultaneously).
Use of funds and the urban dividend
Ring-fencing of Revenue
All revenue generated from Road Use Charging and digital space management shall be used exclusively for:
- expanding and maintaining infrastructure for active mobility
- transforming asphalt surfaces into green spaces (“Sponge City” elements for cooling and water infiltration).
- funding public transport and autonomous minibus modules to secure essential public services (Daseinsvorsorge).
Effective Date
This Act shall take effect on [Date]. It forms the basis for a city that is no longer planned around flowing traffic, but places the needs of its residents for safety, health, and social interaction at the center of urban life.