[Brad Lockyer]

In a groundbreaking move that could very well become a reference point for councils across the nation, the City of Yarra, a bustling, inner-city council in Melbourne, is considering a tax on oversized vehicles, particularly American-style pickup trucks by manufacturers such as RAM and Ford.

Greens councillor Sophie Wade has championed this cause, highlighting an ongoing issue in suburbs such as Fitzroy and Richmond, which fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Yarra.

These areas are characterised by narrow roads, bustling shopping strips and a high volume of pedestrians, cyclists, and schoolchildren. The influx of large vehicles, according to Councillor Wade, has escalated to a point that something needs to be done to protect community members from these sizable automobiles on unsuitable city streets.

The city of Paris made headlines earlier in the year, when its residents voted to introduce charges for SUV drivers in the city, and now people here want to do the same.

Councillor Wade’s concerns are deeply rooted in the everyday experiences of city dwellers. “We’ve got streets that just weren’t designed for this kind of vehicle,” she told Yahoo News Australia.

If she is successful in getting the tax into law, it would be the first local council in Australia to introduce laws specifically targeting certain types of vehicles.

Do you think the City of Yarra is right to tax pickup truck drivers? Or should people be allowed to drive what they like?

[Frankly]

A great idea whose time has come. What we should be looking at though is on a state level, introducing number plates for multiple cars, as it’s done in Switzerland. You would pay the rego for the bigger car and as you can only use one, you have a smaller car to use in the city. The big car would be only used when needed or on weekends. The you just swap the number plate. This may also help with car theft.

[Sorrelli]

Most Americans call them trucks because they don’t use the term ute. I walked into a car dealership where the car salesman referred to a Colorado ute as a truck. I said something sarcastic to him about his truck and went to Isuzu and bought a DMax ute. Just another greenie trying to change the world by stuffing everyone else up.

[Mintinta]

A typical woke, green, idea. We only own one vehicle and it is a large 4wd, used for towing work trailers, vans, horse floats, and equipment. I would refuse to pay a tax to drive in a particular area – we are over taxed as it is. Quite happy for the green councillor to get herself a horse and cart or other type of transport. Maybe an electric bike/scooter so she can ride all over the road or footpath, without a care, and not have to pay any registration fees…..

[Author]

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