A handful of drivers have already taken up the offer, which is being piloted by Transport for West Midlands to help persuade owners of heavily polluting vehicles to use more sustainable modes.

The £3000 offer is intended to get cars over 10 years old off the roads – which are crushed for scrap – and will pay for journeys on buses, trains, taxis and car hire over a two year period. Volunteers receive the mobility credits in the form of a pre paid transport only debit card.

“Environmentally friendly travel is the way forward and this is a great opportunity for people to give up their older polluting petrol and diesel cars and try it for themselves,” said Coventry City Council’s cabinet member for jobs and regeneration Jim O’Boyle. “It’s a great way to show people there are alternatives to the private motor car.”

With £1M of funding being provided for the pilot scheme through the West Midlands’ ‘Future Transport Zone’ initiative, there is capacity to take 250 high polluting vehicles off the region’s streets over the next two years.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street commented: “We are facing a climate emergency, and tackling that means reducing air pollution and finding ways to encourage people to cut out unnecessary private car journeys in favour of public transport or active travel. Our innovative mobility credits scheme helps do exactly that.”

Birmingham is also set to offer mobility credits as an incentive for drivers to scrap high polluting vehicles. To find out more, see TP’s new March issue which features a climate action special.

(Photograph: Transport for West Midlands)