Mayors reject road pricing plans and demand better transport alternatives

Mayors in Danish municipalities near major cities have strongly opposed government proposals to introduce road pricing, arguing that drivers should not face additional charges until public transport and cycling infrastructure improves, DR reports.

In Hvidovre, one of Denmark’s most noise-polluted municipalities, Mayor Anders Wolf Frisdahl Andresen (SF) stated that road pricing discussions should only begin once alternatives to private cars are in place. He called for expanded metro access to Hvidovre Hospital, increased S-train frequency during peak hours, and improved cycling routes.

“If we go down this road, 100 percent of the revenue must be reinvested in our area—not spent on motorways in Jutland or elsewhere,” Andresen said. He warned that without better parking solutions, Hvidovre could become “a giant parking lot” for commuters avoiding city fees.

Kenneth Gøtterup, the Conservative mayor of Dragør, also rejected road pricing, calling it “an extra tax on citizens who rely on cars daily.” He stressed the need for better parking at transit hubs to avoid harming labor market mobility.

In Aalborg, Deputy Mayor Peter Lindholt (DD) expressed concerns that road pricing would hurt downtown businesses and disproportionately affect rural residents, who lack metro or extensive bus networks.

A recent DTU and Sund & Bælt study found road pricing could reduce traffic by up to 22 percent in major cities and 11 percent in surrounding areas. However, an expert group will not issue recommendations on future car taxes until the second half of 2026.