New York City and Seattle are considering plans to charge vehicle operators a toll for entering certain zones during busy hours.

Called congestion pricing, the concept is used in London, Singapore and Stockholm as a way to reduce rush-hour traffic and encourage more residents to use public transportation.

The AMA has contacted the cities to ask that motorcycles be exempt from any pricing plan that is put in place.

“Motorcycles are part of the solution to urban traffic congestion, and riders should not be penalized,” said Mike Sayre, AMA government relations manager for on-highway issues. “Motorcycles take up less room on the road and in parking lots and provide better fuel economy than most cars.”

Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan said she would like to implement congestion pricing by the end of her first term in 2021.

In New York, a plan to include congestion pricing in the fiscal 2019 budget failed. But advocates have not permanently tabled the concept.