BBC "Talking Point" on Transport
BBC "Talking Point" on Transport
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Discussion

zumbruk

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

289 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3910141.stm

Get your PoV in before the lentilistas.

(Odd how the Beeb talked to three hard-line anti-car lobby groups and only one rather wooly "pro" group, isn't it?)

BliarOut

72,863 posts

268 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
Done my bit... Difficult not to [/rant]

hornet

6,333 posts

279 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
Here's a thought....

One simple way of reducing inner city congestion and encouraging car sharing - turn bus lanes into "High Occupancy" lanes. Why should a car with four people in it have to sit in a queue CAUSED by the road space being halved by a bus lane, when that bus lane is either a) empty or b) being used by a 50 seat bus with three people on board? Which vehicle is being more efficient in that scenario I wonder?

If we're going to have these blasted lanes, at least use them efficiently. Accept that Mr Average Motorist simply WILL NOT use the bus and at least give him a viable alternative. Wouldn't make any money, but WOULD help ease congestion IMO.

zumbruk

Original Poster:

7,848 posts

289 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
hornet said:
Here's a thought....
Wouldn't make any money,


So it won't happen.

nutcase

1,145 posts

281 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
zumbruk said:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/3910141.stm

Get your PoV in before the lentilistas.

(Odd how the Beeb talked to three hard-line anti-car lobby groups and only one rather wooly "pro" group, isn't it?)


Before the lentilistas? They've already got there, the fecking numpties. Too bloody skint to own a car, that's all it is:


"If people make a journey by car when they are able to make it by public transport, then their behaviour can only be described as selfish. They are clogging up the roads for though those who have to go by public transport, in addition to the damage caused to the environment.
Tom, Bath, UK"

hornet

6,333 posts

279 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
nutcase said:


"If people make a journey by car when they are able to make it by public transport, then their behaviour can only be described as selfish. They are clogging up the roads for though those who have to go by public transport, in addition to the damage caused to the environment.
Tom, Bath, UK"


And of course buses and trains don't pollute at all do they Tom....

What planet are these people on? Say I need to go into town to collect something (about 2 miles each way). Do I a) stand around waiting for a bus that may or may not turn up, trundle into town stopping every 2 minutes, collect my item (assuming it isn't too bulky), then walk back to the bus stop, wait another 20 minutes for a bus that may or may not turn up and may or may not be full and has no storage provision, or b) hop in the car, drive in and park in about 10 minutes, get my item, pop it in the car and drive home? I can do the WHOLE TRIP by car in less time than going one way by bus. In fact, I can normally walk it in less time than it would take to get the bus, waiting time included.

Come to think of it, all these people standing around on the pavement waiting for a bus that may or may not turn up are causing CONGESTION for pedestrians who are unselfishly walking along. Think of the C02 emissions! Why not start fitting "bus stop pricing" units to everyone, then charging them a varying amount depending on what time of day they're standing around taking up space on the pavement? After all, if they can afford to stand around waiting for a bus for 20 minutes they could have WALKED 20 minutes further down the road. Assuming they're able bodied they're just being SELFISH!

james_j

3,996 posts

284 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
I have sent them my comments.

I suggested the ultimate congestion-charging scheme - a tax on petrol.

No need for any complex toll system.

Why install a complex system, unless there is an ulterior motive further down the line!

...seems to me like a stealth tactic, i.e. introducing some sort of monitoring system couched in "acceptable" (mmmm) terms of reducing congestion in an attempt to get it accepted by the (usually) gullible general public.

Mr2Mike

20,143 posts

284 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
james_j said:
I have sent them my comments.

I suggested the ultimate congestion-charging scheme - a tax on petrol.


Not sure if you noticed, but that ones in place and raking in a frankly disgusting amount of money.

wilkos

197 posts

267 months

Tuesday 20th July 2004
quotequote all
this was my suggestion

The problem is too many people. Shut down the health service and let a few crap/ill/old people die like they are supposed too.
Less people, less congestion, less pollution.
Some of the useless politicians/councilors/government ministers who couldn't get a real job if they tried would be first on my removal of care list.

Funny how the net takers from society always seem to have more power and influence than the net givers?

lbir2

25 posts

270 months

Wednesday 21st July 2004
quotequote all
Amazing - they quoted my comment.

Must have submitted comments to near 200 of these things and never got one published. Was beginning to think the thing was 100% fabricated.

james_j

3,996 posts

284 months

Wednesday 21st July 2004
quotequote all
Mr2Mike said:

james_j said:
I have sent them my comments.

I suggested the ultimate congestion-charging scheme - a tax on petrol.



Not sure if you noticed, but that ones in place and raking in a frankly disgusting amount of money.


Precisely. So why are they touting the proposed new scheme as if there was not already a "pay as you go" charge to use the roads, one which, as you say, already is at an absurdly high level.

Maybe because the proposed new scheme involves monitoring you personally.