15 Year Transport Plan
More hot air from the Government or a sensible look at improving things?
A long-term strategy aimed at providing a modern, efficient and sustainable transport system was unveiled by the Government today. The 15 year plan was launched by Transport Secretary, Alistair Darling.
Spending will increase on transport systems by 2.25% above inflation each year through to 2015.
The Future of Transport White Paper looks at the factors that will shape travel and transport over the next thirty years and sets out how the Government will respond to the increasing demand for travel, maximising the benefits of transport while minimising the negative impact on people and the environment.
Darling commented, "Our job is to help people travel, not to stop them. The challenge for us is how we meet people’s need and wish to do so whilst meeting our environmental aims."
In response to the Road Pricing Feasibility Study, Mr Darling confirmed that government would lead a national debate on road pricing, working with relevant agencies to examine how and when pricing might work. A detailed response to the Study will be published in due course.
He said: "The Road Pricing Feasibility Study concludes that a national scheme has the potential to cut congestion by about a half as well as providing environmental benefits. It says that road pricing is becoming technically feasible in the next 10 -15 years. But for a scheme to work it would need general public acceptance and a great deal of preparation work over a number of years.
"There needs to be debate about what would make pricing acceptable to motorists. We must build a public consensus around the objectives for road pricing and how to use the revenues".
"Feasibility of Road Pricing in the UK", a report to the Secretary of State can be downloaded at www.dft.gov.uk . The report was commissioned by the Secretary of State on 9 July 2003. The study found that a national road pricing scheme would probably become technologically feasible in ten years' time. Trust and confidence in the viability and delivery of any national road pricing scheme would be central to public acceptability, as would the availability of viable alternatives such as public transport or car sharing, and the use made of the revenues.
we want to let everyone travel?
Yeh you'll probably get a free ticket if your on the dole, an OAP a single mother or any other feckess herbert that doesn't contribute to the rest of the country.
... and dont get me started on the existing £35bn the motorist ploughs into the governemts coffers
Capt Darling said:
The Road Pricing Feasibility Study concludes that a national scheme has the potential to cut congestion by about a half as well as providing environmental benefits.
Please define congestion, how it is measured and how you cut it in half please, darling.
Sound bites for the hard of thinking.
Road pricing is the only viable alternative.
One thing I want to know is, will the equivalent MINI ONE driver be charged the same per mile as say a 765i equivalent.
Also, since this will probably be based on passive satelite technology... How will they prevent me from buying a 'chipped' sensor that counts only 1 mile in 10 ?
What's more worrying is that by the time this technology is actually in cars. The same tech will be able to limit vehicle speed according to the road and fine you for going (or parking) where you shouldn't.
1984 may have come and gone without comment but it's looking like big brother really will be catching up soon...
Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean....
capt Darling said:
"There needs to be debate about what would make pricing acceptable to motorists.
Hmmm, I once heard the phrase; "in business, you must always charge the highest price you think the market will bear, regardless of how low the cost of production is"
Methinks this will become a marketing exercise for them to determine exactly how much they can fleece us for before a revolt will occur.
Well I for one already resent what I give the Treasury. But then as I'm a Tory voter anyway I dare say they don't give a toss what I think.
Andy
>> Edited by andytk on Tuesday 20th July 21:53
1. For local congestion in a morning, make kids start school at 7.30 like in germany, that way the school run is taken away from the traffic travelling to work, also mums/dads who work can walk their kids to school as they still have time to get to work.
2. on a friday for the traffic travelling north/south from and to major cities setup a rail infrastructure similar to the channel tunnel with the car trains. moving large quantities of people who would travel at this time for £15-20 to encourage people to use it.
annodomini2 said:
make kids start school at 7.30 like in germany, that way the school run is taken away from the traffic travelling to work, also mums/dads who work can walk their kids to school as they still have time to get to work.
Tell you what, why don't YOU start work at 7.30am and leave the roads clear for me to take the kids to school at 9am. Nothing like forcing ideas on other people that don't affect you, eh??
This kind of thinking typifies whats wrong with this whole poxy country.
The main problem is the people running the country shouldn't be. Same as any position of power if you really want it, you shouldn't be charge.
britten_mark said:
make kids start school at 7.30 like in germany, that way the school run is taken away from the traffic travelling to work, also mums/dads who work can walk their kids to school as they still have time to get to work.
Tell you what, why don't YOU start work at 7.30am and leave the roads clear for me to take the kids to school at 9am. Nothing like forcing ideas on other people that don't affect you, eh??
This kind of thinking typifies whats wrong with this whole poxy country.
Don't see anything wrong with that suggestion at all personally - it's a good idea. Step back from your righteous indignation for a second and think about it.
We have a problem where virtually every person in the country is travelling at the same time. It therefore makes sense to stagger the travelling patters of the population if at all possible. We can't control the hours that people start work, but the government potentially has some say in when the schools start, so this would be a reasonable place to start. I know when I was a kiddie I was envious of the continental school day - you're done by lunchtime and have every afternoon off!
Granted there are problems (child care for the afternoon, for a start) but nothing that other countries haven't encountered, and presumably - to some extent at least - solved.
Regardless of whether or not I'm speeding, I don't want the government having a license to track my every move. They can
right off with that idea.
350matt said:
How about making the kids walk? Oh the usual arguments of safety are trotted out, but if all the kids are walking home at the same time then safety in numbers. Not only that, but if you really believe the screaming media about how 'dangerous' the world has become then try reading a book. Stop. Look. Listen. Breathe.
Help cut the congestion and that most disturbing of sights, fat kids, in the same move.
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