| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Clean Air Charge for Driving in London | |
| Posted by: | Mark Warburton | |
| Date/Time: | 21/01/22 16:38:00 |
| Paul, the description of you as a moron, whilst prompted by your pointless and glib comment, is my opinion formed by viewing a lot of your posts. I don't think it infers moral superiority in any way. When you say highly cost-effective, you mean in terms of reducing a small number of journeys within a constricted area whilst displacing pollution to other areas? As I've pointed out on posts previously, the actual reduction in pollution from the active travel measures being taken in London is so small as to be almost immeasurable on a global scale. And this is what it's about isn't it? Saving the planet? I don't actually oppose a reduction in personal car usage, if there is an actual, viable alternative. Walking or cycling isn't it in a city the size of London, or for those who simply aren't able to, or for those carrying tools, etc for work. Hell, the authority I work for won't allow its EV's to be charged on street because they get broken into, let alone trying to transport materials and tools on a bike, which is even less secure. What irritates me beyond measure is the total ignorance of those factors by policy makers, who leave behind those groups without a care because they're saving Johnny Polar Bear. That and the bizarre assumptions: 1.that they can determine what is an essential journey - there is no objective way of measuring or defining this; 2. Everyone is desperately waiting for more road closures & then we'll all jump on a bike or walk everywhere. What I would prefer to see is that the bigger problems are sorted out first, rather than taking the easiest possible alternative and making little difference. Buses have had priority over cars for some time, decades even. You are aware of the existence of bus lanes right? Currently, the rash of "Covid-fighting" cycle lanes are temporary, though given that the results of local consultations are routinely ignored, they will continue to be in place and underused. Conservative Councillors may well have called Chiswick a 15 minute city, it doesn't mean they're right (spoiler: they're not). It's also a strange piece of thinking/policy making to expect humans to want to stay in one place. If a proper public transport network is in place, then yes, you will see personal car usage drop, however, given how poorly much of the country is covered on that front & hell, how badly large parts of London are, it's not going to happen until it is. £2 a day whilst a regressive form of taxation, will make minimal difference & honestly, that's what TfL want, they can't afford to bring it in & have a significant drop in motorists - they're already suffering an income drop from lower than anticipated ULEZ income, which means that they can't fund other works. Do you consider annoying and alienating people against your ideas as a vital part of campaigning? If not, why do you spend time doing it on this board? |