In Search of the 'War on Motorists'

[Adasta]

There's another blog at The Guardian which could be of interest to commuters. It's worth reading the comments as well since there are actually some reasonable opinions/viewpoints amongst the ubiquitous spleen-venting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot

 

[downfader]

MP Pickles was inteviewed by The Mail last week on this. He's jabbering on that theres a war because "motorists receive unfair parking fines and speeding tickets" (paraphrased). He's slagged off councils over it.

 

[mickle]

Very good. Shows what we're up against.

 

[yello]

As much I want to live in Monbiot's ideal world sometimes, there are occasions when I wonder if he ignores the position of many many people; their needs and daily realities.

But the wider impacts are just as important. This is about private interests trumping the wider public interest, about allowing people to pursue individual self-interest, regardless of the cost to society. It's about championing the freedom to act, while ignoring the other kind of freedom: freedom from other people's actions

Who is determining public v private interests? The 'cost to society', Whose freedoms does he see as being impacted by other's freedoms? Surely all actions impact on others?

I found the comments of siff interesting...

I had a phone call from my brother in law today, bemoaning the £500 it will cost to get his car MOT'd. But as he says, its a no brainer. Having had to go to work by bus for the last couple of days, he's worked out it would cost £1,500 a year, with 2 changes, and an hour each way. Who, honestly, is going to make that a first choice. ?
I make my paltry living doing odd jobs and selling second hand books. Am I to load a couple of bags of sand and cement and a bucket of tools, or ten boxes of assorted hardbacks onto my pushbike ? I'd love to see the bus drivers face when I tried to get on the bus with that lot, or insist he take a detour to the place I'm working at.
Sorry George, but the sad fact is, for most purposes, public transport, at best, sucks. At worst, its totally irelevant.

I can see the point they make. There is often no practical solution other than the car.

Further (and in devil's advocate mode!), if the majority of the population opt for car usage and eschew public transport options, is that not democracy in action? Sorry, that's P&L innit? I dunno, in short, as much as I personally agree with many of Monbiot's calls (and I genuinely believe in aiming at ideals), I realise it's just what I think. I accept that I'm in a minority with no greater voice than anyone else.

 

[yello]

But, yes, imho "war on motorists" is populist headline grabbing stuff. I don't believe such a thing exists despite it striking a chord with many.

 

[Number14]

MP Pickles was inteviewed by The Mail last week on this. He's jabbering on that theres a war because "motorists receive unfair parking fines and speeding tickets" (paraphrased). He's slagged off councils over it.

I can see that some parking fines may be unfair but the majority are the driver's fault for not checking before they park.

As for speeding fines, what's unfair about putting up signs with numbers on them, giving the motorist a little display in fromt of them with matching numbers and giving them a choice of pedals to press to make them go faster or slower.

Speeding fines are a tax on the stupid.​

 

[downfader]

I dont think anyone should question those living very far out from work, or with heavy loads to haul. However there are a hell of a lot of motorists who are doing sub 5 miles as a single person in the car. I posted on there about the leaflet I read today - 75% of car journeys are in exactly this bracket.

I think this has to be about common sense. There are places and routes where people can make a difference, but it takes a personal effort. I suspect that, from talking to others locally, that many dont know the options because they either dont investigate them or have some kind of fear of change. So I've left inferance that they dont have to sit in the dark, that there are places like this that can help.

The longer journey drivers and heavy haulers, builders etc are a minority even smaller than cyclists. I think we can all live with them continuing to drive, its the majority that needs to address its behaviour, otherwise I can see a day when it really will be a war on motorists

 

[downfader]

I can see that some parking fines may be unfair but the majority are the driver's fault for not checking before they park.

As for speeding fines, what's unfair about putting up signs with numbers on them, giving the motorist a little display in fromt of them with matching numbers and giving them a choice of pedals to press to make them go faster or slower.

Speeding fines are a tax on the stupid.​

Oh I quite agree. However its the way he said it...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...h-parking-charges-Pickles-tells-councils.html

 

[numbnuts]

When a brave government put the VED (so called road tax) on the price of fuel then it would make sense to walk pass your car and travel in public transport

 

[yello]

There's been a law change here in France this year. A single point for speeding used to stay on the licence for 12 months, it's 6 months now. Many motorists, and motorists groups, were complaining that motorists were at risk of loosing their licence because of points accumulation.... so the law is changed! Makes a bit of a mockery of the law really, no? Or does it? The fine has stayed the same.

When you see speed gun operators hidden in hedges, behind cars, etc it's not difficult to have some sympathy for the motorist - even if I don't go as far as subscribing to the 'war on motorists' conspiracy. I think, sadly, some motorists now take speeding tickets to be a consumable, like petrol and oil. Something that is inevitable. Methinks that indicates that something about the law, it's enforcement or whatever has gone awry? Should people be accepting that they'll get caught sometimes rather than aiming not to get done?

 

[DrSquirrel]

Some companies take parking tickets as consumable too (specially couriers etc).

I do think the "hiding" is a bit unfair, although they aren't *THAT* hard to see if you are bieng properly aware, although we aren't going to be so all the time. If I get caught, and I speed where I feel its safe and unlikely to be cameras - if I get caught, I will accept it and pay my dues (so yes I would also see it as consumable, sort of).

Fines that are related to how much you earn would be much better, as you get the rich driving aruond like loons and parking where they want as they can afford the ticket, just like a VIP parking space eh.



A comment on that article just shows the sadly funny side of this...

I’ve been living happily without a car for years, though the rise in rail prices may soon force me to give this up.

I wonder why more people don't get a moped or something, its cheap to run, you can have one along side the car if you really must - and you can still be lazy (no need for a bike).

 

[downfader]

I wonder why more people don't get a moped or something, its cheap to run, you can have one along side the car if you really must - and you can still be lazy (no need for a bike).

This is exactly what I have said in the past. Powered two wheelers will do the distances in comfort. My Brother bought a VTwin Shadow for exactly this purpose, 125cc and will do 40mph. He uses it for meeting outside the city and where he will need to filter past heavy congestion.

 

[mickle]

There's a woman down our road who drives her child to school (and then drives home - so its not like she then uses the car to travel on to work). She drives in a big 'G' shape when there is a well used, clean and safe footpath which runs directly from her house to the school. And with the congestion and the queue to get in and out of the school it takes her several times longer to drive than it would to walk.

We could attribute it to sheer idleness except that - obviously - the car costs money to run and probably close to what her part time cleaning job brings in.

Not idleness then but a shortness of thinking.

Everyone has a car - I must have a car.

I have a car - therefore I must use it.
I need a car - see how often I use it.

 

[Adasta]

It's totally reductive of anyone to claim that driving a car is "bad" and cycling is "good". As the comments point out, cars are sometimes the most efficient mode of transport: I wouldn't fancy going down to B&Q to pick up a shower unit with only my bike, for example!

[T]here are a hell of a lot of motorists who are doing sub 5 miles as a single person in the car...75% of car journeys are in exactly this bracket.

I think this is one of the most salient points. A lot of journeys could be carried out using a bike and would in fact be quicker in some circumstances. However, it's hard to dissuade someone from using a car if the weather is cold since the car has heating. People will often say "Oh, but at least I can listen to music in my car." It's hard to argue with these opinions, other than giving the standard arguments in favour of bike travel.

f the majority of the population opt for car usage and eschew public transport options, is that not democracy in action?

I think that would be more populist than democratic. I bet if you asked car drivers if they want safer, cleaner environments and less congestion on the roads, they'd be all for it. In a vote, even they might choose to support such things.

However, when it came down to them actually having to leave their car at home for sub-5 mile journeys, I'm sure they would complain about a sort of "hippie elite" or "stupid Greens" or "socialists taking away my liberty to drive if I want to drive". In that sense, car users could be seen as populist or even Libertarian by exercising their right not to use public transport. Also, it's not necessarily democratic if the (public) transport infrastructure is appalling and expensive; it may just be more prudent to use one's car, even if one wanted to use public transport out of a sense of civic or environmental duty.

 

[mickle]

What most car owners fail to acknowledge is that driving is absolutely a lifestyle choice. They arrange their lives around the amenity of car ownership and then claim necessity.