In Search of the 'War on Motorists'

[slowmotion]

It would appear that The Economist aggrees with you, the chart showing changes in the real cost of transport over the last twenty years, is also very informative...

The graph in the article was very interesting. Running costs are soaring up but vehicle costs are falling. I would love to know how the vehicle cost plot is generated. Is it an index of new car prices, or all car prices? My hazardous guess is that if you buy old bangers, which cost relatively little as regards depreciation, capital cost, and main-dealer enforced servicing, the overall cost of motoring (percentage wise) has risen quite steeply due to fuel, taxes, insurance and parking fees etc.

 

[mcshroom]

If you want the data for that graph, it should be in here somewhere. This is the report from where the diagram was taken (DfT Transport Trends 2009 Edn.)

If you think about the average car price new and used against the average earnings, and recent schemes such as the scrappage scheme (plus the effect this had on the used car market) I can believe that cars are relatively cheaper than they were two decades ago. I think the more important lines on there are the ones that show that while fuel, even with the deliberate raising of the price through measures such as the fuel escalator has gone up by 20%, whereas the public transport options (which interestingly were all privatised in the lifetime of this graph to make them 'more efficient') have gone up by 50-54%.

 

[slowmotion]

If you want the data for that graph, it should be in here somewhere. This is the report from where the diagram was taken (DfT Transport Trends 2009 Edn.)

If you think about the average car price new and used against the average earnings, and recent schemes such as the scrappage scheme (plus the effect this had on the used car market) I can believe that cars are relatively cheaper than they were two decades ago. I think the more important lines on there are the ones that show that while fuel, even with the deliberate raising of the price through measures such as the fuel escalator has gone up by 20%, whereas the public transport options (which interestingly were all privatised in the lifetime of this graph to make them 'more efficient') have gone up by 50-54%.

Absolutely. That is a major reason why people cling to their cars, I suspect.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

In respect of a number of the comments about short car journeys a simple point for me is, from my experience of cycling, would I want my wife to cycle, or walk, on the roads around here, on journeys under 5 miles, something which she is perfectly capable of doing as one of her hobbies is hiking and she regularly does around 15 miles, the answer to which is no way it's not safe.

Would I want her to do this if there were adequate / safe cycle routes - yes I would.

Do I think that anyone is going to put new cycle routes in around ours and the adjoining villages, no

Does the wife ever walk on country roads when hiking? If so how does she deal with the terrible danger she must be in when doing so? It reminds of the village lady, a 'Bunty' type, on my route home from work during the snow who told me to take care as cycling on snow and ice is 'offly dangeris' and who promptly fell over when attempting to get in her car.

I'd contend road cycling can be unpleasant, due to inappropriate behaviour of other roads users, but it is relatively safe.

As for cycle routes in and around your village, you've already got them, they are called roads. If they are rendered unsafe due to other road users you can take action. But be warned. In these parts we've had two 20 mph villages created, a splendid thing in my book, but amongst the first to be cautioned by the old bill were the senior membership of the local campaigns to get those limits implemented!

 

[snailracer]

The graph in the article was very interesting. Running costs are soaring up but vehicle costs are falling. I would love to know how the vehicle cost plot is generated. Is it an index of new car prices, or all car prices? My hazardous guess is that if you buy old bangers, which cost relatively little as regards depreciation, capital cost, and main-dealer enforced servicing, the overall cost of motoring (percentage wise) has risen quite steeply due to fuel, taxes, insurance and parking fees etc.

The REAL purchase price of vehicles is falling. In other words, the purchase price hasn't risen as fast as our average earnings have been.
As far back as I remember (the 1980's), the cost of a small entry-level hatchback has been around £6000, same as today. However, the average wage has risen several-fold. Also, a modern £6000 car is incomparably better than the £6000 car from 1980, so if anything the economists actually underestimate how much real car prices have fallen.

 

[Ravenbait]

I usually commute to work on my bike, I regularly ride 20+ miles on a saturday and sunday morning, and have recently taken days of work to complete 50 and 60 milers.

...

In respect of a number of the comments about short car journeys a simple point for me is, from my experience of cycling, would I want my wife to cycle, or walk, on the roads around here, on journeys under 5 miles, something which she is perfectly capable of doing as one of her hobbies is hiking and she regularly does around 15 miles, the answer to which is no way it's not safe.

How come it's okay for you to ride but not your wife?

Serious question. I find it absolutely brain-breaking that you ride to work, do 20+ miles of a weekend, and yet don't want your wife to ride because "it's not safe". Why is it any less safe for her than it is for you?

Sam

 

[snailracer]

How come it's okay for you to ride but not your wife?

Serious question. I find it absolutely brain-breaking that you ride to work, do 20+ miles of a weekend, and yet don't want your wife to ride because "it's not safe". Why is it any less safe for her than it is for you?

Sam

Skill?

 

[goo_mason]

Skill?

Ooooo... verging on the sexist there, perhaps? Or did you forget the winking smiley? Or perhaps you're just assuming that his wife won't have his skills as she doesn't ride as much as he does on the roads?

Let me ask you this then - how does she build up her road-riding skills on the roads in question without getting out and riding them?

 

[Ravenbait]

Skill?

Please tell me that was meant as a joke.

Sam

 

[subaqua]

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

some signs are written in very poor or misleading English. parking is a cash cow for Local Authorities, hence the bikers protests in Westminister

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.​

totally agree with this bit . its not hard to drive at the speed limit , and some idiot motorist mena thats the maximum in the best conditions available. if its snowing raining etc speed should be reduced accordingly

 

[Adasta]

It's natural to feel more concerned for a loved one than for one's self. However, one critical aspect of cycling on the road (and of road safety in general) is confidence. If Alant's wife isn't confident on the road when cycling then yes, it is fair to say she would be more at danger. This could easily be remedied by spending more time on the road but she has to want to do it otherwise it's all a fruitless endeavour.

 

[GrumpyGregry]

I'm thinking she says it isn't safe not him, btw.

 

[Ravenbait]

I'm thinking she says it isn't safe not him, btw.

Go read the quote again.

In respect of a number of the comments about short car journeys a simple point for me is, from my experience of cycling, would I want my wife to cycle, or walk, on the roads around here, on journeys under 5 miles, something which she is perfectly capable of doing as one of her hobbies is hiking and she regularly does around 15 miles, the answer to which is no way it's not safe.

Seems fairly clear-cut to me. He doesn't want her doing something that she's perfectly capable of doing because it is not safe. Although it's okay for him to do it.

If she doesn't feel safe cycling is that because she's experienced it? Is it because he has convinced her it's not safe? Surely it would be more helpful for him to bolster her confidence than tell her he doesn't want her doing it because it's not safe?

I'm struggling to stay civil and polite and maintain the assumption that I have simply misunderstood Alant's comments, because the sort of male supremacy it resembles vexeth me greatly.

Sam

 

[dellzeqq]

Please tell me that was meant as a joke.

Sam

or send stamped addressed envelope for tin hat. Because he's going to need it.....

 

[StuartG]

Here is the full declaration of peace in our time: http://www.communities.gov.uk/news/newsroom/

Do note on the end of 'over-zealous parking attendants'. We had those in our town once. Till they booked our directly elected/executive 'Motor Man' Mayor. They haven't been seen since. Nearly run down last week by a reversing van who was so anxious to cover the last remaining visible double yellow lines.

<sigh>