The Cost of Motoring...

[gavroche]

You are licensed to drive on prescribed routes, in accordance with prescribed rules and regulations. You cannot "go as you please" for good reason.

The "go"was meant to be" leave my house whenever I want" and "as I please" meant " any destination of my choice" within the laws of the land. Same as I can do on my bike. Any more questions Your Honour?

 

[screenman]

The "go"was meant to be" leave my house whenever I want" and "as I please" meant " any destination of my choice" within the laws of the land. Same as I can do on my bike. Any more questions Your Honour?

I knew what you meant.

 

[growingvegetables]

Any more questions Your Honour?

How about finding a parking space where amd when you need it?

 

[User482]

The "go"was meant to be" leave my house whenever I want" and "as I please" meant " any destination of my choice" within the laws of the land. Same as I can do on my bike. Any more questions Your Honour?

Which neatly explains why the freedom of motoring is an illusion. It also has the unfortunate consequence of viewing everyone else as a hindrance.

 

[ufkacbln]

A lot of people have to rely on a car for what ever journey no matter how short or long they are .

My other half could not walk to our nearest shop or the Doctors due to medical issues 90% of the time , so unless i am at home to provide the wheelchair power she would have to get a taxi as not allowed to drive either .

So some allowances would have to be made .

I would like to see company's rewarding staff for using other forms of transport for local commutes ie bikes , walking or public transport

Yes it sounds idylic but why not

I remember Pfizer in the 80's with a "green" incentive

They gave all their workers a payment

Then it was up to you as they claimed it back

If you drove in then it payed for about 25% of your parking

If you used the car share scheme it was possible to cut your expenses as each driver would pay their share

4 people car sharing and you broke even

Bus fares were subsidised and people broke even or gained

If you cycled or walked it was a bonus

They also added things like free lunchtime transport to Sandwich for shopping


There was even a system where if you were required to work late and your public transport was unable to get you home they provided taxis

It was exemplary at the time

 

[Dan B]

How is it not true? I can get in my car at anytime of the day and night and go where I please.

I got into terrific trouble last time I got into my car at 4am and drove it into the middle of Leicester Square

 

[ufkacbln]

I have problem with the "victimisation" of Diesel owners


Firstly there is the element that many of them bought them for the "right" reasons when they were promoted with better milage and being more efficient

Secondly I think it is still a red herring where it is possible to portray a portion of the motoring community as bad, and by insinuation, the other as being good

If you want to drive 500 yards to the shop past your local school then it is fine in a petrol car, but not in a Diesel

The really important question that this avoids is whether EITHER journey was necessary

 

[ufkacbln]

I don't find it disgusting, but I don't understand the logic, it just seems like money down the drain to me unless you like the buzz of having the status of a new car, if there is one these days.

I wrote to my MP (John Mann) last year about abolishing VED on cars & putting the equivalent onto fuel duty, that would mean the more miles you do the more you pay which seems a far fairer way to me. He sent it off to the Ministry of Transport who rejected it stating that people who lived in rural areas would be unfairly affected as they were reliant on their own transport, so it will be interesting to see if they are prepared to accept this which will the same effect.

Rural driving is a two edged sword.

If you look at the figures, then cars are important for mobility

However the flaw is that income is often lower, and the single car ownership is higher

This means that the car is often used by the "breadwinner", spending most of its time in a parking lot and leaves the rest of the family housebound or reliant on public transport

 

[Piemaster]

20 years ago we bought a house backing onto a Primary school playing field - chosen as both the kids went there and my wife eventually got a job there. She still does. The high school is in reasonable walking distance too, and even local College is walkable and on a bus route. Theres a supermarket a 15 minute walk away and I had the time to cycle-shop when actually at home. All very sensible eh?

My job changed last year, I can go home every night. I've now got the first company car I've ever had (diesel pickup) so would I now get screwed for not moving house? Sort of a reverse catchment area twist? I even live between 2 primary schools around 1/2 a mile apart, and a High school not much further away. Theres actually only one way I can leave the house without passing one and I'm sure all the residents on that route will be delighted when everyone else starts going the same way too.
And I've no real desire to have the pickup, its just necessary for the job.