| Topic: | Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Re:Reducing our reliance on cars | |
| Posted by: | Michael Ixer | |
| Date/Time: | 14/02/19 20:22:00 |
| Not sure what the answer is to this - it requires a major cultural change. To be honest, as someone who has driven in London since 1970 and drove a lot in the 1980s I now detest driving in London - traffic jams, difficulties in parking, changing one way systems, traffic calming, etc - I now prefer to use public transport - I can read, work and study (in fact I started using trains a lot about 15 or so years ago when I was doing OU courses); travelling is no longer "dead time". Ok, at my age I get cheap or free travel, also no longer owning a car saves me money, and I can the occasional taxi/minicab (and drink) if necessary - or use Zipcar in I do need a vehicle. I believe the motor industry's long term view is autonomous, electric vehicles using an Uber like model for booking trips: moving away from car ownership and a self drive model. My own experience is if car ownership is expensive and inconvenient but public/shared transport is cheap and easy attitudes will change. But public transport must also be accessible - all stations must have lifts and ramps - and sufficient private hire cars, including Uber, must have wheelchair capabilities. (I'm basing that on my experience of dealing with elderly relatives who have mobility problems.) Possibly not a popular approach ... and just a suggestion ... |