The Government want us to "choose" public transport over our cars?

Question

So does that mean they'll do the same? Join in the eco-drive and all that?

Are we going to see John Prescott "choosing" to get rid of his Two Jags? Is Tony going to stop being driven around in limos and flash cars to his appearances and meetings?

Are we going to see Prescott and Tony Blair queueing up at a bus stop in the pissing rain the middle of January at 7am to get the bus to their next meeting?

Are THEY going to be freezing in the cold and rain waiting for a delayed train or having to sit next to the stinking drunk on the packed 4C bus who dribbles and vomits all over himself?

Something tells me we won't.

They are hypocrites one and all.

The government and big business cause climate change

Then they try to get rid of their responsiblity by turning it back on poor old Mrs Jones down the street, telling her not to leave her lights on and to get rid of her car and use the (stinking, badly run) bus service instead.

All the while John Prescott drives round in his two jags and the rich live in huge houses that cost £100,000s to heat and popping back and forth all over in the world in their frigging private jets.

Hypocrites.

They caused it, let them sort it out. I can't afford to "waste" fuel or over heat my house or drive a big car anyway so I have no action to take.

As for people being "displaced" by coastal erosion, what about all the families "displaced" when their homes are repossessed because dad lost his job and they can't pay their mortgage? I notice our great leaders don't seem to give a toss about them.

Answer 1

Another example of this government's 'Do as we say, NOT as we do' attitude. They want us off the roads so they can have more room for themselves in their 4x4's and gas guzzling Jags. Makes me want to go and buy a 4x4 just to stick two fingers up to them. This government can bugger off. Bloody hypocrites!

Answer 2

Until the government provide a workable public transport system, they can't expect people to give up their own private vehicles. The majority of people these days live in the country and work in the towns. Without a sensible transport system there would have to be a huge migration of the population to the towns (and where is the housing to support that?) or an enormous amount of money poured into the public transport system. It would also have to be priced sensibly. At the moment the prices of bus and train fares are laughable. The trains are overcrowded and yet the prices increase with no noticeable improvement to the system. Buses are either late of non-existant and the fares ridiculously prohibitive. The government is going to have to work very hard to get this one off the ground, let alone up and running.

Answer 3

They are hypocrites, and the alleged focus on green policies does smack of BS, BUT *don't* let that put you off making positive environmental changes in your own life. Just because they have a bad attitude doesn't mean that you have to.

I know it sucks that public transport is so often shoddy, but write to your MP and complain, complain, complain. If you don't feel that the government is doing enough then in the next election vote for someone who says they will change that. Maybe they will renege on that once in power, but if you asked the question then you can legitimately complain to them, join lobby and pressure groups, and demand change. Don't give up faith in the parliamentary system and let others decide who will run the country - work for reform from the inside and the outside!

Oh, and if you just can't hack the public transport system any more then get on your bike, literally! :)

Answer 4

I applaude you!! If public transport is so great, why don't newly-fledged lottery winners blow their cash on lifetime bus passes?
Instead, the papers picture them smilingly holding the keys to new Aston Martins, Ferraris and Porsches. Why? Because a car, like a lottery win, means freedom. Freedom to travel where and when you want to, not when a public transport operator says you can.
Unfortunately, the Government believes that bureaucrats know best and that travellers must be told what to do.
I believe there are two key choices in transport policy — to restrict or to empower. Empowering travellers means allowing them to choose freely from a range of alternatives that are all viable. The Government's approach is to restrict and to control, which, has resulted in a transport policy where there are no winners — only losers.
Drivers lose as they are taxed more heavily year by year.
People without cars are losers too. Public transport is little short of a sick joke. The Government's own Audit Commission has damned it as 'expensive, unreliable and inefficient', yet people are increasingly forced out of their cars and onto buses and trains that can't cope. Unfortunately, the Government's response is to make cars as unpleasant to use as public transport, not to make public transport as pleasant to use as the car.
In fact, the whole country has lost as government after government has taxed drivers and failed to invest in transport. That means we all sit in traffic queues, need second mortgages for train tickets and travel cattle-class on the bus.
The Government's attacks on the car appear not so much founded in hard scientific fact as based on politically correct dogma. Recent studies have shown that the greatest threat to urban air quality is not the car, but rather buses and trucks, yet I see my local authority continuing to ban cars and treat those that remain as council cashpoints on wheels.
The transport debate is a key issue for all of us in the UK. We all need to travel to work, for business, for leisure, to shop, to see friends, family and relations. That's why Government needs to concentrate on a truly integrated transport policy — which includes, at its heart, properly funded public transport and the car.

Answer 5

grumbling about the privileged few doesn't address the real problems your govt has to deal with like all that gas your guzzling and the increasing numbers of cars versus the declining room to fit them all. Not to mention your need to abide by the Kyoto treaty and reduce emissions the only way to answer these problems is to use mass transit or use smaller less polluting cars perhaps hybrids which are showing much promise in the US. As for the public transit ride from hell me thinks thou protest too much.

Answer 6

That's them two faced as ever, i don`t need to give up my car as i can`t afford one any way, i just want to tell you about an article i read a few weeks ago It was about Tony Blair ordering two new planes one for the prime minister eg himself and one for the Queen .Apparently all the other heads of states have a private plane but him and the Queen have to make do with a hire one that has seen better days .and he thought it reflected badly on our image eg his.After all these years and at her age i could bet my life it wasn`t the Queens idea.

Answer 7

no we won't but that is per side the point, the government is afraid of coming under fire (politically) from do goodies, since traffic is a major cause of pollution they are doing the only practical thing they can think of to reduce it. (increase tax and encourage public transport). can you think of a better way to reduce carbon emissions produced by traffic.

i agree the government should accept the car is here to stay but they understandably listen to the people shouting the loudest (do goodies).

Answer 8

I'm sure that if the government provided safe, clean efficient low cost public transport many people would use it, unfortunately they don't want to force us off the road they just want to tax us heavily for using it.

Answer 9

Well said....If they want to do something about CO2 then plant more trees, and compel all garages to have bio-fuel available so that customers have a choice. They should stop jumping on the green bandwagon in the vain attempt to make the public believe they care about the planet. I'm sick of their lies.... lies and more lies...we need to get rid of Blair and the sooner the better.

Answer 10

When public transport is cheaper and better will anyone dream of giving up their cars,,it's cheaper to drive these days