Why so many prefer to drive in London? Doesn't it contribute more to Global Warming?

Question

In my country there is lots of polution. As a current NY resident, there is even more polution, I lived in Copenhagen and most people ride their bikes to work, shopping, for fun, etc it seems the Global Warming has caused a huge effect on Danes.

I currently reside in London, such a beautiful city but why isnt there more conciousness to encourage people to ride their bikes instead of driving? Wouldnt it be better in many ways? i.e. Less traffic, less polution, less harm to the earth...

What do you think? how are you contributing to the city on London to reduce damage?

Answer 1

Loli, you sound like a lovely and realistic person who is most concerned about the desperate plight of our once beautiful planet. Let's be honest about this. Are we going to make the grade and actually survive climate change and all the disasters we are going to have to face? We are, I think, already too late but believe we could minimise the effects if we all, as an international community, pulled our fingers out and worked together to attempt the almost impossible. Sadly, we depend on natural resources to satisfy business and commerce and, Loli, I do not think we are going to make it.

Answer 2

As Mark S (above) correctly notes, there is no conclusive proof that CO2 has any significant effect on the climate (Brendon please note). Evidence from ice core data shows that in the past temperatures went up 800+ years before CO2 did, and, even more significant, temperatures started falling again while CO2 *continued to rise* for a further 800+ years.

Clearly in the past, temperature ignores what CO2 does.

Currently, CO2 is rising faster than ever, with China, for example, opening a new coal-fired power station every 5 days. Yet global temperatures have not risen for 8 years.

The existing and proposed charges will do precisely nothing to prevent CO2 output anyway. What is the point of charging more for so called Chelsea Tractors? These generally have modern, lean-burn, well maintained engines that pump out far less CO2 than an old, clapped-out, poorly maintained engine. So why don’t we charge those cars extra? Because they are driven by poor people, who wouldn’t be able to afford the extra charge. Whereas, Chelsea Tractors are driven by rich people who can afford to pay, so it won’t reduce their numbers.

Thus these charges, presented as measures to tackle global warming, are in reality nothing more than old fashioned stealth taxes on the rich. So, as ever, it’s all about money and nothing to do with the environment.

So, in summary…

A) There’s no conclusive proof that car emissions are causing global warming.

B) Even if they were, the current and proposed charges will not reduce those emissions.

Having said all that, I did shift work in central London for many years and while I drove in on nights and weekends, I always took the Tube on weekdays. Why? Well, I’m not sure really, but I suspect it was simply the way I was brought up. My parents don’t like traffic, so would never have dreamt of driving into central London. Thus I grew up with the idea that, if you want to go up to town, you take the train.

At the end of the day, people will do whatever they find easiest. Currently, lots of them find driving is easiest. Until that changes, by improving public transport for example, people will continue to drive.

Answer 3

In the western US it is so far to the next town that would be a joke . Where it is possible it would be good for some of us. If u are as old as I am I couldn't go get the groceries at the local store . Don't hype this as all it does is increase the cost of gasoline. Global warming is the political solution that will be on the backs of the working people. I am from the other school ,that there must be a solution.

Answer 4

I admit that some people drive in London that don't need to, but remember there are lots of people who commute from outside towns and cities - public transport is very unreliable and far too expensive. I've worked in London for the past 6 months and I have to drive in every day. For starters, I need my car for work during the day, it would take me an hour longer each way by train and it's too expensive!

Answer 5

you notice the effect of this climate substitute? incredibly? i don't think you. reason i don't think you is that no one has seen the effect of this climate substitute because of the fact there has been no effect to this climate substitute. Polar ice is relatively increasing, temperatures have been cooling, polar endure populations have been increasing, manatees have been dying from the chilly and the documents has been shown to have been cooked. So, please. the place have you ever seen this international warming? i'm a conservative and the sole reason i'm in 'denial' is with the aid of the fact the monks of international warming have been shown to be crammed with crap at each turn. international warming is lifeless, kiddo. stumble on a sparkling faith. Now, in case you prefer to do some thing freshen up the Earth and make the air and water purifier, i'm with you there. yet I refuse to stick to fantasy to justify uncomplicated sense strikes or the pointless destruction of our international locations commercial prosperity.

Answer 6

Global Warming is the hysteria manipulated by neo-feudalists and the fake environmental movement in order to consolidate wealth and to forcefully impose a global carbon tax on us all.

Current climate models are simply manipulated to support a conclusion of mass human contribution, when in reality, far more simplistic mechanisms are in place. The Earth has been warmer in our past and I doubt it had much to do with humans driving around in 4x4s. A note to Ariel: if I want to wash my clothes at 40 degrees C, I will, and what's better, i'll do so safely in the knowledge that I'm not harming the environment at all

Answer 7

I don't live in London in fact I live in a town but as a very concerned person about global warming , I will say this , the councils should increase cycle lanes and work with local auuthorities to increase the amount of carriages on trains and on the tube to decrease and improve space for commutors in the city.

Answer 8

There are certainly lots of incentives in london to reduce fossil fuel traffic.
eg congestion charge, free to ZEVs, free parking in Westminster, and free recharging for electric cars.

Privatising "public transport" or insisting it makes a profit, a thatcher legacy, means it is not as comparably cheap or developed, or service focussed as other European cities. But compared to the cost & inconvenience of running a car it is still cheap & reliable.

So it comes down to culture-
Lots of embassies, especially US, refuse to pay congestion charge etc.
Drivers generally don't respect bikes, so it is seen as too dangerous (i've been knocked off twice, so no longer ride)

and it is not just the global warming, the particulates kill thousands each year. plus accidents & noise & smell...

Answer 9

Because they think that they will get there quicker but they wont because with more cars means more traffic so it is slower stick to public transport, bikes or walking

Answer 10

At the current time there is no evidence linking cars or other vehicles to global warming. Why should people change their behavior based on speculative theories unsupported by any evidence.