http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: So, this is GOOD news? en Sun, 31 May 2026 17:32:31 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-243028 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 11:03:23 +0000 acsimpson 243028@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>I wonder how much of that £2280 the drivers have spent on fuel while idling due to higher car use.</p> <p>I'm not sure how they reached the figure but their definition of a daily commuter presumably doesn't allow for many holidays. They presumably also didn't calculate the cost of a months rail fares while the bridge was shut because of backlogged maintenance due to no toll income to fund it. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-243015 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 09:52:13 +0000 I were right about that saddle 243015@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p><em>So what?</em></p> <p>A question better addressed to Glasgow taxpayers. (And possibly house buyers in Fife.)</p> <p>If we had land value tax then the benefit of public investment is captured by the public. Without it, you get weird transfers that people may or may not be content with. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-243007 Fri, 17 Feb 2017 08:19:17 +0000 Nelly 243007@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"And to be clear I'd expect the headline transfer of wealth to be from Glasgow taxpayers to Fife land speculators"</p> <p>So what? Raith interchange, A9 dualling and Aberdeen bypass will be paid for by Edinburgh and Fife taxpayers by that rationale. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-242934 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:47:13 +0000 I were right about that saddle 242934@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>And to be clear I'd expect the headline transfer of wealth to be from Glasgow taxpayers to Fife land speculators.</p> <p>Which is why we need some form of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_value_tax">land value tax</a>. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-242933 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 11:28:37 +0000 I were right about that saddle 242933@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Well the Chipwrapper analysis is obviously simplistic, but the real cost benefit balance will be very hard to get at wouldn't it? I'd suggest terms for beneficiaries;</p> <p>1) Land value speculators in Fife<br /> 2) Owners of fossil fuel deposits<br /> 3) Shareholders in Edinburgh employers</p> <p>and losers;</p> <p>1) People spending time commuting by car in terms of mental and physical health<br /> 2) Taxpayers without reason to cross the Forth by car<br /> 3) Citizens affected by car noise and exhaust </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-242928 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:45:50 +0000 bruce_mcadam 242928@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>The tolls were a tiny sum compared to commuting by rail.</p> <p>I'm not sure how train prices over the bridge are calculated, but a 13 mile single journey from Haymarket to N. Queensferry over the bridge works out at about 36p per mile, compared to the 18 mile journey from Haymarket to Linlithgow at only 29p per mile. Suggesting that rail commuters are still paying a toll of about 95p each time they cross the rail bridge. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-242927 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:41:14 +0000 Morningsider 242927@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Alternatively - people on low wages across Scotland subsidise cross-Forth car commuters. Also very generous of them to stump up £1,325,000,000 for the new bridge - which most of them will never use. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=17446#post-242917 Thu, 16 Feb 2017 10:03:28 +0000 chdot 242917@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"</p> <p>Daily commuters using the Forth Road Bridge have saved £2280 each since tolls were scrapped nine years ago, the SNP said today.</p> <p>"</p> <p><a href="http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/scrapping-tolls-saves-forth-road-bridge-commuters-2280-1-4367724" rel="nofollow">http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/transport/scrapping-tolls-saves-forth-road-bridge-commuters-2280-1-4367724</a> </p>