http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Topic: Meanwhile in Westminster en Mon, 18 May 2026 22:20:16 +0000 http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-134613 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 15:08:24 +0000 Wilmington's Cow 134613@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"<em>In principle I've got nothing against any of that, but not if you go on to say that you can't afford to feed and clothe your kids...</em>"</p> <p>That sums it up nicely. I mean, I think we should be looking to provide for people over and above a basic subsistence level - everyone should have the right to nice stuff every now and then. But no Sky doesn't mean no television; no fags is an easy one (granted easier if you're not addicted) to argue people should give up; the mobile phones... I'd hesitate to say that they are 'essential' these days, but certainly more needed than the other two items - what can drive up the cost is 'how' they are used, and so rather than give up entirely, think about usage and best contracts available. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-134611 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 14:56:57 +0000 Dave 134611@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>@DaveC, great post. </p> <p>Often hard to be sympathetic about cost of living issues when people's values are so different to my own. I read one of those interviews with a hard done-by family* re the benefits cap, some of the spending was bizarre:</p> <p> - Sky TV @ £800pa<br /> - mobile phone contracts £1500pa<br /> - fags £3500pa</p> <p>In principle I've got nothing against any of that, but not if you go on to say that you can't afford to feed and clothe your kids...</p> <p>* yes, I'm sure the family in question was carefully selected by the media to manipulate exactly this response from me, but still. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-134595 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 14:02:54 +0000 DaveC 134595@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Poor car-owning households spend more than a quarter of income on motoring"</p> <p>The amount we spend is never judged equally against other expenditure. We all have bias. Myself I personally don't like spending money on drink, which is why I'm tea total. For some spending ~£50 - £60 per night on a weekend drinking is normal, and budgeted for.</p> <p>I spend loads on cycle equipment, as I use it everyday for commuting. Others think what I spend on tyres should get you a whole bike!</p> <p>When I drove to work everyday I spent whatever was required on my car, as I needed it to get to work - traveling 30 miles each way. It was my choice to live as far away from my job as I did, though living closer would have cost me much more in housing costs. </p> <p>Simply - For some a car is viewed (rightly or wrongly) as a necessity. Its all judged on an individual opinion irrespective of what proportion it is of their own income.</p> <p>Same applies for housing costs, living in Edinburgh is not cheap! What proportion of monthly take home, do some of the posters on here spend to live in the area they want to, when living a couple of miles away in a less salubrious area might costs as much as 1/2 the cost? I spend roughly 1/3rd of my monthly income on my mortgage, so am I regarded as in <em>housing poverty</em>? - akin to fuel poverty? </p> <p>Its my choice to spend as much as I do, as I like the house I live in much more than my much smaller rented place, 1/2 the current cost, where I lived prior to buying my current house. I sold our 1 bed flat on Easter road in 2006 and paid a similar price for a 3 bed detached bungalow with huge garden, garage, conservatory..... </p> <p>Personal bias appears never to be taken into consideration, when people complain about how much its costing those earning less than the average, on personal car use. </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-134583 Tue, 26 Nov 2013 13:16:21 +0000 SRD 134583@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>One officer to be charged</p> <p><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25101706" rel="nofollow">http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25101706</a></p> <p>"But the Crown Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence to show that the officer at Downing Street's gate lied in his account." </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-103014 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:12:42 +0000 kaputnik 103014@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>There were rumblings that Andrew "didn't say Pleb after all" Mitchell was to be making a political comeback shortly. Perhaps he could be minister for cycling? I mean he doesn't appear to be that bothered with not appearing popular! </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-102986 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 09:18:18 +0000 chdot 102986@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>"Yes cycling would appear to not be a vote winner"</p> <p>See also -</p> <p>"Poor car-owning households spend more than a quarter of income on motoring" </p> <p><a href="http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9626" rel="nofollow">http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9626</a> </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-102983 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 08:28:49 +0000 gembo 102983@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>Yes cycling would appear to not be a vote winner </p> http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/topic.php?id=9625#post-102979 Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:04:08 +0000 crowriver 102979@http://citycyclingedinburgh.info/bbpress/ <p>'Watershed' inquiry reveals lack of political leadership to get people cycling</p> <p>The public evidence sessions of the all-party cycling group inquiry have reminded us we know what needs to be done – but the political will is still lacking.</p> <p><a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2013/mar/05/parliamentary-cycling-inquiry-lessons" rel="nofollow">http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/bike-blog/2013/mar/05/parliamentary-cycling-inquiry-lessons</a> </p>