http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/news/Price-of-fuel-cuts-road.6635560.jp
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Price of fuel cuts road jams but Scots still love their cars"
(6 posts)-
Posted 13 years ago #
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Still loads of people driving as if fuel was dirt cheap e.g. rapid and pointless acceleration (to pass bikes often just before queue), speeding.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I remember being absolutely amazed when petrol reached 88p per litre. Now it's nearly £1.20 per litre, and inflation notwithstanding, I was ready to suggest that people were still driving as much as ever, and just paying for the privilege.
But my usual commute used to be very congested along one section, where almost without exception I would cut through the back streets to circumvent a mile or two of waiting and crawling along in traffic, and possibly saving a minute or three here and there. But in the last couple of years I've rarely had to make that circumvention; and generally the occasions have been necessary only because there wasn't space between the lines of traffic for me to filter through. I'm not a hardened traffic jammer, except when I'm on the Brompton.
Posted 13 years ago # -
"But in the last couple of years I've rarely had to make that circumvention"
It's much harder to judge in Edinburgh as the tramworks have made lots of localised differences - Mound shut etc.
However there has been a real increase in the number of people cycling in Edinburgh (and London and not too many other places) so some must have been car users - or bus passengers, leaving room for some ex-drivers.
Posted 13 years ago # -
When petrol first hit £1.20 (in 2008?) I seem to recall it reached that price rather rapidly and everyone was very upset and there were articles in the newspaper and everything.
My perception at the time was that people started driving slower (more noticable on motorways, etc.) but after a few months speeds seemed to creep back to normal.
Petrol prices are just as high again but they have crept up to a high price more slowly this time and I don't think I've seen the same impact on the speed that people drive at.
This is all based on my perception of course so it could all be rubbish.
Posted 13 years ago # -
I have noticed a huge rise in very large 4 x 4's in the past couple of years, they must cost a fortune to run, plus they are worrying because they take up so much of the road. Also German brand marques, particularly BMW's and Audi's, which also cannot be cheap to run. So it appears to me that the price of petrol has had very little impact on gas guzzler sales, and indeed it is probably the kudos or show off factor, look at me, I have enough money to run one of these, so nyah.
Posted 13 years ago #
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