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We know from RAC research that eight out of ten motorists are dependent on their cars so this really seems like a stealth tax as few people have a realistic alternative to owning and running a car.”
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CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
“eight out of ten motorists are dependent on their cars”
(12 posts)-
Posted 6 years ago #
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Every single paragraph in that article has me reaching for my gun. Incendiary hypocrisy in every word.
Every contributor should be made to stand on Leith walk cycle lane for a day with a placard round their neck with their words on it.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Yet 40% of Edinburgh households don't have access to a car, but somehow manage to function.
I also notice that the solutions to "not having a realistic alternative to owning and running a car" aren't to provide those alternatives, but to make driving easier and cheaper.
Posted 6 years ago # -
People who choose not to run a car quickly adapt their lifestyles in order to live a perfectly happy and normal life.
Posted 6 years ago # -
Dependent , is that like a drug dependency?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Withdrawal symptoms include stiff legs and rosy cheeks
Posted 6 years ago # -
There appears to be something of a disconnect between this article and prior articles by Scott Mcnab, vis:
Air pollution levels a ‘medical emergency’ in Scots cities
Hundreds of Scots GPs retire early as workload pressures cause ‘burn-out’
Hm what could be causing the air pollution Scot? Why is there so much ill health causing pressure on GPs? Could any of these things be related?
Posted 6 years ago # -
Or "eight out of ten motorists make themselves dependent on their cars"?
With a car you think, "oh I can live miles from the nearest town/ shop/ library and not suffer any".
Posted 6 years ago # -
I don't think the RAC has quite twigged that there's a big difference between "use their cars a lot" and "are dependent on their cars".
Posted 6 years ago # -
It makes no sense, IMO, to collate "fines, charges and permits" - as this article does.
Any increase in fines is the result of law-breaking, so is not an increased "burden" on law-abiding drivers.
Finally, the £2m/year increase in Edinburgh will pay for the Queensferry Crossing ... in 700 years.*
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* Obviously not true - given bridge costs money to maintain.
Posted 6 years ago # -
@morningsider
I also notice that the solutions to "not having a realistic alternative to owning and running a car" aren't to provide those alternatives, but to make driving easier and cheaper.
Bang on.
The lesson from this should be that public transport and active travel facilities are inadequate, not that cars should get even more funding/priority/freebies.
Posted 6 years ago # -
FTFT (Disclaimer, as per EEN policy I haven't proofread this):
MOTORISTS have faced an inflation busting £2 million decrease in their parking subsidies from the council in Edinburgh, the RAC is claiming.
There are now fears that drivers are being heavily subsidised by the cash-strapped local authority, after Scottish drivers continue to pay below the market rate to leave their cars on council property, according figures obtained through Freedom of Information.
Edinburgh is Scotland’s biggest looser from parking, with only £26.7m income in 2016/17, which compares poorly to the market rate for rental on the acres of prime city centre land dedicated to private property storage. The subsidy includes on-street and off-street charges, as well as residential parking permits. It also includes paying for parking attendants to ensure that the council can continue to claim they are doing everything they can to stop people breaking the rules.
A Reduced Air Club spokesman said: “Motorists in Scotland must feel pretty happy to still be subsidised despite the councils continueing to have gaps in their budgets.
“This must be particularly galling for the majority of commuters who don't bring their cars into the city centre on a daily basis or indeed realise that owning a car is in many cases is an unnesecary a luxury which can in many cases also lead to garage bills which would have been avoided had they simply walked to work (some of their journeys are extended to almost the length of my sentences).
“We know from research that eight out of ten motorists find that once they have decided to include the cost of running a car in their budget the incremental costs of driving are so heavily subsised that it is often cheaper to drive than use public transport.”
The overall cash decrease in subsidies is sitting at around 5% a year while this is above inflation it remains a provision to encourage private motoring.
The subsidy by councils for on and off street parking charges dropped by £3.7m for 2016/17. The Capital is streamlining payment for subsidised parking by using RingGo. The phone app overtook cash payments for the first time, as £9.3m was paid by drivers electronically in Edinburgh.
The city’s Transport Convener, insisted that parking fines are “critical” to keep streets as safe and accessible. She also clarified that in the name of balance various areas of the city such as have been left unpatrolled, this includes Leith Walk. They are also no longer refering to pavements instead moving to roadside parking strips in all council communications.
A Tory local government spokesman said: “Scotland’s motorists continue to put up with terrible road surfaces, delays due to congestion and roadworks. This is despite alternative public transport being available in many areas.
“The SNP must fund local councils properly so that they can provide essential services. This should include adjusting parking costs bring demand under control so that those needing to use the road network are not unduly hampered by those abandoning their private motor vehicles on public land.”
Director of Policy and Research at IaMSmart said: "Maintaining current subsidy levels for private motorists cannot be justified unless the overall service has improved for non drivers. In reality it has not, with no major improvements to public spaces, nor reduction in space allocated to moving single occupancy vehicles from one parking place to another.
Posted 6 years ago #
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