To think we need a congestion charge in every major city?

[impossiblecat]

The traffic is getting insane.

It's dangerous and bad for everyone's health.

With the exception of the disabled and people who live within the limits of said congestion zone, obviously.

I'd have all money raised ploughed into public transport.

It's also easy to say "well you chose to live where you do (so tough shit, pay up)" but housing choices aren't made in a vacuum.

Exactly!

If you're born and bred in a city, you already have an advantage - you're already living near a school, you're already registered with a packed GP practise and a local dental surgery, for example. You can get help from the local council if you need to, or you can stay with friends, family or parents.

If you're born and bred in a rural community, you don't have any of that. You already travel miles to your local school, shop and hospital because that's the reality of rural living. Rural accommodation is cheaper so you buy the house nearby because you don't want to move hundreds of miles from your friends and family - maybe you already have a good job and a partner and a child, so you naturally want to stay near your hometown.

It's not as easy as "well, move if you don't want to pay the CC". Move where? With what money? To what accommodation?

People move all the time

People move all the time

Yes, but generally not to places where they can't afford to pay the rent!

Government policy on schools is crazy. Education needs to be returned to LA control and children need to be sent to their nearest school, preferably one they can walk to.

Except that won't suit all the snouts in the trough that make money out of education. Which may (or may not) be related to the snouts in the trough that make money out of public transport. Which may (or may not) be related to the snouts in the trough that make money out of housing.

You'd need a lot of heads on spikes before things changed.

Did I mention the snouts in the trough that make money from healthcare ? And social care ?

Adaline- some of the reasons you gave for not moving were to stay near family, I'm saying that plenty of people move away from family. I have lived both rurally and in the city, and have been poor and well off, and I certainly do not have an idealised view of life, but i do believe we all have to take some responsibility for our own lives rather than putting the blame elsewhere

DGRosetti - I know that the vested financial interests won’t like it. That’s why we need a really left wing and green government which focuses on health and well being.

Don’t know where it’s coming from...

IMO not many people indulge in car journeys for no purpose

I think lots of people do, they are lazy and won't walk or cycle for shorter journeys, even in nice weather. For example, I walk to cycle to my railway station. It is about 22 minutes walk or 8 minutes to cycle. Lots of people drive a shorter distance. Years ago I drove to my local station and it was TEN minutes walk away! I can barely believe it now. I decided it was too far to walk. Because I was a lazy so and so who was a stone at least heavier than I am now.

Not everyone is disabled or has a reason to drive. Lots of people are lazy. From time to time I am, or was, one of them.

masterandmargarita

The other reason for choosing here was walking distance to primary. We got none of our choices, instead being given a school that required a drive.

What would you have liked me to do to solve that issue, because believe me appealing on distance didn’t get us anywhere

Nope not your fault - carry on

I’m trying. She’s now trying to commute to school by train. From aforementioned crap station. It’s so crap that I’m driving her to another station so she stands a chance of getting there.

Less cars would be ideal. Better public transport is essential first.

So saying the op’s post is ridiculous and unworkable means you don’t care about the environment or do anything.

I have a Cst 6 car, car share, kids who travel by bus and a partner who cycles the 13 mile journey to work when he can alongside working from home a couple of days a week.

UserX

Yes everything is the cyclists fault.

Didn't say that. But whatever.

where the conflict comes in is that if it's all stick with no carrot

FFS how is clean air you can breathe not a carrot??

I wonder if everyone saying people should pay would be so keen if it was a simple increase in tax to subsidise better public transport. Or even an increase in council tax given that the city dewellers would be benefitting?

There are a lot of people here talking about the poverty of other people, not themselves

Well OP, I am underemployed and No Fixed Abode. My current address is in a tiny village. The nearest shop is four miles away down an unlit lane, the nearest bus stop is two miles away in the opposite direction, again down an unlit lane. I have to use my car, but I use it sparingly as driving is so expensive.

Whenever my address is near a town my car doesn't get used. I walk everywhere, even when it's raining. I don't use my car out of laziness, more out of necessity.

As for there being 'no poverty in the commuter belt/greenbelt' what tosh. I was in my nearest town (which happens to be in the commuter belt) and saw that somebody has set up a shelter so he can sleep out of the weather. This is a 2 minute walk from the town centre. In Milton Keynes there are two tent villages less than 1/4 of a mile from the biggest shopping mall in the city.

People move all the time
Lol yep, because everybody has an unlimited fund, and people do not surivive on public housing

for there being 'no poverty in the commuter belt/greenbelt' what tosh. I was in my nearest town (which happens to be in the commuter belt) and saw that somebody has set up a shelter so he can sleep out of the weather
There are people inthe big town by me sleeping in tents too

I wonder if everyone saying people should pay would be so keen if it was a simple increase in tax to subsidise better public transport. Or even an increase in council tax given that the city dewellers would be benefitting?

I would happily pay an extra tax for public transport and cycling facilities.

Perhaps if wages went up and we had an actual living wage.

It's already expensive to live but yes why not add another bill on top

Congestion charges might stop some people driving into a city but a small minority.

Those who need to pay it either suck it up as they are rich enough to afford it, pass on the charge directly to the customer through their fees, ask for a pay rise to compensate or claim it back from their company who then pass this cost on in their charges for goods and services to everyone who uses them.

People often do what is the most convenient / cheapest/ easiest thing for their situation.

Some people live quite rurally because it is between 2 cities/ big towns and near a bypass or motorway. Many couples have 1 person work in 1 city or town and 1 in another.

I can’t understand why people are arguing so vehemently AGAINST fewer cars on the road and lower pollution levels. Can someone explain?

I've read all 347 posts, and haven't seen a single one "arguing so vehemently AGAINST fewer cars on the road and lower pollution levels.". You are making things up there.
What people are saying is - though it is a lovely ideal to reduce pollution levels there are many, many practical barriers which mean it is rarely that simple a choice. No point me repeating them all.

Hmmm I don't know seems like just another way to make your average person pay for something they can do anything about

Public Transport near me is rubbish I live just outside of the city I work in . I physically cannot get the dc to breakfast club and get to work on time without driving . Even then it's close most days . I'm a single parent but given the cost of living these days I don't know anyone in real life who can afford to be a sahp even in a couple so that doesn't change much either in terms or the whole getting kids to school and to work on time thing .

A congestion charge would just feel like another kick in the teeth over here

Can't do *