To be concerned about this....Oxford **You tube channel from Katie Hopkins** Title edited by MNHQ

[TarasHarp55]

fb.watch/hOHYM5ObFs/

Should we be concerned about this? It all seems very "Hunger Games", or is it a good thing? Would like to hear opinions. I don't normally like KH but she does seem to have a point.

They are not. It's about volume of traffic as well so they are subject to the same controls.

Do you think electric cars don't cause pollution? They obviously do, it's just that the pollution is further away.

I imagine one of the main goals of this is about reducing reliance on cars for short journeys full stop, regardless of where the pollution is generated.

Is that for both bus journeys (out and return) and onward bus journeys? Which one is it, if you don't mind me asking (might have to drive further to get the saving!)

Our closest park and ride is more expensive. Having said that, as a one off it's probably ok but every day for work adds up. £20 a week, £80 a month (roughly) is quite a lot, no? Plus the time lost standing around waiting for buses, meaning that you have to pay for extra childcare to cover the uncertainty compared to driving (£4.50 per day for after school club). My 13 year old has to pay on buses from our town. I didn't know under 16s are free from the park and ride, that's good at least.

I just think it is like something out of the Hunger Games. In years to come it is obvious there will be a divide of ‘richer’ and ‘poorer’ zones, and all that goes with it.

I see the whole country being like this eventually, all of us being controlled. I do agree with Covid being a test as to how we would react. Don’t get me wrong, I totally believe covid is real etc, I am CEV and still a recluse in a way, but I do think it was a great way for the powers that be to test control..

I know electric cars cause pollution thank you.

But reduction of car use has to have some sort of goal, not just reducing car use itself. Most of these policies are based on electric cars being sold/seen as cleaner and therefore I asked the question.

I dont have an electric car.

I think if you credit our government with that level of organisation and awareness, you are sadly deluded.

Never attribute malice to what could be explained by incompetence...

So, some people will have to drive out to the ring road instead of taking the shorter route?

Presumably increasing total car journey miles by quite a lot.

How is this improving pollution, exactly? Increasing it and shifting it elsewhere, yes, reducing it, no.

If it went along with much better and cheaper buses it might work but have been waiting for those for 10 years and nothing doing, if anything it's got worse, so won't hold my breath.

Oxford ring road is utterly grim at rush hour already, so it's going to be very difficult I think.

Yep, far worse traffic jams at rush hour on the ring road - increasing pollution.

Are they going to monitor this at all to see if total emissions go up or down? I'd bet good money on the former. It will be in the cheaper areas of the city where the negative impacts will be seen, so the richest living in expensive houses right in the centre will benefit. Maybe they only care about air pollution where rich people live.

@Falalalalalalaetc I think they do only care about air pollution where rich people live.

its like the fucking idiots building office buildings for 500 people, with 12 parking spaces and nowhere near decent public transport

I know there were some modern developments in Cambridge/shire, where the current council offices are, apparently there are huge areas of the local area that you cant get to this place without going in a car!! No cycle lanes even though its newly built and the route involves quite dangerous fast A roads

The rich people like it and they’re what matters apparently. Never mind about shop workers, hospitality workers, cleaners etc etc who can’t afford to live in Oxford centre but have the cheek to work there.

It's the 15 minute city idea

The basic concept is that everything you need, shops, schools, doctors and green spaces is within 15 minutes walk.

If this is true then I think it’s an amazing idea!

You think they'll actually create these in advance? No, they'll just do stuff like this.

I haven't visited your link, but find it worrying and concerning that all of your posts are about you being worried and concerned.

MincePiesAreMyJam a certain nearby RAF town...

Maybe because there's a lot to be concerned about?

You have a good point, but the way I see it is that this ‘plan’ has been thought out for years.

Open your eyes

@AreOttersJustWetCats

I was given the target at my personal performance review. My manager said it was a target set for all employees. I am supposed to show how over the course of the year I have reduced my driving. My manager agreed it was an impossible target to achieve given the current LTN's.

This was a return from Thornhill. Bus
was every 20 minutes. Perhaps they do a season ticket if you use it daily which are normally vastly cheaper.

Oh and I was amazed how car free the city centre was. Was pretty amazing to see what a relatively car free city centre looks and feels like. The place was buzzing.

@NewPapaGuinea It was Christmas. Every City Centre is busy then.

Presumably there’s a GP, NHS dentist, good primary and secondary schools in every ‘zone’! Hmm.

Well if I go to Thornhill it's about 5 miles extra via the ring road but maybe that would be cheaper overall! (more polluting obviously, might be worth it if the buses are genuinely every 20 mins though as would rather be driving for 40 mins than waiting for bus plus the obvious childcare issues when the buses are incredibly unreliable)