Light at the end of the tunnel
05-01-06, 11:09 AM
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Dubito ergo sum.
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Light at the end of the tunnel
Great interview with one of our city councillors on the 11 o'clock news last night.
Clive Doucet was in a t-shirt and jeans, with a torn knee. I liked him right away! He walks and cycles as his primary means of transportation. He is proposing a toll on cars driven downtown. The anchor interviewing him asked all the expect questions, like, "What if someone says, I already pay taxes, why should I have to pay to get downtown?" The answer, "You don't have to pay the toll to use the bus." Good for him.
Clive Doucet was in a t-shirt and jeans, with a torn knee. I liked him right away! He walks and cycles as his primary means of transportation. He is proposing a toll on cars driven downtown. The anchor interviewing him asked all the expect questions, like, "What if someone says, I already pay taxes, why should I have to pay to get downtown?" The answer, "You don't have to pay the toll to use the bus." Good for him.
05-01-06, 12:50 PM
#2
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I hope it passes and spreads to other cities. It's going to be a hard sell because people feel entitled to drive whenever and wherever thay want.
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05-01-06, 02:13 PM
#3
Dubito ergo sum.
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Originally Posted by Roody
I hope it passes and spreads to other cities. It's going to be a hard sell because people feel entitled to drive whenever and wherever thay want.
We have the downtown for it - apparently only 14 points allow entry/exit to downtown, several of those along the same freeway.
05-01-06, 02:28 PM
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"You don't have to pay the toll to use the bus."
Either one is a good argument if interpreted correctly:
Firstly, the government has no obligation to provide bus service for free to people just because they pay taxes, nor does it have to allow people to drive on a particular road for free. Secondly, buses are a good way to cheaply get people through downtown areas, and of course the government isn't going to charge a toll for a passenger riding a bus downtown.
05-07-06, 12:14 AM
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Great. I think London has a toll for the cars going downtown. Oh, and Bogotá´s mayor also rides his bike to his office.
Ricardo
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05-07-06, 06:27 PM
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Originally Posted by Ricardo
Great. I think London has a toll for the cars going downtown.
Ricardo
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05-08-06, 12:07 PM
#7
Lanky Lass
Adgrant--is there a reason given for the refusal?
East Hill
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05-08-06, 09:15 PM
#8
Arrgghh me hearties!
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Where I live, they are doing this pretty well.
1. All public transport within the city centre (ie. about a 5 or 10km radius) is free. I can hop on any bus or train and it is free until I leave the city limits.
2. All of the main traffic and train arteries into the city have an adjacent bike path (usually good quality). These stretch well into the suburbs - about 25-50km in each direction
3. There are extra rules and regulations about end-of-trip (showers, lockers, bike racks) for office buildings in the CBD
4. While riding the train, each carriage has a particular spot to keep your bicycle.
5. There are no tolls on any of the roads, but of course cycling and public transport is heavily subsidised.
It seems to work pretty well. I do see dozens of cyclists each day, and LOTS of people take public transport.
1. All public transport within the city centre (ie. about a 5 or 10km radius) is free. I can hop on any bus or train and it is free until I leave the city limits.
2. All of the main traffic and train arteries into the city have an adjacent bike path (usually good quality). These stretch well into the suburbs - about 25-50km in each direction
3. There are extra rules and regulations about end-of-trip (showers, lockers, bike racks) for office buildings in the CBD
4. While riding the train, each carriage has a particular spot to keep your bicycle.
5. There are no tolls on any of the roads, but of course cycling and public transport is heavily subsidised.
It seems to work pretty well. I do see dozens of cyclists each day, and LOTS of people take public transport.
05-09-06, 05:49 AM
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Adgrant--is there a reason given for the refusal?
05-09-06, 10:35 AM
#10
Sophomoric Member
Originally Posted by damian_
Where I live, they are doing this pretty well.
1. All public transport within the city centre (ie. about a 5 or 10km radius) is free. I can hop on any bus or train and it is free until I leave the city limits.
2. All of the main traffic and train arteries into the city have an adjacent bike path (usually good quality). These stretch well into the suburbs - about 25-50km in each direction
3. There are extra rules and regulations about end-of-trip (showers, lockers, bike racks) for office buildings in the CBD
4. While riding the train, each carriage has a particular spot to keep your bicycle.
5. There are no tolls on any of the roads, but of course cycling and public transport is heavily subsidised.
It seems to work pretty well. I do see dozens of cyclists each day, and LOTS of people take public transport.
1. All public transport within the city centre (ie. about a 5 or 10km radius) is free. I can hop on any bus or train and it is free until I leave the city limits.
2. All of the main traffic and train arteries into the city have an adjacent bike path (usually good quality). These stretch well into the suburbs - about 25-50km in each direction
3. There are extra rules and regulations about end-of-trip (showers, lockers, bike racks) for office buildings in the CBD
4. While riding the train, each carriage has a particular spot to keep your bicycle.
5. There are no tolls on any of the roads, but of course cycling and public transport is heavily subsidised.
It seems to work pretty well. I do see dozens of cyclists each day, and LOTS of people take public transport.
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05-09-06, 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
This sounds great. Where do you live? I'm pretty sure it's not in the US.
https://www.westernaustralia.com/
Our Department for Planning and Infrastructure has a cycling division:
https://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling/
They do things like build bike paths, print brochures on commuting or shopping by bike, even produce free maps:
https://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/cycling/1518.asp
... and a program called "TravelSmart" to promote alternatives to cars
https://www.dpi.wa.gov.au/travelsmart/
We're still a heavily car-centric city, but cycling is relatively easy here.... unless you want to travel (the nearest city is a few thousand kilometres away, across the other side of a massive desert).
05-10-06, 01:39 PM
#12
Sophomoric Member
Originally Posted by damian_
Perth, Western Australia
We're still a heavily car-centric city, but cycling is relatively easy here.... unless you want to travel (the nearest city is a few thousand kilometres away, across the other side of a massive desert).
We're still a heavily car-centric city, but cycling is relatively easy here.... unless you want to travel (the nearest city is a few thousand kilometres away, across the other side of a massive desert).
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