Fuel prices petition

sar011279

I hope I'm ok to post this, have noticed only 3000 ish people have signed!
ps confirmation link went into my junk mail.

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Lowerduty30/

Ken68

I think you will find, sar, that the government is committed to less car use and more public transport.
So the trend will be for more tax on fuel .Note also free bus, as in the case of over 60's bus pass. That alone must have taken thousands of cars off the roads.
I also hear that youngsters will soon have free bus travel, probably to encourage them not to buy a car in the first place.
All good moves to save the planet.

sar011279

Yes but not enough. I live about ½ mile from our town centre, I have a 4 year old, 2 year old and a 11 week old baby. Walking into town is not an option for may reasons, obviously kids can't walk that far, alot of the time it's raining and the pavements are littered with dog mess. There is a bus that runs into town from the end of my road, it costs £3.50 return - not exactly cheap if I need to go into town 3-4 times a week, also this would be a logistical nightmare. Using the car is easier and cheaper - so far.
The cost of fuel does not only effect how many litres we get for a pound it also effects the cost of living generally. Most things are transported around the country in vehicles that require fuel, this fuel is ever increasing in price and hence the costs are then passed to us, the consumer.
Surely making everybody greener would be better dealt with by reducing bus and train fares and increasing public transport, not by just increasing taxes on fuel.

Ken68

Yes agree, sar, seems wrong that you don't have a free bus pass, especially as a nearby bus stop.
Maybe the guvmint should bring in a system of exchanging vehicle licences for a free bus pass.

sar011279

I'd def use more public transport if it was cheaper, more reliable and there were more direct routes rather than the bus going through every tiny village in Somerset and taking 1 ½ hours to get somewhere that takes 20 mins by car!

Optimist

Signed it not that it will make much difference

netlang

I think the government are possibly playing a reverse psychology game with us because if the majority of people actually got out of their cars and replaced their journeys by public transport instead there would be a huge shortfall in the income they get from Diesel, Petrol, VED, speed cameras, parking cameras and various other tolls so they would then be forced to increase taxation in other areas to make up the shortfall.

I heard on the news last week that one train company were putting up their prices to discourage passengers as too many people are using their train services resulting in the trains being overcrowded which was a safety issue.

Optimist

If you consider the way society has changed over the last few years it is totally infeasible for many people to do without cars. Local shops closed. Local post offices closed. Out of town supermarkets.

Public transport needs a complete overhaul. It should be reasonably priced, there must be a regular service which can be trusted to be on time.

Currently government doesn't seem to have any transport plan other than tax motorists and hope things work out

Ken68

Heavy stuff should go by rail and canal, and police should pull cars in not just for MOT checks but fining them for unnecessary journeys and advice on using public transport.
Car adverts should be gradually phased out as happened with tobacco selling. We need to save the planet.

Optimist

Ken68 wrote: »

Heavy stuff should go by rail and canal, and police should pull cars in not just for MOT checks but fining them for unnecessary journeys and advice on using public transport.
Car adverts should be gradually phased out as happened with tobacco selling. We need to save the planet.

Could you define unnecessary journeys ?

Ken68

If cars are priced out of the market, and fuel prices sky high, the users themselves will determine which journey is necessary.
Not sure what would happen to well orf polluters who don't care anyway. Crush their car perhaps.