markybov
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Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 21, 2000, 08:21
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Right people, take a look at this:
http://speed-trap.co.uk/boycott/index.html
It appears that the increasing high price of petrol is stirring into action the accelerator-pedal gang. They want to boycott the petrol pumps on the first day of every month until the government acts and brings down prices again.
Now, granted, we DO pay 614% tax on fuel in this country (far higher than anywhere else), but I for one don't really give a shit how expensive fuel is.
People simply HAVE TO stop driving so much.
It'll be a shame if driving were to become a "privilege" of the rich, but at the end of the day, surely the less people that use their cars, the better?
Or is it naive to think that high prices of fuel will stop anyone from driving?
Have a read of the website - there's obviously a lot of strong feeling about this, I've already had a couple of people emailing me links to it.
What are people's opinions on this?
Oh, and HAPPY SOLSTICE by the way!
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markybov
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 21, 2000, 10:17
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I don't think the government give a monkeys about people driving less.
They reckon that people will go ahead and pay whatever they want to charge for the pleasure of driving.
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morfe
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 21, 2000, 13:52
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Disable surplus cars. Render them lifeless, as their destructive effect on life and lives warrants preventative action. As they rust, let us ponder on why it ever came to this. It must never happen again.
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Vox Phantom
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 21, 2000, 15:42
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Well - it's a well meaning (at best), but stupid and misguided idea.
The oil companies really don't care on what day you buy your petrol, as long as you buy it. The only way to really make them take notice would be to use less - not fill your tank the day before or after the "no petrol" day. They don't receive daily revenues, anyway, so chances are they won't even know if there is a dip on any given day. Also - I'm not an economist, so I may be wrong - but I don't think buying less of the stuff would drive it's price down, unfortunately. The people who run these companies like the level of revenue they've grown accustomed to, and I imagine that if they sell less petrol they will have to charge more for it to maintain their revenues. They're no more scared of this than a cigarette company is of a "no buying smokes" day. If you're an addict, you'll be back.
If it makes you feel better to schedule your purchases around these days, go ahead. However, if you really want to make a difference, ride a bike.
On the other hand, I see nothing wrong with increasing prices. Hopefully more people WILL get out of their cars, live closer to their jobs. I also see nothing wrong with taxes on the stuff. It's funny that people are willing to pay more by volume for bottled water, or Coca Cola... and are more incensed that the money goes to the government who build and operate the roads, buses, subways, schools and maintain parks, etc, than that it goes to a corporation in sheer profit. Most of these same people who feel good about this "protest" never vote or run for office or try to really affect any change in the world. They just want to feel good about themselves.
(For more on this recurring internet nonsense: http://urbanlegends.about.com/science/urbanlegends/library/weekly/aa030100a.htm
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Shrimp
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 21, 2000, 16:57
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We/I/You problably all have at least one car. If you thing about your journeys and whether they are really necessary they you are in a minority. Cars will therefore never go away.
The Government and more importantly Europe has the power to tell the car manufacturers that their cars will only be allowed on the roads if they are green, both in construction and emmissions etc, that they are a certain weight and size and that they run as efficiently as possible on a thimble full of fuel.
There is no hope of any Government or Europe ever doing this.
All the technology is in place for it to happen.
It is not a winner of your vote!
The only recent initiative that has had a impact albeit very minor is the introduction of a lower road tax for low cc engines. Problem is though that these cars are probably the worst offenders in pollution terms.
Fuel prices should be increased until a level is reached whereby it forces people to think of fuel efficiency as a deciding factor (this is still not the case).
A tax should also be placed on the owners of fuel inefficent and environmentally unfriendly vehicles.
This could be achieved very easily by every driver owning their own number plate which is passed from car to car.
Public transport should be free.
Bikes should be provided free.
Cherish
ps Try walking!
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Shrimp
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 22, 2000, 12:22
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Blimey that lot don't half get worked up!
Why can't they just admit that they are so in love with their cars that they cannot live without them.
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lynn
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 22, 2000, 20:09
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I love my car.She's a 1968 vw camper, in a beautiful bluey-purple colour. She's sex-on-wheels. Sorry, that's not very helpful, is it? But I do cycle more than I drive.
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Shrimp
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 22, 2000, 22:11
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So much for freedom of choice!
I have been banned from posting or subscribing to http://speed-trap.co.uk/boycott/index.html
Cherish
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markybov
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 23, 2000, 07:19
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You're joking!
I was gonna get onto that today.... right let's have some fun...
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Shrimp
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Re: Road culture gets pricey....
Jun 23, 2000, 12:18
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It didn't stop me posting as a different address though!
Have fun.
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