Car costs pushing more into poverty (From Daily Echo)
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Car costs pushing more into poverty
3:59pm Friday 14th September 2012 in Environment
By Sally Churchward, Senior Feature Writer
Car costs pushing more into poverty
THE rising cost of running a car is pushing local people into poverty and making it difficult for them to get to work.
That’s according to a new report by charity Sustrans, backed by Save the Children and Age UK.
The report, released today, says that more than four and a half million people across south-east England are at risk of being cut off from work and healthcare because of the rising costs of owning and running a car, and a lack of alternatives, with 90,000 at serious risk of being cut off from society.
Residents on the Isle of Wight are worst hit, with 15 per cent facing a serious risk of debt from accessing everyday goods and services, while 170,000 Southampton residents – of a population of 240,000 – are feeling the pinch from the cost of getting around. The report, Locked Out, calls on ministers to invest in public transport and safe walking and cycling routes to give people alternatives to increasingly expensive car ownership.
Simon Pratt, Sustrans regional director in the south-east, said: “For decades ministers have made decisions based on everyone having easy access to a car, forcing many of us into car ownership we can barely afford and leaving others stranded. We need a transport system that works for everyone.”
Southampton cycling trainer Dilys Gartside, a member of Southampton Cycling Campaign, believes safety concerns are the primary reason more people don’t use bikes.
She says it is important Southampton has more pro-cycling councillors and the police take action against drivers who speed. She adds that Southampton city council should be applauded for incorporating cycle routes into some of its new road developments but that more could be done, especially on existing routes.
“We have lots of little cycle routes that don’t lead you anywhere except into danger – some routes suddenly stop,” she says.
Dilys adds that reducing the speed limit to 20 on most residential roads, as has been done in Portsmouth, would also make a huge difference.
Comments(11)
bigfella777
says...
4:42pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Too many weak spined,obese people relying on fossil fuels because they are lazy.
Ginger_cyclist
says...
6:50pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Vonnie
says...
7:41pm Fri 14 Sep 12
bigfella777 wrote:You really are a bigoted mutt. Or are deliberately being provocative. Many people who live miles outside connurbations actually work in them, but there is no or little public transport nowadays to get them there and back home. Ditto if they want to visit friends or relations.
Anything that drives more cars off the road the better.Increase the cost of fuel,insurance and vehicle excise,we owe it to future generations.Ride a bicycle its free transport,good for you and good for the planet. Too many weak spined,obese people relying on fossil fuels because they are lazy.
That is where your bile should be aimed. ie. the provision of better public transport links, so that people do not need to use private transport.
As for cycling, forget it, until decent cycle lanes are provided as a matter of course. I am not fat or lazy but my car is my lifeline, preventing me from becoming completely isolated in my own home.
downfader
says...
8:22pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Vonnie wrote:I dont think we need to raise the cost of fuel.. thats already going to happen given that today MORE unrest has been reported in the Middle East.
bigfella777 wrote:You really are a bigoted mutt. Or are deliberately being provocative. Many people who live miles outside connurbations actually work in them, but there is no or little public transport nowadays to get them there and back home. Ditto if they want to visit friends or relations.
Anything that drives more cars off the road the better.Increase the cost of fuel,insurance and vehicle excise,we owe it to future generations.Ride a bicycle its free transport,good for you and good for the planet. Too many weak spined,obese people relying on fossil fuels because they are lazy.
That is where your bile should be aimed. ie. the provision of better public transport links, so that people do not need to use private transport.
As for cycling, forget it, until decent cycle lanes are provided as a matter of course. I am not fat or lazy but my car is my lifeline, preventing me from becoming completely isolated in my own home.
I completely agree that public transport should be improved, but with this coalition government - it isnt going to happen. Public transport also mostly relies on fossil fuels.
Torchie1
says...
8:45pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Vonnie wrote:If the huge amount of taxation generated by motor vehicles was suddenly denied to the Exchequer, Fatfella would be able to whine about the increased levels of taxation that would have to be levied elsewhere or the massive cuts in public spending that would have to be made.
bigfella777 wrote:You really are a bigoted mutt. Or are deliberately being provocative. Many people who live miles outside connurbations actually work in them, but there is no or little public transport nowadays to get them there and back home. Ditto if they want to visit friends or relations.
Anything that drives more cars off the road the better.Increase the cost of fuel,insurance and vehicle excise,we owe it to future generations.Ride a bicycle its free transport,good for you and good for the planet. Too many weak spined,obese people relying on fossil fuels because they are lazy.
That is where your bile should be aimed. ie. the provision of better public transport links, so that people do not need to use private transport.
As for cycling, forget it, until decent cycle lanes are provided as a matter of course. I am not fat or lazy but my car is my lifeline, preventing me from becoming completely isolated in my own home.
Huffter
says...
10:25pm Fri 14 Sep 12
richieroo
says...
11:01pm Fri 14 Sep 12
Huffter wrote:Well good for you!.
I seem to have managed to survive 53 years without driving a car.
Ginger_cyclist
says...
12:44am Sat 15 Sep 12
downfader wrote:Also it won't be long before people are priced out of public transport too, as fuel costs rise, so do their fares because they have to pass those extra costs onto us, the end user, at some point, just another reason to have electric or hydrogen powered transport and more bikes on the road, once all vehicles don't produce emissions, no one will have to pay for emissions, instead we'd probably end up being taxed on how much power your electric motors have and bicycles would still not have to pay for it. Isn't it strange how when the infernal combustion engine was invented that people thought it would kill the bicycle? Yet here we are and bicycles are going to be the death of the infernal combustion engine.
Vonnie wrote:I dont think we need to raise the cost of fuel.. thats already going to happen given that today MORE unrest has been reported in the Middle East.
bigfella777 wrote:You really are a bigoted mutt. Or are deliberately being provocative. Many people who live miles outside connurbations actually work in them, but there is no or little public transport nowadays to get them there and back home. Ditto if they want to visit friends or relations.
Anything that drives more cars off the road the better.Increase the cost of fuel,insurance and vehicle excise,we owe it to future generations.Ride a bicycle its free transport,good for you and good for the planet. Too many weak spined,obese people relying on fossil fuels because they are lazy.
That is where your bile should be aimed. ie. the provision of better public transport links, so that people do not need to use private transport.
As for cycling, forget it, until decent cycle lanes are provided as a matter of course. I am not fat or lazy but my car is my lifeline, preventing me from becoming completely isolated in my own home.
I completely agree that public transport should be improved, but with this coalition government - it isnt going to happen. Public transport also mostly relies on fossil fuels.
Torchie1
says...
10:42am Sat 15 Sep 12
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Deep down you know that you're stuck with your bicycle because you can't afford to drive a car and as the costs rise, the possibility of car ownership becomes more an even more distant dream. On the positive side you are releasing one more space on the road for another driver.
downfader wrote:Also it won't be long before people are priced out of public transport too, as fuel costs rise, so do their fares because they have to pass those extra costs onto us, the end user, at some point, just another reason to have electric or hydrogen powered transport and more bikes on the road, once all vehicles don't produce emissions, no one will have to pay for emissions, instead we'd probably end up being taxed on how much power your electric motors have and bicycles would still not have to pay for it. Isn't it strange how when the infernal combustion engine was invented that people thought it would kill the bicycle? Yet here we are and bicycles are going to be the death of the infernal combustion engine.
Vonnie wrote:I dont think we need to raise the cost of fuel.. thats already going to happen given that today MORE unrest has been reported in the Middle East.
bigfella777 wrote:You really are a bigoted mutt. Or are deliberately being provocative. Many people who live miles outside connurbations actually work in them, but there is no or little public transport nowadays to get them there and back home. Ditto if they want to visit friends or relations.
Anything that drives more cars off the road the better.Increase the cost of fuel,insurance and vehicle excise,we owe it to future generations.Ride a bicycle its free transport,good for you and good for the planet. Too many weak spined,obese people relying on fossil fuels because they are lazy.
That is where your bile should be aimed. ie. the provision of better public transport links, so that people do not need to use private transport.
As for cycling, forget it, until decent cycle lanes are provided as a matter of course. I am not fat or lazy but my car is my lifeline, preventing me from becoming completely isolated in my own home.
I completely agree that public transport should be improved, but with this coalition government - it isnt going to happen. Public transport also mostly relies on fossil fuels.
Ginger_cyclist
says...
11:31am Sat 15 Sep 12
Torchie1 wrote:No, admittedly I can't afford a car yet because I haven't got a job but even if I had a car and a job, I'd still ride my bike more than drive because it's quicker and cheaper in rush hour traffic.
Ginger_cyclist wrote:Deep down you know that you're stuck with your bicycle because you can't afford to drive a car and as the costs rise, the possibility of car ownership becomes more an even more distant dream. On the positive side you are releasing one more space on the road for another driver.
downfader wrote:Also it won't be long before people are priced out of public transport too, as fuel costs rise, so do their fares because they have to pass those extra costs onto us, the end user, at some point, just another reason to have electric or hydrogen powered transport and more bikes on the road, once all vehicles don't produce emissions, no one will have to pay for emissions, instead we'd probably end up being taxed on how much power your electric motors have and bicycles would still not have to pay for it. Isn't it strange how when the infernal combustion engine was invented that people thought it would kill the bicycle? Yet here we are and bicycles are going to be the death of the infernal combustion engine.
Vonnie wrote:I dont think we need to raise the cost of fuel.. thats already going to happen given that today MORE unrest has been reported in the Middle East.
bigfella777 wrote:You really are a bigoted mutt. Or are deliberately being provocative. Many people who live miles outside connurbations actually work in them, but there is no or little public transport nowadays to get them there and back home. Ditto if they want to visit friends or relations.
Anything that drives more cars off the road the better.Increase the cost of fuel,insurance and vehicle excise,we owe it to future generations.Ride a bicycle its free transport,good for you and good for the planet. Too many weak spined,obese people relying on fossil fuels because they are lazy.
That is where your bile should be aimed. ie. the provision of better public transport links, so that people do not need to use private transport.
As for cycling, forget it, until decent cycle lanes are provided as a matter of course. I am not fat or lazy but my car is my lifeline, preventing me from becoming completely isolated in my own home.
I completely agree that public transport should be improved, but with this coalition government - it isnt going to happen. Public transport also mostly relies on fossil fuels.
Solomon's Boot says...
4:29pm Fri 14 Sep 12