So as normal I turn up late but can I really be blamed? I’ve had 2 stand by the side of a blustery road with drizzle stinging my eyes and the loud road of lorries in my ear as no bus turned up for over 40minutes. All attempts of looking reasonable have gone to the wind; this can not be my fault. Being one of the very few (well it felt that way) who did not learn to drive immediately after turning 17, I rely heavily upon public transport or the generosity of others.
On those nasty days in which it seems like an eternity stood within the cold, hopping within my own car and zooming off seems like such an attractive alternative. But is it really with the household spending increasing along with the volume of traffic, it is apparent that people are prepared to fork out on the huge financial commitment of a car. This is despite the constant bombardment of information of why we should not be using our own private transport.
The Government are continually on at us as to how it is affecting the environment such as the fact that; Carbon Dioxide (C02) admissions have increased 4% between 1990 and 2006. But what does that mean to everyone? Well really nothing there is no immediate effects felt by the individual person other than getting to the next place and splashing the losers who stand and the bus stops in the cold. The only price paid for not thinking of this gas given off is the pinch of the pocket from the Government, with high fuel prices and higher tax rates, though what is a few extra pounds to people who have already paid out a fortune to drive around!
But the Government have recently come up with applying the thought of money to encourage lower admissions rate, with the pitch of: “save one months fuel over a year”. This pitch is not encouraging the use of alternatives as they don’t work if there is already the luxury of a car only to lower the damage the individuals current behaviours cause. This is sustainability as it’s not changing the individuals’ behaviour of using a car but making it less wasteful of limited resources.
This can be done through a variety of ways such as; greener cars, driving smoother, shifting to a higher gear at the right time, getting in the car and going, switching the engine off when not in motion, having the correct tire pressure, sticking to the speed limit, removing unnecessary weight and only using the air conditioning and electrical devices when needed.
But is this really going to happen? As like dusting the bike off from deep in the garage it takes active commitment such as keep a petrol car at 2500rpms, as driving at 37mph in 3rd gear uses 25% more fuel than in 5th gear, or it takes an investment of a new greener car. Only time will tell but as more people take to the roads whether they are ready to step back and think of an alternative.
On those nasty days in which it seems like an eternity stood within the cold, hopping within my own car and zooming off seems like such an attractive alternative. But is it really with the household spending increasing along with the volume of traffic, it is apparent that people are prepared to fork out on the huge financial commitment of a car. This is despite the constant bombardment of information of why we should not be using our own private transport.
The Government are continually on at us as to how it is affecting the environment such as the fact that; Carbon Dioxide (C02) admissions have increased 4% between 1990 and 2006. But what does that mean to everyone? Well really nothing there is no immediate effects felt by the individual person other than getting to the next place and splashing the losers who stand and the bus stops in the cold. The only price paid for not thinking of this gas given off is the pinch of the pocket from the Government, with high fuel prices and higher tax rates, though what is a few extra pounds to people who have already paid out a fortune to drive around!
But the Government have recently come up with applying the thought of money to encourage lower admissions rate, with the pitch of: “save one months fuel over a year”. This pitch is not encouraging the use of alternatives as they don’t work if there is already the luxury of a car only to lower the damage the individuals current behaviours cause. This is sustainability as it’s not changing the individuals’ behaviour of using a car but making it less wasteful of limited resources.
This can be done through a variety of ways such as; greener cars, driving smoother, shifting to a higher gear at the right time, getting in the car and going, switching the engine off when not in motion, having the correct tire pressure, sticking to the speed limit, removing unnecessary weight and only using the air conditioning and electrical devices when needed.
But is this really going to happen? As like dusting the bike off from deep in the garage it takes active commitment such as keep a petrol car at 2500rpms, as driving at 37mph in 3rd gear uses 25% more fuel than in 5th gear, or it takes an investment of a new greener car. Only time will tell but as more people take to the roads whether they are ready to step back and think of an alternative.
2 comments:
Now I am assuming you are a bit of a cynic.
Would you want to be in that car or do you prefer being splashed by them?
Do you think that there is no real solution to this issue...whatever government does the car is unsustainable...or do you even care? There's nothing wrong with being pro-car.
All the alternatives and modifications to the car seem a bit scentific or costly. Do you think the general public are lost within the barrage of facts, figures and suggestions.
If you were in the driving seat, would you take note of the facts and change your habbits to begin to be sustainable? Or would you just carry on as normal?
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