New Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan

Truthvader

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

Oh, the macho approach - if that's your best shot, I think I'm on fairly solid ground.

But if you want to go there, take a look in the maintenance questions in the cycling forum, and the stories of people with far more skills and far more of the specialised tools that are increasingly needed, and see the kind of problems people run into.

I used to be do reasonably complex maintenance in the past. Whether for reasons of age or laziness or lack of time, I leave anything beyond changing a tube to the local bike shop, who look after me well. I did get spare brake pads from them during the lock down, so I'm looking forward to trying that complex task myself.

But this macho nonsense, that people 'need' to be able to maintain their own bikes is one of many factors that puts many people off cycling, dare I say it, especially females.

Some people do their own maintenance, many people don't, and just about everyone will need their local bike shop at some stage.

The idea of the voucher in the UK was to encourage people to get the bike at the back of the shed out, and get the brakes and gears sorted so it could be used again, while public transport was overloaded - a sensible strategy.



Now look a bit deeper at that question and think about why most 17 year olds want a car? Partially because Mammy and Daddy have brought them everywhere door-to-door since they were born. Mine tell me regularly that they are the ones that navigate public transport for their friends, as most have no idea how to get around.

And partially because of cultural issues, and partially because of planning issues, and partially because you have schools doing stupid stuff like this. https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=113799853
and partially because of the helmet/hi-vis dangerisation nonsense that we've seen on this thread and elsewhere.

Now have a look at what happens in Netherlands.



I didn't write the law, Kevin - but the requirements are clear. If you're unable to comply, you know what to do.


The data on road deaths and serious injuries would suggest that you've avoided way more drivers than others on the road.

Agreed.


I'm on the road most days, crossing them, as are many other people. If you're unable to share the road with other legal road users, you're the problem.



Did you add up the stats? 42 deaths in cars, 19 for pedestrians.


Beats engaging on the issues, eh Bob?

?


Cars are a necessity because we've built society around them. We've granted planning permission up every boreen, so that every journey to every social engagement, every school trip, every shopping trip requires a car. We've poorly funded public transport, and not funded cycling facilities.

These are the things that need to change.

Jizique wrote: »

Oh and data I have seen from the US shows around 75% of under 25s have a license now, down from 92% a decade ago - car sharing and Uber the main reasons.
And in London, according to work colleagues, kids want an Uber account (funded by parents) rather than a car when they reach 17/18. Insurance, parking, ability to socialise, cost (uni fees) the main reasons.

Not at all surprised - and proves my point. Both Uber and car sharing involve ...er "cars"

galwaytt

KaneToad wrote: »

Why should he wear a helmet? It's not a legal requirement and research is mixed about their efficacy. It's usually non-cyclists who insist cyclists should always wear helmets and always use cycle lanes.

Because it should be legal, and yiur completely wrong about helmet efficacy.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/collisions-with-cars-only-account-for-30-of-cycling-injuries-in-ireland-1005536.html

Truthvader

Jizique wrote: »

You probably mean me.
I rarely drive, but I did the other day - it makes me agitated in the city; the traffic, the other road users; drivers are incredibly aggressive.
I enjoy an occasional spin on the motorway to Galway but city driving is awful.

So cycle then. No problem. Its the malice and spite I am drawing attention to

galwaytt

mikeecho wrote: »

Guys.. nothing will change.
The taxes on motoring will continue to increase.

Eventually the yearly motor tax for EVs will be in the hundreds of euro.

They have to get the tax somewhere, and if you're not buying petrol/diesel fuel, and they can't excessively tax electricity, cos even vegans need to boil a kettle and occasionally use an electric shower (joke).

The only option.. lots and lots and lots of lovely motor tax on EVs.

And it'll be a lot more than the €710 for a pre 08 2L
I honestly think motor tax will be in the 1,000s

I can never understand why when you consider the sheer numbers of people reliant on cars, and affected by all motoring taxes etc, that that body of people can't be motivated to act.

Think farmers and the tractor protests, IW protests etc.

AndrewJRenko

galwaytt wrote: »

Because it should be legal, and yiur completely wrong about helmet efficacy.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/collisions-with-cars-only-account-for-30-of-cycling-injuries-in-ireland-1005536.html

Should crash helmets for motorists be a legal requirement?

If you believe in helmets to reduce head injuries, surely you would start with where the vast majority of head injuries happen, even with seat belts and air bags etc - in cars, not on bikes?

Jizique

Truthvader wrote: »

So cycle then. No problem. Its the malice and spite I am drawing attention to

I do, but even the most committed car fanatic must agree that onstreet parking on both sides of South William Street in Dublin is nuts.
No malice and no spite; just a belief that our attitude towards cars needs to be reconsidered.

Duckjob

galwaytt wrote: »

Two points:
1. Says who ?
2. And existing owners aren't taxed for being unhealthy: vehicle taxes are ownership taxes. Should apply to everyone or no-one

You're badly misunderstanding why we pay motor tax.

We pay it to drive our cars because:

a) When we drive ICE cars especially we add polution to the local environment. More polluted air feeds into worse air to breath. Worse air to breath feeds into greater numbers of serious long term illnesses which are very expensive for the public health system to deal with.

Also, when we drive our cars all the time, we tend to fall into unhealthier lifestyles. Look around at the levels of casual obesity in Ireland where we depend heavily on cars, then look at NL, or the Nordics where bike use is a lot higher. The casual level of obesity in Ireland feeds again into massively increased health costs treating heart disease, diabetes, strokes, etc etc, etc, and all manner of illnesses the levels of which are medically proven to be possible to reduce by a more active, healthy lifestyle.

We we ride bikes, we cause no such pollution, we get from A to B while keeping the air cleaner. Therefore, we do not contribute to any of the costs above. We also improve our general health and lessen the likelihood of many illnesses like those just mentioned.



2) Cars, SUVs, vans etc contribute greatly to degradation of road surfaces, requiring money for the the road to be maintained. The effect to roads from bikes is negligable.


I drive a car sometimes and I ride a bike sometimes. I still pay an annual tax rate for my car and then I leave it parked in my driveway and ride my bike to places instead. You're welcome.

Truthvader

Jizique wrote: »

I do, but even the most committed car fanatic must agree that onstreet parking on both sides of South William Street in Dublin is nuts.
No malice and no spite; just a belief that our attitude towards cars needs to be reconsidered.

There are no "car fanatics". The reality is that the car is the cleanest safest quickest and most comfortable way to get from A to B. There is no escaping this. They will all become electric over the next 50 years. Standing in the rain on the off chance that a CIE bus will lumber into view, dealing with the hostile driver and finishing the day picking the chewing gum off your jacket or cycling miserably though the wind and cold will never compare. The Green Party dream is based on a D4 Summer Cycling fantasy miles from the lived reality of normal people. Not sure what the problem with South William Street is but willing to bet it is generated by a web of no right turns, blocked roads, expanded footpaths and planning decisions deliberately targeted at reducing parking spaces elsewhere

Seth Brundle

Truthvader wrote: »

There are no "car fanatics". The reality is that the car is the cleanest safest quickest and most comfortable way to get from A to B. There is no escaping this. They will all become electric over the next 50 years. Standing in the rain on the off chance that a CIE bus will lumber into view, dealing with the hostile driver and finishing the day picking the chewing gum off your jacket or cycling miserably though the wind and cold will never compare. The Green Party dream is based on a D4 Summer Cycling fantasy miles from the lived reality of normal people. Not sure what the problem with South William Street is but willing to bet it is generated by a web of no right turns, blocked roads, expanded footpaths and planning decisions deliberately targeted at reducing parking spaces elsewhere

I take it for granted that you're just trolling now :rolleyes:

Truthvader

Seth Brundle wrote: »

I take it for granted that you're just trolling now :rolleyes:

Really? Is anything I say untrue?

Jizique

Truthvader wrote: »

There are no "car fanatics". The reality is that the car is the cleanest safest quickest and most comfortable way to get from A to B. There is no escaping this. They will all become electric over the next 50 years. Standing in the rain on the off chance that a CIE bus will lumber into view, dealing with the hostile driver and finishing the day picking the chewing gum off your jacket or cycling miserably though the wind and cold will never compare.

It takes me 15 minutes to cycle to or from work, irrespective of time or weather; driving would take an hour each way, plus €40 a day parking.
Driving is appropriate for long distance; I have nothing against cars and work in the industry

Seth Brundle

Truthvader wrote: »

Really? Is anything I say untrue?

Pretty much all of what you say can be refuted.
However, like so many of your posts, they appear to be posted to provoke a reaction, hence my previous comment.

?Cee?view

mikeecho wrote: »

I honestly think motor tax will be in the 1,000s

It already is in many cases

RandomViewer

Jizique wrote: »

And the cure is an underground metro system?

Public transport is a no go unless you can keep it clean and keep scrum off it which isn't going to happen, If the country can't clean the junkie vermin out of society we can't have public transport that people will use

donvito99

Strumms wrote: »

There is more to Dublin then the ‘city’... and wider consideration and planning needs to be happening for the suburbs and wider county.

It's by far the largest trip generator. It demonstrates that if you plan appropriately you don't need a metro to get people where they want to go without a car.

If orbital bus routes had similar priority to those going radially to the city centre, you'd have vast numbers using that service also. Dublin is small enough that a Metro is not the only solution. The problem is, as always, traffic which affects the bus service and has one root cause.

Shefwedfan

RandomViewer wrote: »

Public transport is a no go unless you can keep it clean and keep scrum off it which isn't going to happen, If the country can't clean the junkie vermin out of society we can't have public transport that people will use

Which you can't do. I travel trains all the time and the times I have met someone who you wouldn't want to is.......I haven't.



Yes the bus has a higher chance but I dont use buses unless I really really have to.



To be honest you have a lot higher percentage of meeting someone you dont want on the roads than in a train. I have seen people pulling someone out of a car in Dublin. Its starting to turn into Italy in terms of using the horn. People seem to be on a constant cliff edge of emotion when they get behind a car wheel.

Shefwedfan

donvito99 wrote: »

It's by far the largest trip generator. It demonstrates that if you plan appropriately you don't need a metro to get people where they want to go without a car.

If orbital bus routes had similar priority to those going radially to the city centre, you'd have vast numbers using that service also. Dublin is small enough that a Metro is not the only solution. The problem is, as always, traffic which affects the bus service and has one root cause.

Buses would be great if you had no other cars on the road. So they could actually get to their destination in a timely manner

awec

RandomViewer wrote: »

Public transport is a no go unless you can keep it clean and keep scrum off it which isn't going to happen, If the country can't clean the junkie vermin out of society we can't have public transport that people will use

Not sure this is true. Where public transport exists it is used.

If the public transport could be improved (greater frequency and capacity) then even more would use it. To do this we need less cars on the roads.

I think there's a significant number of people who commute by car who would commute by public transport if a viable option was available to them.

Phil.x

No more new roads under walter Mitty ryan.

Congestion charges, more tolling of the m50, maybe even a bus lane, more taxes for something crazy.

The madman needs stopping.

Phil.x

awec wrote: »

Not sure this is true. Where public transport exists it is used.

If the public transport could be improved (greater frequency and capacity) then even more would use it. To do this we need less cars on the roads.

I think there's a significant number of people who commute by car who would commute by public transport if a viable option was available to them.

My bus that I don't get leaves me 2km from my place of work in the docklands, thats not a service that would make me leave the car at home or train for that Matter.

donvito99

Phil.x wrote: »

My bus that I don't get leaves me 2km from my place of work in the docklands, thats not a service that would make me leave the car at home or train for that Matter.

Bus Connects sorts you out in theory. Just as roads can be improved, so can public transport.

frozenfrozen

the most green thing would be to encourage working from home. Doesn't matter how green vehicles are or public transport if a high percentage of those journeys could be completely removed.

Would be very useful to keep people having private cars so they can travel within ireland and not have to fly out of dublin for their holidays. And also they'll be paying the massive taxes associated with private car ownership. Where's that money going to come from if everyone is taxed out of private car ownership? If everyone only needed to drive their cars while not commuting that'd seriously bring down the amount of emissions per year. Doesn't sound as green as every person needing to buy a new electric car though, somehow.

Strumms

donvito99 wrote: »

It's by far the largest trip generator. It demonstrates that if you plan appropriately you don't need a metro to get people where they want to go without a car.

If orbital bus routes had similar priority to those going radially to the city centre, you'd have vast numbers using that service also. Dublin is small enough that a Metro is not the only solution. The problem is, as always, traffic which affects the bus service and has one root cause.

Not the ‘only’ solution but the most appropriate and effective solution. One that is needed.

donvito99

Strumms wrote: »

Not the ‘only’ solution but the most appropriate and effective solution. One that is needed.

No doubt, but buses carry twice as many people in London as the underground, so we can build as many eye wateringly expensive Metros in Dublin as we like, more people are still likely to use buses.

My point is that the majority of people don't drive to get to the biggest employment area in the county and half of them are on buses - all this without an underground Metro.

Strumms

frozenfrozen wrote: »

the most green thing would be to encourage working from home. Doesn't matter how green vehicles are or public transport if a high percentage of those journeys could be completely removed.

Would be very useful to keep people having private cars so they can travel within ireland and not have to fly out of dublin for their holidays. And also they'll be paying the massive taxes associated with private car ownership. Where's that money going to come from if everyone is taxed out of private car ownership? If everyone only needed to drive their cars while not commuting that'd seriously bring down the amount of emissions per year. Doesn't sound as green as every person needing to buy a new electric car though, somehow.

Rubbish. So, you think it’s appropriate that you turn the peace, quiet and personal space of your home and corrupt your wellbeing and that of your family in order to provide your employer with a workspace, under some ‘green’ banner ? No, not happening.:rolleyes:

You already have the greedy covid clowns trying to force people to work from home, now you’ll have the environmentalists attempting to make you do the same.

Sam Russell

Truthvader wrote: »

There are no "car fanatics". The reality is that the car is the cleanest safest quickest and most comfortable way to get from A to B. There is no escaping this. They will all become electric over the next 50 years. Standing in the rain on the off chance that a CIE bus will lumber into view, dealing with the hostile driver and finishing the day picking the chewing gum off your jacket or cycling miserably though the wind and cold will never compare. The Green Party dream is based on a D4 Summer Cycling fantasy miles from the lived reality of normal people. Not sure what the problem with South William Street is but willing to bet it is generated by a web of no right turns, blocked roads, expanded footpaths and planning decisions deliberately targeted at reducing parking spaces elsewhere

The problem with a car is that it is very big for just one occupant, and causes lots of pollution out of the tail pipe.

The next thing to consider is that if there was just one car on the road, it would be great if you are the occupant but when there are hundreds of them all going to where you are going it is not so great. Remember that two cars with one occupant take up the same road space as one bus that takes 73 passengers. Three buses will take the equivalent of 500 metres of a traffic jam of cars.

Then when you get there you find that all those other cars have taken all the parking spaces and you have to park a long way away but never mind, you just park on the pavement or in the bus or cycle lane. Failing that you can look around for a double yellow to park on - sure you will only be there for a minute or two.

Of course, if the Busconnects was in force in Dublin, you could hop on a bus and wiz past all those single occupancy cars stuck in the traffic jam while you head into the city centre with not a care in the world as you will not be worrying about leaving your parked car to the mercy of the clamper and the vandal.

Of course in the future, if you were going to the airport, you could catch the Metrolink which comes every 90 seconds and gets you from the city centre to the airport in 20 mins, with no delay looking for parking.

So if Busconnects and Metrolink were both active then there would be such a reduction in car traffic that Dublin would be heaven, and you might find driving might be pleasant (as long as most people use the public transport).

Hellrazer

Phil.x wrote: »

No more new roads under walter Mitty ryan.

Congestion charges, more tolling of the m50, maybe even a bus lane, more taxes for something crazy.

Thats only the start of it.The electrification of the national fleet will be fast tracked now with these eejits in charge. Guess what we still power all these electric vehicles using fossil fuel - all the greens will be doing is moving the problem - I doubt that there will be any difference in reality in carbon emissions - what I can guarantee though is that we will buy more carbon credits and throw a few hundred a year onto the carbon tax making the Greens look great while us the tax payers end up paying these fools wages.

The greens ruined the motor industry before telling everyone to buy diesels because they were cleaner and look what the outcome of that was.

Whoever gave Eamon Ryan the transport ministry should be brought out and shot. Hes no more qualified as a transport minister than Simon Harris was as a health minister.

We`re all absolutely ****ed now.Especially anyone that wants to keep ICE or those working in the motor trade or transport sectors.

We are about to enter into one of the biggest recessions the world will ever see and the last thing we need is to tax the **** out of the transport industry which is whats going to happen with the greens in charge.

Jobs will be lost due to their policies but yay we`ll save a few whales along the way while we sing Kumbaya perched around the campfire because we wont be able to afford to heat our homes.!!!


That might sound cynical but to be absolutely clear

I am all for cleaning the planet up and being more environmentally friendly but it has to be done right.

If we are going to electrify the national fleet then we need to look at how our power is generated - fossil fueled power plants dont fix things - they only move the issue from supplier to consumer.

Wind / wave or hydroelectric need to fast tracked in line with the move from ICE to electric.

Even nuclear has lower carbon emissions but the Irish public wont go for that option ever.


Apologies for the long post but the fact that the Greens have the transport ministry has my blood boiling!!!!

frozenfrozen

Strumms wrote: »

Rubbish. So, you think it’s appropriate that you turn the peace, quiet and personal space of your home and corrupt your wellbeing and that of your family in order to provide your employer with a workspace, under some ‘green’ banner ? No, not happening.:rolleyes:

You already have the greedy covid clowns trying to force people to work from home, now you’ll have the environmentalists attempting to make you do the same.

I have a great home office, herman miller chairs, beautiful view, complete silence and no commute. Sorry you think spending more time at home would corrupt your family.

What kind of job do you have that you can hold down while seemingly being so unhinged by the idea of WFH?

Strumms

Hellrazer wrote: »

Whoever gave Eamon Ryan the transport ministry should be brought out and shot. Hes no more qualified as a transport minister than Simon Harris was as a health minister.

We`re all absolutely ****ed now.Especially anyone that wants to keep ICE or those working in the motor trade or transport sectors.

We are about to enter into one of the biggest recessions the world will ever see and the last thing we need is to tax the **** out of the transport industry which is whats going to happen with the greens in charge.

Jobs will be lost due to their policies but yay we`ll save a few whales along the way while we sing Kumbaya perched around the campfire because we wont be able to afford to heat our homes.!!!


That might sound cynical but to be absolutely clear

I am all for cleaning the planet up and being more environmentally friendly but it has to be done right.

If we are going to electrify the national fleet then we need to look at how our power is generated - fossil fueled power plants dont fix things - they only move the issue from supplier to consumer.

Wind / wave or hydroelectric need to fast tracked in line with the move from ICE to electric.

Even nuclear has lower carbon emissions but the Irish public wont go for that option ever.


Apologies for the long post but the fact that the Greens have the transport ministry has my blood boiling!!!!

100000% correct, well put. Has to have been the most knuckle headed move in modern politics in this country, both to do it and the timing of it... stupidly at its finest.

It’s akin to <snip>.

The only thing positive is that he might fück things up so significantly that neither he nor the greens see the light of day in politics for a decade or more but there will be suffering on a large scale before we see this happening.

TrailerBob

Godwin's law in effect... Close the thread

AndrewJRenko

RandomViewer wrote: »

Public transport is a no go unless you can keep it clean and keep scrum off it which isn't going to happen, If the country can't clean the junkie vermin out of society we can't have public transport that people will use

I guess that the people who took the 400 million journeys on public transport (2018) might disagree with you.

Strumms

frozenfrozen wrote: »

I have a great home office, herman miller chairs, beautiful view, complete silence and no commute. Sorry you think spending more time at home would corrupt your family.

What kind of job do you have that you can hold down while seemingly being so unhinged by the idea of WFH?

I have a comfortable house, where my PC, laptops, iPad, PS4, comfortable furniture, nice big tv and every other amenity which I enjoy is completely separate to work. My home... It’s off limits to them.. When I get in the car, even the work phone is off. My personal phone doesn’t get answered unless I know the number. If it’s work, it doesn’t get answered.

Spending more time at home doesn’t corrupt my family. I never said that, you are being deliberately disingenuous. Making home your workspace and making your home life interspersed with work however will cause difficulties. So not happening.

AndrewJRenko

Shefwedfan wrote: »

Buses would be great if you had no other cars on the road. So they could actually get to their destination in a timely manner

Actually, they would be great if you could just get the delivery trucks and the taxis (moving and parked) out of the bus lanes to allow buses to moves on critical segments of the journey.

AndrewJRenko

Phil.x wrote: »

My bus that I don't get leaves me 2km from my place of work in the docklands, thats not a service that would make me leave the car at home or train for that Matter.

You've noticed how the red Luas line runs the length of the docklands, right? Or take a connecting bus, like lots of other people do?

Sam Russell

Hellrazer wrote: »

Thats only the start of it.The electrification of the national fleet will be fast tracked now with these eejits in charge. Guess what we still power all these electric vehicles using fossil fuel - all the greens will be doing is moving the problem - I doubt that there will be any difference in reality in carbon emissions - what I can guarantee though is that we will buy more carbon credits and throw a few hundred a year onto the carbon tax making the Greens look great while us the tax payers end up paying these fools wages.

Actually that is incorrect. 54% of our energy on the grid is from renewables.

As for charging car batteries, with smart meters, the batteries in cars could be used as a backup to the grid when the wind does not blow, or could soak up energy when it blows too much.

So electric cars could reduce our CO2 emmisions.

frozenfrozen

Strumms wrote: »

Rubbish. So, you think it’s appropriate that you turn the peace, quiet and personal space of your home and corrupt your wellbeing and that of your family in order to provide your employer with a workspace, under some ‘green’ banner ? No, not happening.:rolleyes:

You already have the greedy covid clowns trying to force people to work from home, now you’ll have the environmentalists attempting to make you do the same.

Not sure where I got the idea you said it would corrupt the wellbeing of your family. Sorry, now I'm being disingenuous

Strumms wrote: »

I have a comfortable house, where my PC, laptops, iPad, PS4, comfortable furniture, nice big tv and every other amenity which I enjoy is completely separate to work. My home... It’s off limits to them.. When I get in the car, even the work phone is off. My personal phone doesn’t get answered unless I know the number. If it’s work, it doesn’t get answered.

Spending more time at home doesn’t corrupt my family. I never said that, you are being deliberately disingenuous. Making home your workspace and making your home life interspersed with work however will cause difficulties. So not happening.

an ipad AND a ps4, wow I didn't expect to be talking to royalty. However that has absolutely fcuk all to do with working from home

Strumms

frozenfrozen wrote: »

Not sure where I got the idea you said it would corrupt the wellbeing of your family. Sorry, now I'm being disingenuous


an ipad AND a ps4, wow I didn't expect to be talking to royalty. However that has absolutely fcuk all to do with working from home

Yes, you are just being disingenuous with a large dollop of smarm, so I’ll let you get on with it, I hope everything works out for you. ;)

Phil.x

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You've noticed how the red Luas line runs the length of the docklands, right? Or take a connecting bus, like lots of other people do?

You obviously haven't tried to get the luas mid city during rush hours.

frozenfrozen

Strumms wrote: »

Yes, you are just being disingenuous with a large dollop of smarm, so I’ll let you get on with it, I hope everything works out for you. ;)

You didn't achieve anything with your crazy reply about WFH corrupting the wellbeing of your family and you've just changed the subject to me personally.

I hope you don't bother replying in future

AndrewJRenko

Phil.x wrote: »

You obviously haven't tried to get the luas mid city during rush hours.

I have indeed. It's a struggle, particularly in the evening in my experience, but it's not impossible and loads of people do it every day.

awec

Phil.x wrote: »

No more new roads under walter Mitty ryan.

Congestion charges, more tolling of the m50, maybe even a bus lane, more taxes for something crazy.

The madman needs stopping.

I think it's fairly obvious at this stage that car usage levels are unsustainable and we can't just keep building more roads or adding extra lanes to existing roads.

There appears to be some naivety on here of people thinking that if the GP weren't around cars would be here to stay. Even ignoring the whole green, climate, eco-warrior aspect of it, the days of transport policy being geared around the car are over.

Truthvader

donvito99 wrote: »

Bus Connects sorts you out in theory. Just as roads can be improved, so can public transport.

Not if the main aim is just to "get" car owners

Shefwedfan

Hellrazer wrote: »

Thats only the start of it.The electrification of the national fleet will be fast tracked now with these eejits in charge. Guess what we still power all these electric vehicles using fossil fuel - all the greens will be doing is moving the problem - I doubt that there will be any difference in reality in carbon emissions - what I can guarantee though is that we will buy more carbon credits and throw a few hundred a year onto the carbon tax making the Greens look great while us the tax payers end up paying these fools wages.

The greens ruined the motor industry before telling everyone to buy diesels because they were cleaner and look what the outcome of that was.

Whoever gave Eamon Ryan the transport ministry should be brought out and shot. Hes no more qualified as a transport minister than Simon Harris was as a health minister.

We`re all absolutely ****ed now.Especially anyone that wants to keep ICE or those working in the motor trade or transport sectors.

We are about to enter into one of the biggest recessions the world will ever see and the last thing we need is to tax the **** out of the transport industry which is whats going to happen with the greens in charge.

Jobs will be lost due to their policies but yay we`ll save a few whales along the way while we sing Kumbaya perched around the campfire because we wont be able to afford to heat our homes.!!!


That might sound cynical but to be absolutely clear

I am all for cleaning the planet up and being more environmentally friendly but it has to be done right.

If we are going to electrify the national fleet then we need to look at how our power is generated - fossil fueled power plants dont fix things - they only move the issue from supplier to consumer.

Wind / wave or hydroelectric need to fast tracked in line with the move from ICE to electric.

Even nuclear has lower carbon emissions but the Irish public wont go for that option ever.


Apologies for the long post but the fact that the Greens have the transport ministry has my blood boiling!!!!

Havent they come out and said combustion engine cars will be able to be bought new till 2030, so second hand you can buy away till whenever?



The last carbon tax increase was done by FG, came in 1st May. Not a whisper from anyone about it. Was your blood boiling then?


One of the ideas of the Greens is to connect to France so we can use nucleur but not have to build a station, good idea?

Truthvader

Sam Russell wrote: »

The problem with a car is that it is very big for just one occupant, and causes lots of pollution out of the tail pipe.

The next thing to consider is that if there was just one car on the road, it would be great if you are the occupant but when there are hundreds of them all going to where you are going it is not so great. Remember that two cars with one occupant take up the same road space as one bus that takes 73 passengers. Three buses will take the equivalent of 500 metres of a traffic jam of cars.

Then when you get there you find that all those other cars have taken all the parking spaces and you have to park a long way away but never mind, you just park on the pavement or in the bus or cycle lane. Failing that you can look around for a double yellow to park on - sure you will only be there for a minute or two.

Of course, if the Busconnects was in force in Dublin, you could hop on a bus and wiz past all those single occupancy cars stuck in the traffic jam while you head into the city centre with not a care in the world as you will not be worrying about leaving your parked car to the mercy of the clamper and the vandal.

Of course in the future, if you were going to the airport, you could catch the Metrolink which comes every 90 seconds and gets you from the city centre to the airport in 20 mins, with no delay looking for parking.

So if Busconnects and Metrolink were both active then there would be such a reduction in car traffic that Dublin would be heaven, and you might find driving might be pleasant (as long as most people use the public transport).

All true and so there are two solutions. Build more roads and car park spaces or provide alternative means of transport. The only alternative means of transport that is proven to actually attract drivers in an Underground. The Greens and DCC will not consider this because it does not have the magic ingredient to satisfy their spite; it does not punish people who have a car.

galwaytt

awec wrote: »

I think it's fairly obvious at this stage that car usage levels are unsustainable and we can't just keep building more roads or adding extra lanes to existing roads.

There appears to be some naivety on here of people thinking that if the GP weren't around cars would be here to stay. Even ignoring the whole green, climate, eco-warrior aspect of it, the days of transport policy being geared around the car are over.

Not at all obvious in an age where social distancing and public transport capacity is down by 50% due to pandemic. You have literally no idea how long we'll be living with that, and in the meantime, people have to go to work.

We don't all work for LinkedIn/Google etc - some of us actually HAVE to go to a premises.

Truthvader

AndrewJRenko wrote: »

You've noticed how the red Luas line runs the length of the docklands, right? Or take a connecting bus, like lots of other people do?

Because everyone has hours to spare running from bus stop to bus stop to Luas stop the hope that the bus actually show up on time - and not be full of junkies if it does. In fairness the Luas does show up on time but always seems to be accompanied by anti social behaviour.

Sam Russell

Truthvader wrote: »

All true and so there are two solutions. Build more roads and car park spaces or provide alternative means of transport. The only alternative means of transport that is proven to actually attract drivers in an Underground. The Greens and DCC will not consider this because it does not have the magic ingredient to satisfy their spite; it does not punish people who have a car.

No NO No.

More roads is not the solution. Where I live there is no room for more roads, and the roads are choked every morning and every evening for hours, and it is quicker to walk. The problem with the buses is that the road is full of cars. There is no room for car parks either, unless you mean on people lawns.

The Dart is crammed and so are the buses (well not now with Covid19 hanging about). We need the Metrolink now, and Dart expansion. And Metrolink 2 as well.

awec

galwaytt wrote: »

Not at all obvious in an age where social distancing and public transport capacity is down by 50% due to pandemic. You have literally no idea how long we'll be living with that, and in the meantime, people have to go to work.

We don't all work for LinkedIn/Google etc - some of us actually HAVE to go to a premises.

You aren’t going to lose your ability to get to work, this is pure straw man stuff. You think they’re going to come in and just declare cars illegal or something?

People that need to drive will still be able to drive. Those that don’t need to will still be able to, they’ll just have to fork out for it and that money can be used to improve services for everyone else.

Any change here is going to be a long, slow process. But it has to start, we can’t just keep kicking the can down the road for spurious reasons.

Shefwedfan

Truthvader wrote: »

Because everyone has hours to spare running from bus stop to bus stop to Luas stop the hope that the bus actually show up on time - and not be full of junkies if it does. In fairness the Luas does show up on time but always seems to be accompanied by anti social behaviour.

Yes....because every bus in Dublin is late and full of junkies and every tram is full of ....I dont know what but they are doing bold things


I guess you dont live or work in Dublin

Truthvader

we can't just keep building more roads or adding extra lanes to existing roads

Why?