War on cars

[opik_bidin]

What cannot bw seen is out of your mind

https://mobile.twitter.com/nicoleamurra ... 4138079233

[fat and old]

Am I misunderstanding or does that mean a person 6 foot tall cannot been seen in front of the Escalade if he/she is standing against the bonnet?

[Ross]

Motorists Switching To Bikes And Buses To Be Gifted With £3,000 Annual Car Scrappage Sweeteners

https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonrei ... 917e72042d

Coventry—the U.K.’s motor-city—is hoping to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality by enticing motorists to scrap their cars in favor of transit, taxis, or bike share. Those willing to switch will be given up to £3,000 to spend on automobile alternatives.

The £1 million scheme is to be trialed by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM). Motorists taking part will be asked to scrap their cars and, in return, be given between £1,500 and £3,000 worth of “mobility credits.”

Many governments around the world offered car scrappage programs following the global recession that began in 2008. The schemes aimed to stimulate the ailing automobile industry and remove older, polluting vehicles from national fleets. The U.K.’s scrappage incentive was introduced in the 2009 budget and—for one year—provided a £2,000 cash incentive to scrap an old car and buy a new one.

The proposed Coventry scheme is different, aiming not to renew cars but replace them.

Can you imagine Oz govt doing something like this - yeah nah, me either

[brumby33]

Maybe not the Oz Gov Ross but state governments like NSW who need people to travel on their tortoise speed light rail in Sydney.
By the amount of dollars that has blown out to, another 100 million isn't going to be noticeable....hmmm now what would I buy?
An e-cargo bike? Or an e-bike in general or .....yeah nah....think I'll keep the Corolla for the Costco runs and a few little weekend road trips.
As it stands, I'm getting ready to move closer /walking or riding distance to work, eyeing off an apartment ontop of a reasonable sized woolies....anybody wanna buy a 1994 4 stroke lawn mower....goes first pop every time.

Brumby 33

[P!N20]

Yeah I’m sure it’s the bikes causing congestion:

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02- ... e/12002544

[Thoglette]

Yeah I’m sure it’s the bikes causing congestion:

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02- ... e/12002544

Wandering around the city here, the idea that pulling up bike lanes will reduce congestion is beyond laughable.

Your correspondent in The Hague

[mikesbytes]

Yeah I’m sure it’s the bikes causing congestion:

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02- ... e/12002544

Wandering around the city here, the idea that pulling up bike lanes will reduce congestion is beyond laughable.

Your correspondent in The Hague

It didn't make any improvements for motorists when they ripped up the college st cycleway in Sydney. I know because I'm one of those motorists

[opik_bidin]

Westconnex matter

From a post at sydney bike commuter group. Cycling is not just for fitness, many people rely on it for transport

,......
https://www.facebook.com/groups/SydneyB ... 747147146/

Just found this reply from Westconnex re M5
I'm actually shocked at the reply. Rozelle interchange final layout is a disaster for cyclists and pedestrians. You essentially only have protest left. All negotiations appear a failure IMO.
The plans for the North of harbour, Westconnex western harbour tunnel/northern beaches tunnel also offer nothing despite major changes and inadequate current infrastructure.

Here's the comnent
"Hi Todd, the shared user paths on the northern and southern side of the M5 are scheduled to reopen in May 2020. Really sorry for the hassle while we work to improve traffic flow along this busy corridor.
Unfortunately, including bridges for pedestrians and cyclists wasn't feasible as part of our works in Kingsgrove and Beverly Hills however you may want to have a look at the fitness equipment being delivered along the corridor as part of the M5 Linear Park Enhancement. More info here: http://bit.ly/395amXR Nik"

[opik_bidin]

Need control people who are losing control

https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/number ... -in-japan/

For the Japanese public, the tragedy underscored that the country is under siege, by its own aged, out-of-control motorists. There is even a grim new genre of dashcam videos, dubbed "rogai," feature seniors crashing into buildings, driving the wrong way and otherwise wreaking roadway havoc.

Over the last decade, the country has seen more than a 6% rise in fatal collisions caused by senior citizens.

That's despite dementia screening for drivers 75 and over, and local campaigns attempting to coax seniors to give up their driver's licenses, sometimes in exchange for free bus passes or other enticements. The efforts have made little progress, especially in rural areas lacking public transportation

The bill approved by the legislature this week would force drivers 75 and over who have driving offenses on their records to pass a road test when they renew their licenses. If approved, it will also make it obligatory for those senior drivers to use only cars equipped with the advanced safety features.

[mikesbytes]

The UK has setup drive thru COVID-19 testing. My brother wanted to be tested but doesn't have a car and asked to ride his bike thru the drive thru testing and was rejected. Instead they sent a medical person to his residence. [for the record he tested negative]

[fat and old]

Want to change the rules? Nothing like a good ol crisis to get your own way!

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/fede ... 5493n.html

[fat and old]

Actually, it just occurred to me how this virus thing demonstrates the power of the car. Melb. F1 race will go on. Italian team allowed in. 12 hrs after they land a ban on Italian travellers. Even Lewis Hamilton has trouble getting his head around this one.

[mikesbytes]

Want to change the rules? Nothing like a good ol crisis to get your own way!

https://www.theage.com.au/politics/fede ... 5493n.html

I put that one on Facebook, its ridiculous, you can't tell me that the loading dock is used continuously during permitted hours

Actually, it just occurred to me how this virus thing demonstrates the power of the car. Melb. F1 race will go on. Italian team allowed in. 12 hrs after they land a ban on Italian travellers. Even Lewis Hamilton has trouble getting his head around this one.

Got a link to the Lewis Hamilton comments?

[fat and old]

https://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorsp ... 549mr.html

[Thoglette]

The ABC says
Australian F1 Grand Prix looks set to be cancelled over coronavirus fears after McLaren Racing employee tests positive

[Comedian]

The ABC says
Australian F1 Grand Prix looks set to be cancelled over coronavirus fears after McLaren Racing employee tests positive

Update is it IS cancelled but they really made it painful. Firstly this morning the victorian premier said it would be run without spectators. Then, like a couple of hours later the GP corp announced it was cancelled.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-03-13/ ... s/12052142

Why it wasn't cancelled earlier shows how poorly governments are handling this. When they implemented a travel ban on Italy on Wednesday morning they said from 6pm that night. I thought that's odd. When were most of the teams arriving from italy and europe.. Wednesday.

So they allowed them to come here and say hi and I guess now they've got to get home. Stupid stupid stuff...

[fat and old]

Update is it IS cancelled but they really made it painful. Firstly this morning the victorian premier said it would be run without spectators. Then, like a couple of hours later the GP corp announced it was cancelled.

Really painful is an understatement The vic Health minister was made to look an absolute bloody moron over the last few days, carping on about the lack of risk...…her last words yesty was that no examples of virus transfer between people who HADN'T been overseas or been in contact with someone who had been existed in Victoria so it was still ok.... The first such case appeared this morning. Almost as dumb as Trump banning all Euros.....but not British

[road_warrior]

The GP is not meant to be run by the government, but run by a separate corporation. Of course the reality it still is heavily funded by the government. I suspect there were contractual things going on in the background. It GP corporation cancelled, then they would be penalised in the contract. Hence all the messy communications.

The gov should just be letting the damn race stand on its own two feet, and let it live or die based off that.

[DavidS]

I reckon the government decreed that it would be run without spectators or not at all, maybe has something to do with not having to bail out the FIA if the race was called off. Who knows how the contract works, not the taxpayers of Victoria that's for sure.

As for calling off the race, I reckon the fact McLaren are a powerful team and could not compete had a fair bit to do with cancelling rather than running it as a TV event.

DS

[mikesbytes]

The Italians should of been banned weeks ago. $$$ put ahead of health, the timing of the ban was such to permit the F1 GP go ahead

[fat and old]

I reckon the government decreed that it would be run without spectators or not at all, maybe has something to do with not having to bail out the FIA if the race was called off. Who knows how the contract works, not the taxpayers of Victoria that's for sure.

As for calling off the race, I reckon the fact McLaren are a powerful team and could not compete had a fair bit to do with cancelling rather than running it as a TV event.

DS

I read a summary of the way it works yesty. There's a three way interest....FIA, Local Organising Group (Australian Grand Prix Corp) and State (in this case) gov. Whoever calls it off cops the bill sums it up. Or something like that.

On teams...the word was McLaren, Merc and Mercedes were gonna walk regardless.

[Thoglette]

Yeah I’m sure it’s the bikes causing congestion:

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02- ... e/12002544

You're right, it's not the bikes, it's the busses

Cr Asher said one of the biggest causes of congestion was the city's bus network and the location of the much-maligned bus interchange - which has been a hot spot for anti-social behaviour.

Yes, those bus users behave badly. All the time. All the more reason to remove that bike lane. Say What


Meanwhile, as everyone's distracted by COVID-19, the Vic govt's removed the ban on onshore conventional gas drilling and stopped the Geelong council pulling up the lanes
Victorian Government takes control of road to stop Geelong council destroying award-winning green spine

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said the State Government's decision to declare Malop Street a Designated Road Project under Victoria's Road Management Act would allow Geelong's green spine project to remain untouched.

[mikesbytes]

Yeah I’m sure it’s the bikes causing congestion:

https://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2020-02- ... e/12002544

You're right, it's not the bikes, it's the busses

Cr Asher said one of the biggest causes of congestion was the city's bus network and the location of the much-maligned bus interchange - which has been a hot spot for anti-social behaviour.

Yes, those bus users behave badly. All the time. All the more reason to remove that bike lane. Say What


Meanwhile, as everyone's distracted by COVID-19, the Vic govt's removed the ban on onshore conventional gas drilling and stopped the Geelong council pulling up the lanes
Victorian Government takes control of road to stop Geelong council destroying award-winning green spine

Bellarine MP Lisa Neville said the State Government's decision to declare Malop Street a Designated Road Project under Victoria's Road Management Act would allow Geelong's green spine project to remain untouched.

Got a map of the green spline?

[10speedsemiracer]

Another example of why Local Govt sucks. Too much power, too little competence.

[Thoglette]

Got a map of the green spline?

Best thing I've found so far is the Cycling Geelong's webpage on the topic