Elton's Gridlock is not comic - Bristol is in Cardiac arrest
I AM glad that Kevin Hill ("Not necessarily on the best authority" Open Lines, September 2) found my letter which castigated selfish car users challenging. In particular he questioned my use of the comedian Ben Elton's book Gridlock, to substantiate my claims that Bristol is in terminal vehicular CARdiac arrest.
He rubbished a quotation used from the book by saying: "What an eminent authority to use as an argument, and I wonder how many cars there are in Mr Smith's household, one per adult? Or maybe, if he actually believes what he writes, perhaps he might use his legs for transport."
So as not to disappoint him, I will again quote from Elton's Gridlock: "How did we ever let it come to this? After all, everybody wants to unblock the jams. Or perhaps they don't. Everybody wants cleaner, more efficient car engines. Maybe. Everybody longs for the day when filthy poisonous expensive oil (dependency on Libya!) will no longer be the very blood in the veins of our way of life. Surely that has to be the bottom line?"
I hope Mr Hill, that you do not again feel Elton's words to be a comic misrepresentation of the traffic chaos in Bristol.
It matters not one iota how many cars (parked in garages, or on drives) are in family ownership BUT their unnecessary (taking to children 200 metres to school!) use!
My actual car mileage is minimal. I have legs, bicycle, moped, motorcycle, public transport, and these are always my chosen means of transport in that order.
Can Mr Hill claim such dedication to non-car usage? I think not!
R L Smith, Knowle, Bristol.
8 Comments
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by Captain Nemo, staple hill
Thursday, October 08 2009, 12:27PM
“Stuart -
If you can afford to buy,tax and run a car you can afford a bus or train fare. But you highlight the problem that you have in capital letters: I WANT.
Drivers like you want to have your cake and eat it. You crave convenience, but moan about the congestion that you communally cause. Amazingly selfish, I think. So excuse me for going into smug-cyclist mode. I feel sorry for all the drivers I see every day stuck in jams as I pass them by on the cycle path. I'm getting from A to B efficiently, not pandering to my own lazy self-interest and craving convenience. I've broken any addiction to driving which I might have. So please stop whining about congestion. You help cause it, so do something practical to solve it ie.catch the bus, ride a bike, take a train or...shock !...horror!...why not move closer to your place of work?. Probably too radical for you that last bit.”
by STUART, Bristol
Wednesday, September 30 2009, 11:51AM
“This old chesnut again! There is one very simple reason that I use the car rather that public transport: Cost. It is a real eye opener when it costs me less to buy/insure/run/tax/service a car than it costs me to get a cummuter ticket from Bristol to Swindon every day. Examples: Cheapest day return to Swindon before 9am and coming back after 5pm: £17.50 - then I have to wait to come back sometime after "1730" - Car: £10 or equates to £40 a week in my car worth of petrol, no waiting around and home when I WANT. Public transport=expensive, uncomfortable, unreliable, slow, no seats when needed, cancellations without any notice. Car=get in and go! (and return!!) It's not rocket science for the government - there is a very simple reason that there has been NO serious investment in public transport: Motorists are cashcows. We pay duty on fuel, tax our cars, VAT on servicing, tyres etc. If all this went tomorrow, Gordon and co would be in a right mess. Congestion I am willing to put up with. Being knowingly ripped off by bus and train companies - no way!!!!”
by CHRIS, kingswood
Saturday, September 26 2009, 7:55PM
“ok people you can moan about this all day and all year nothing will ever get done as if they cared then why are they building all these new roads.Its too late we only have our selves to blame.If we didnt use the car then maybe something might happen but this country is far too lazy and we take everything for granted and just cannot be bothered for change or not have the time”
by Martin, Clifton
Tuesday, September 22 2009, 8:10PM
“Steve, you may pay through the nose for your car, but it does not cover the costs of your motoring.
As someone who does not drive, I subsidise motorists like you via my taxes. I am not too bothered about this, but I do get fed up with self righteous motorists like you moaning about the costs when you are subsidised by people like me.”
by Martin, Knowle,bristol.
Tuesday, September 08 2009, 4:47PM
“I Guess, fireman,he used a car like me, and maybe you.
Doesn't matter though what we did in the past.Thats gone. Its what we do in the future that counts.”