Burnham

[PurplePenguin]

On bus fares, they should make kids free especially if accompanied by a paying adult. It is not uncommon for me to get on a bus with two kids and the driver refuses to charge me for both, because he thinks it's too expensive. That's not a great system.

 

[AndyRM]

Are you sure £2 bus fares are popular? You're not thinking like a motorist here who is getting nothing.

From a motorists perspective (I'm not one, but my good lady is), a popular move locally would be capping the toll for the Tyne Tunnel, or possibly introducing an annual pass.

 

[Beebo]

£2 bus fares are coming back. I like that policy.

Why is this even a central government thing?

London and Manchester have been capping bus fares for ages because the population of these places want it.

If this was popular, then all local councils would have done it already.

I live in London and was on one yesterday. But I suspect most people haven’t been on a bus in years because they are rubbish.

 

[briantrumpet]

Are you sure £2 bus fares are popular? You're not thinking like a motorist here who is getting nothing.

Maybe he's on more fertile ground than trying to appeal to Reform voters, at least in electoral terms. As Khan showed in London (unlike Starmer's kneejerk reaction to the Uxbridge by-election), there's still an appetite to curb the dominance of car culture.

Howzabout a fund to make all roads outside schools into quiet streets (and completely closed to traffic at the beginning and end of the school day)? Paid for by reversing the 'temporary' cut in fuel duty?

 

[PurplePenguin]

Maybe he's on more fertile ground than trying to appeal to Reform voters, at least in electoral terms. As Khan showed in London (unlike Starmer's kneejerk reaction to the Uxbridge by-election), there's still an appetite to curb the dominance of car culture.

Howzabout a fund to make all roads outside schools into quiet streets (and completely closed to traffic at the beginning and end of the school day)? Paid for by reversing the 'temporary' cut in fuel duty?

What do you think Khan the bus slayer has done? ULEZ is about pollution and I don't see it as a congestion or public transport measure.

Also, wrong thread, but you have posted it here. I get trivially annoyed that the road in front of my kids' school is closed to traffic except some people have lobbied the council for an exemption if their kids have special needs. It seems there are a lot of kids with special needs and most don't seem to justify making a car free road full of cars.

 

[PurplePenguin]

Why is this even a central government thing?

London and Manchester have been capping bus fares for ages because the population of these places want it.

If this was popular, then all local councils would have done it already.

I live in London and was on one yesterday. But I suspect most people haven’t been on a bus in years because they are rubbish.

It's central government providing funding to councils to provide the service.

 

[icowden]

If this was popular, then all local councils would have done it already.

I wouldn't go that far. A significant number are in financial difficulties. Bristol and Manchester have additional regional funds that they can use (I think).

Personally I think the £2 fare cap is great. Now all we need in my area is some bus services to make it even vaguely relevant.

 

[BoldonLad]

From a motorists perspective (I'm not one, but my good lady is), a popular move locally would be capping the toll for the Tyne Tunnel, or possibly introducing an annual pass.

Or just scrapping the toll, as been done in other places

 

[icowden]

Or just scrapping the toll, as been done in other places

Although a key consideration is whether to keep pandering to motorists. Arguably you'd be better off increasing the toll to encourage people to use public transport.

 

[briantrumpet]

What do you think Khan the bus slayer has done? ULEZ is about pollution and I don't see it as a congestion or public transport measure.

Also, wrong thread, but you have posted it here. I get trivially annoyed that the road in front of my kids' school is closed to traffic except some people have lobbied the council for an exemption if their kids have special needs. It seems there are a lot of kids with special needs and most don't seem to justify making a car free road full of cars.

OK, fair enough re Khan - you know London a lot better than I do - I was only going by the reaction from petrolheads to the ULEZ thing and Starmer's immediate change of mind because of the by-election.

I'd limit the exemptions to physically disabled. Surely if it's a proper car-free area (save those for disabled children), then it's safe for special needs children too? Or am I being hopelessly naive?

 

[briantrumpet]

The thing is, even this isn't true: if more people use buses, congestion is less. What is it with car drivers?

 

[icowden]

The thing is, even this isn't true: if more people use buses, congestion is less. What is it with car drivers?

You should know the answer to that. They are more important than everyone else.

 

[PurplePenguin]

OK, fair enough re Khan - you know London a lot better than I do - I was only going by the reaction from petrolheads to the ULEZ thing and Starmer's immediate change of mind because of the by-election.

I'd limit the exemptions to physically disabled. Surely if it's a proper car-free area (save those for disabled children), then it's safe for special needs children too? Or am I being hopelessly naive?

The school has the typical no parking area in front of it and everything else is residents only parking, so it is a challenge for anyone who wants to drive their kids to school. I'm not sure, but perhaps the stress of not being able to find a parking space that you are not supposed to park in, is stressful for the kids. Those with a special exemption get to ignore the no entry sign and park somewhere they are not supposed to, but without the competition from other parents, so there is always space.

Ken Livingstone was the real bus hero.

 

[briantrumpet]

How Catholic is Burnham? I think we need to know.

Is it fair for me to think "WTF?!" at this Jewish Chronicle headline? How well would "How black is David Lammy?" go down as a headline?

 

[secretsqirrel]

How Catholic is Burnham? I think we need to know.

Is it fair for me to think "WTF?!" at this Jewish Chronicle headline? How well would "How black is David Lammy?" go down as a headline?

View attachment 16377

So just how Israeli is the Jewish Chronicle?