Subj : Re: So....... To : alt.tv.farscape From : Nick Date : Wed Sep 14 2005 17:42:17 From Newsgroup: alt.tv.farscape Steve Brooks wrote: > Nick wrote: >> Steve Brooks wrote: >> >>> Nick wrote: >>>> Steve Brooks wrote: >>> >>> >>> >>>>>> What road pricing proposals? >>>>> >>>>> Basically - rather than paying a flat rate road tax each year we >>>>> will be charged depending on how much we drive, when, and on >>>>> which roads. Busy roads at 8.30 am will cost a lot more per mile >>>>> than quiet roads at 2.00 am (these will probably be free.) In >>>>> terms of social justice I see this as entirely reasonable. >>>>> Unfortunately it is also hellishly complicated and difficult to >>>>> implement. The government's plan is to use transponders in >>>>> vehicles combined with GPS and software. I think they've got >>>>> absolutely no chance of making this work. It's many times more >>>>> complicated than IT tasks they've already completely screwed-up. >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> Yeah, that sounds kinda hard. Personally, I like the road tax >>>> being incorporated in the gas tax. >>> >>> It's nice and simple and cheap to collect. But our government does >>> have a point when they say some roads are in higher demand are - >>> therefore - a premium product. >>> >> >> I dunno about that. The government is the one who made the road. >> If they had made attractive alternate routes then it may not be that >> way. They could decide that they are going to do a lot of work on a >> particularly busy road and neglect all the rest of the roads making >> them less desireable to drive upon. > > I guess that's the difference between living in a country the size of > a continent and one the size of a postage stamp. In many cases our > high demand roads are so because they're the only viable route from A > to B - and A to B is a journey many need to make. In many cases > alternative routes could be constructed but it would mean losing > precious open space and our experience is that building more roads > ends up creating more traffic. > > There's also the time factor. If a road is very crowded during rush > hour but relatively clear at other times then making it more > expensive at rush hour will encourage those who can to change their > hours and travel at different times. > I'm also not too crazy about the idea that the government knows where you are at all times. .