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Paris Makes All Public Transportation Free In Battle Against 'Worst Air Pollution For 10 Years' (independent.co.uk)
Paris has barred some cars from its streets and has made public transportation free as it suffers from the worst and most prolonged winter pollution for at least 10 years, the Airparif agency said on Wednesday. The Independent reports: Authorities have said only drivers with odd-numbered registration plates can drive in the capital region on Wednesday. Drivers of even-numbered cars were given the same opportunity on Tuesday, but could now be fined up to 35 EUR if they are caught behind the wheel. More than 1,700 motorists were fined for violations on Tuesday. Paris mayor Anne Hidalgo said images of smog blanketing the capital were proof of the need to reduce vehicle use in the city center. The air pollution peak is due to the combination of emissions from vehicles and from domestic wood fires as well as near windless conditions which means pollutants have not been dispersed, the Airparif agency said. "This is a record period (of pollution) for the last 10 years," Karine Leger of AirParif told AFP by telephone. For more than a week, Airparif has published readings of PM10 at more than 80 micrograms per cubic meter of air particles, triggering the pollution alert. Along with odd-numbered cars, hybrid or electric vehicles as well as those carrying three or more people will be allowed to roam the roads. Foreign and emergency vehicles will be unaffected.
What does that even mean? Forced to continue driving? Driving is one of the most expensive hobbies in the world, and if you can afford to drive you can afford the far cheaper option of public transportation and taxi's.
... The average American living in the suburbs is ~ 20-30 miles from the nearest city / shopping area. If you feel like you can make a 30 mile hike and back in less than a day, at the age of 85, you're welcome to it. But for many elderly people, who live alone, driving is not a luxury - it's a necessity, because there's often no other way for them to get basic needs. (medical care, food, etc.)
"Set a man a fire, he'll be warm for the rest of the night. Set a man afire, he'll be warm for the rest of his life."
You're right, it's a luxury that negatively affects everyone else to the point of being a health hazard, which is why it's ok to ban it. Just because they can afford it doesn't mean everyone else needs to needlessly suffer. They could just ride a bike if they wanted. Or walk.
moox. for a new generation.
"Or need to get there faster. "
Get there faster in a car? Not in any European city.
That system's in use all over the world.
The administrative burden of JUST ABOUT ANYTHING ELSE is far too high and would actually cost you more.
On Thursdays (I think), you can't drive a truck through Italy. Same thing.
As soon as you get into registered lists, issuing stickers or permits, etc. it gets so expensive that you don't want to do it.
You can do it fairly, cheaply, or easily enforceable. Pick any two.
I don't know about France but in Germany those "few euros" quickly add up to something that looks more like a fine precisely design to discourage the use of public transportation. One-way one person is around 5 euros for anything but the shortest stretch (you can easily pay 4.65 euro even for just one stop if crossing the tariff zones). And there's no cheaper option for a return ticket so you're looking at 20 euros for a return trip for two persons. It just doesn't compare with 1 euro in gas plus 1-1.5 euro parking (if needed).
Plus no matter if there is no inflation, no matter if the prices for energy and gas drop the prices for public transportation go up like 4% each time I check...
The way it is and because of loss aversion many people consider public transport not something cheap that lacks comfort but rather some expense they wouldn't do unless they're forced (like car in the shop or they can't drive because of some medical problem, or they want to drink something, etc).
Sure, and put lots of local stores around town so that you don't need to drive to some out-of-town megastore.
Maybe even some cycle lanes so that people can get some exercise.
Actually most UK cities do have endless free parking outside the city with a park and ride service to the centre.
Socialism huh?
I had the same experience in SF. 15 minutes driving including parking, or an hour and a half minimum on MUNI (bus, train, bus). Asthma plus hills plus office job equals no, so there was certainly no biking or walking going on. Nobody needs to smell my pits that bad.
This is why we need PRT. Buses don't solve the problem because they don't go where you need them to go. Self-driving cars don't solve the problem because they won't alleviate traffic issues, only parking.
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
the new Gov discovered that free rides were not sustainable.
Dunno how they discovered it wasn't, but FWIW it might be an unfortunate (mis-)find
I know! It's too bad the greedy bus driver don't drive seniors and poor people for no paycheck. I guess bus drivers really don't care about the poor and the seniors. To be clear, these bus drivers should also be paying for the gas and maintenance.