At the end of the day we all live here because it's an urban metropolis and a rather old one. We are here because that's where we make a living. The problem is, whilst this is a smallish Island, the butter is not spread evenly on it and it's not so easy outside of the Conurbations to live and prosper. There is a culture of making one feel as though you are "missing out" unless you live in London or it's hinterland.But it's a hard fact, the car and personal transportation is responsible for the liberation of the masses in this country and the biggest single tool that brought about a wider equality and freedom. We live longer, we no longer live in close family groups, we have a very diverse population. We do not all work locally.Whilst pollution is being pushed hard, the facts are being badly distorted. Ealing Councils justification for CPZ charges is wholly untrue and based on a Kings College report, the full version of which carries a disclaimer that it is supposition based on a survey in US cities and a model of possible scenarios.Yes there are pollution issues, but creating fake news, just to foist the problem on to road vehicles and away from all the other sources of toxic pollutants is straight out of the Nazi or Soviet guides to mass manipulation. Until this game is ditched, nothing will be achieved. It has to be a completely wholistic approach and an acceptance and will to deal with ALL the issues, including, over concentration of the population. Forgotten too is just how polluted this locality was not so long ago. All trains were diesel and before that steam locomotives and facilities were in greater abundance, aircraft flew lower, were noisy and belched out visible fumes, dozens of factories belched out all manner of filth, most homes had only coal fired heating, the river could not support marine life. Traffic was, if anything worse. Everything was filthy. But ironically the pavements were even and streets kept clean!! People smoked en masse and often heavily. The difference between now and then is vast.Everyone know someone who had suffered or expired of a bronchial or respiratory ailment. Often non smokers. That's almost unheard of now. It is far far cleaner. It's possible other pollutants could be responsible for diseases common now, but the direct evidence is still not 100% certain. That's not saying we should be blasé about reducing pollution, but wary about what we are led to believe. The pollutants are identified, the challenge has been taken up. But the sources are being meddled with.No one ever mentions the health issues caused by Trees, respiratory complaints, dermatological complaints, eye irritations and so on caused by several common varieties of tree widely found locally.Road vehicles are becoming less and less polluting, driving standards for all road users is something that can be achieved, but while the focus is all about revenue raising, and not improving, nothing will change.Current local plans towards overdensification leave out the factors of employment and infrastructure, quality of life and social harmony. Parks and open spaces are under siege rather than being protected places for all in perpetuity. Public transport is better but cannot cope and the sheer cost makes it a struggle for a great many working in ordinary jobs. Having a vehicle is an absolute necessity for a vast amount of people to simply stay in the rat race, like it or not, that is an integral part of urban, suburban and rural life in a modern economy.The assumption that everyone should walk or cycle to work or go by bus or tube is only viable if you are an office worker or work in a fixed location environment with all you need to carry out your occupation, on site to hand.Just as many have to carry tools, equipment, instruments, bulky items and all manner of things to carry out their occupations.There has not been one survey by TfL or anyone else to actually assess what a car is used for, locally the survey carried out for the tram ignored any circumstantial evidence and made assumptions to suit TFL. The assumption is that one person in a locally registered vehicle is selfish road user. But who knows if that person is carrying 25KG plus of work equipment and simply earning a living ?. Cars get used instead of vans to make them as versatile as possible. Running a vehicle is far from affordable and roads and i are paid for from motorised vehicle users.30% not owning a car does not mean 30% having not use of a car. Using a cab? Having a delivery? None of this excuses poor driving standards and they are getting dire amongst road users. The complete run down of traffic police, has really contributed to that. But worryingly, too many cyclists ( and I still ride locally myself ) leave me cold with the risks and lack of road awareness displayed, even to other cyclists. Being hit by a car or lorry is a statistic, but the circumstances of that statistic often reveal the cold facts which are not always quite so palatable.If I come off my bike and hit a parked car, it's recorded as a collision with a motor vehicle. It infers it hit me, not I hit it. So it can be used incorrectly.Statistics have become a tool for manipulation, which is why so many schemes based on such stats fall way short of their intention. Too much reliance on computer modelling and number crunching looks good but does not always correlate to reality. As an example,Just look at new trains, long awaited, air con, shiny and new and yet have seats like ironing boards, hideously uncomfortable,and grab rails ungrabbable to many who are not in the statistical optimum size for height or hands. A result of computer design based on statistics with no human factor added. This though, is OK as meets the criteria created from number crunching.Safer Cycling routes away from main roads are not being encouraged enough, improved road surfaces and elimination of ruts and potholes and poor signage/markings in quieter routes not really happening. Instead, we get hugely expensive politically indulgent showboat schemes.It's fine being a cyclist or being able to walk and use local facilities, but what about the day when arthritis kicks in, joints wear out, mobility reduces? When the effortless custom of using a bus or tube becomes a challenge and then an impossibility?We might live longer but these things will still happen to most of us one way or another and probably still with 15 years plus of working life left and 40 years of life to continue.That's when a car really makes a difference. It prevents isolation and allows life to continue in a full and normal way. Even if you have never driven or owned a vehicle, by the time you are in old age, having a lift becomes less of a treat and more of a need.What is becoming very apparent is a culture of ageism addressed by patronising lip service to justify a desire by people with ideals but no real vision of how even they may be 40 years down the line.If we are going to have schemes to make things better then pragmatism and broad minded vision needs to be applied and it seems to be sadly lacking in this country.
Mark Kehoe ● 2581d