WarbyD wrote:softy wrote:rolandp wrote:
CycleWest also had an article this week:
Buddy up: save your public transport colleagues paid parking fees
encouraging us to 'buddy up' to the train station:
Now is a great time to introduce fellow colleagues to using pedal power to get to the train station as bike parking remains free of charge.
“Trips to train stations are often less than four kilometres in distance. This is just a fifteen minute slow bike ride, half of the minimum daily recommended level of exercise,” said Jillian Woolmer Research and Policy Officer at the Department of Transport and Accredited AustCycle Coach.
A return trip from the train station home would save commuters money and tick the daily required exercise box.
“Sometimes all it takes for someone to take up bike riding is to have a knowledgeable buddy taking them along and showing them the route. Not knowing the safest and easiest way to ride or how to use the bike cage is a barrier for many,” said Ms Woolmer.
This really is a pipe dream!
People will not buddy up, unless they are neighbours going the same way and starting and finishing at the same time, which is rare.
Okay they say cycle, well most people don't want to be cold, hot or wear a helmet to mess their hair when wearing work attire. So no they probably will not want to cycle most times of the year. The car is just more comfortable.
Unfortunately 99.9% will still drive and try and park somewhere?
Do you ever have anything positive to say? I am fairly sure every post of yours I've read has been something negative or complaining about how wrong something/someone is...
What is YOUR suggestion?
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Yes, public transport reduces cars on the road, uses less carbon and is a more efficient way of moving people. This is a great thing! It should be encouraged as well as walking jogging and cycling. All these thing have huge advantages. It keeps cars off the road and makes people healthier as well.
The buddy up thing has been tried in the past and wasn't very successful, remember the lanes for two or more people in a car? In theory it is great, but in practice people want freedom to leave and start to do different things after work, and things like splitting petrol become complicated. Some people do it and that is great idea, but not a huge number. On a positive note; Sir charles gardiner are really good here as they support this and give staff a extra incentive to buddy. They get a closer parking to the hospital. Give people an incentive and culture can change. But you need government or employer pressure.
How can making the fares more and park go from zero to $2.00 change culture or be a good thing? Yes the above poster talked about cost associated with the infrastructure, which I agree is true. But if you applied this cost, who would park and ride? Less people I'm sure?
We have a growing nation, and I'm not talking about numbers. It is predicted by 2025 (at the current rate) obesity will overtake smoking as the biggest medical cause of death in this country. We can choose to do nothing or do something. It's not being negative it is being realistic. If you do lots of little things to encourage people, even a little exercise ever day, we can be a healthier country. Using public transport usually involves a little more exercise than driving the total distance and it gets more cars off the road which saves road infrastructure cost.
Instead of being personal and having a go at me (for being negative) write something that adds to the disscussion. If you believe putting up PTA cost is a good thing, please lets hear your point of view? And why?
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