Public Transportation <> Creativity & Innovation
This week I have written a piece at EcoWorldy recounting my experiences of public transport in the UK from a stand point of viability as governments around the world try to slowly wean motorists off of their beloved cars.
An excerpt of these experiences follows:
At 10.42 my train had yet to arrive. Ok, 2 minutes late is not a problem. At 10.52, by which time a Japanese train driver would be reaching for his Samurai sword there was still no sign of a train. Never mind, as an Englishman one rarely complains and tries to maintain a stiff upper lip in all circumstances. By 11.00, presumably having finished his tea break, the station master made an announcement informing the expectant passengers that our train would be an hour late due to "congestion in the Reading area".
Congestion? Trains? I had always, and apparently wrongly understood that road traffic is subject to random variations in traffic volume which can lead to buildups of heavy traffic in some areas, known as congestion.
Trains, on the other hand, rely on a strict schedule, known as a Timetable which is designed to ensure that journeys planned match the infrastructure available. Clearly the mathematicians at work in the fare calculation department have also had a hand in time tabling, using perverse forms of mathematics to introduce random variability and hence congestion into the timetable. (full story)
Talk to many about the use of public transport and they will tell you that in their situation it is not practical / feasible / realistic / financially attractive / pleasant / safe / possible. As I have written;
The real problem is that, unfortunately, many people expect little more and are subsequently conditioned to favour the car and discount public transport as ill-effective.
Current efforts to encourage use of transportation involving punitive taxation of motorists will forever be in vain until alternative options exist. Sadly, rather than taking the opportunity to invest increasing motor tax revenues into public transport options, these funds have ended up in the coffers of the exchequer to help fund an overspent government.
Return on Investment
As Stephen Joseph, executive director of the Campaign for Better Transport recently told journalists, "People are paying fuel duty and are not seeing any return in transport terms. As Gordon Brown half-promised in 1999, all increases should go into public transport."
It’s time to invest in creative and innovate ways to build a next generation transportation system which can serve our increasing needs for mobility, increasing density of population and increasingly scarce resources.
Until then, the car is here to stay.
Taxing motorists and gas and roadways to build public transport is not the answer, you remove your tax base!
Sheesh, tax motorists to force them onto public transit that you cannot make money on, that is why you are taxing them in the first place. If you made money you could spend it on updates and services.
Transporation needs to be private investment, with governments contributing land and regional market rights and perhaps some minor investments.
The government cannot make transportation a winner because they run it like they do the government, no accountability or need for profitability. If they over-spend or need more money for fuel or repairs, they ring up the PM “Hey Gordo, send us a few million pounds will you, you can raise the VAT on petrol”
If the system is well run it will make money, leading to more transport and better quality of service. Many a fortune was made in the past on transportation.
Governments are forced to service all areas, give discounts, maintain low volume routes. People expect Government services to be available everywhere because they finance them, even where they make little or no sense at all.