somerandomer (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

it has been shown repeatedly that in the long run increasing the lanes on roads does not ease congestion as it makes road travel more appealing and traffic levels expand to fill the road space.by definition, if you make people pay for the entire social cost of driving, this will move it back to a socially optimum level however

dude157 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Therefor if you increase the cost of using roads, it will have a much smaller effect on the number of road users compared with the % increase in revenue generated.The real solution would be to build roads with more lanes to ease conjestion, increasing the supply of roads thus removing the excess demand for roads

dude157 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

randomer, road pricing will do little to ease congestion, as you have an A-level in economics you will probably be aware of the term "Price Elasticity of demand" its a pretty basic concept, you may also be aware that the Price Elasticity of demand for road usage is "Inelastic" To those unsure in basic terms this means "The % change in quantity demanded is smaller than the % change in price"

Spacecat42 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thanks for understanding.

J4CK2709 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

We need more people like this. The funds for public transport are lackluster and, yet we are encouraged to use it and apart from self atisfaction and a better planet we have no benifits, its time to stand up and do something!

Spacecat42 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Good lord, someone agrees with me! Yay!

heddingham (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Here, Here!!! By increasing the petrol price, and introducing road pricing, you could spend money gained from said taxes on improving the public transport, thus killing two or three birds with one stone. The public transport would be brilliant, you would no longer need to drive. The planet would be better off, and there would be less congestion. Better for everybody in the long run.

Spacecat42 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I don't dislike road pricing OR the increased price in petrol, because I don't drive, I've been forced to use crappy public transport for 27 years. It's about time those of us with a low carbon footprint got some sort of satisfaction over anything. Perhaps we can have some better trains, now? Stop fucking driving, stop fucking whining.

somerandomer (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

you only need to to a level economics to realise road pricing is a good idea. fuel duty may reduce people on the road but is innefective because it does not target the specific time of day when congestion is at its highest. road pricing charges you based on the business of the road. It is aimed to reduce the social costs of congestion (eg people getting to work late and thus their productivity being reduces) by internalising the social cost of congestion to the driver.

obsidian348 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

no...i dislike road pricing and disagree with his amusing speach