

to think cars should be banned from towns and cities

(144 Posts)
chrome100 Fri 26-Apr-13 19:55:36

I don't own a car, mainly because I am too poor but also because I don't really need one and get around from A-B either on foot (short distances), cycling (medium distances), or bus/train (long distance). I am not a lentil-weaving hippy by any means but I really dislike the way that the dominance of the car has influenced our towns and cities - children can't play out, we are always waiting at junctions and traffic lights, running and walking necessitate several lengthy pauses to cross busy roads etc etc.

Why can't we create some kind of system whereby cars must be left on the outskirts of a city and everyone wanting to move around inside it has to walk/cycle/use the bus? I know this is hugely unrealistic and expensive but the impact this would have on our daily lives would be immense. The general environment would be so much more pleasant, we'd be to roam (ok, maybe I am a bit lentil weaver grin )

I know some people are disabled etc and allowances could be made for that but the vast majority of car journeys within a city (I think) could be avoided if people gave themselves more time to get to where they were going.

I'd love to live in a town town with no traffic, to cycle along with no cars and not have to fight dangerous junctions as a pedestrian.

overprotection Fri 26-Apr-13 19:56:57

I think pedestrians should be banned from towns and cities, they hold up traffic by crossing the road too much.

caroldecker Fri 26-Apr-13 19:58:51

Also buses - blocking the road at every stop

I think we have this already. It's called pedestrian areas ....

And what about those who actually live in the city centre? Are you suggesting I should park my home 6+ miles away from the house even though many of the places we need to get to are in areas not really served by public transport?

Lazyjaney Fri 26-Apr-13 20:02:46

I think people should be banned from towns and cities, they cause nearly all the problems.

VinegarDrinker Fri 26-Apr-13 20:04:21

I totally agree. Obviously some towns and cities will need a serious overhaul of their public transport systems to allow for it though.

(We are also car-free, can you tell?)

VinegarDrinker Fri 26-Apr-13 20:05:40

I'd also like to see driving distances that are easily walkable banned (with obvious exceptions for the disabled etc).

nancerama Fri 26-Apr-13 20:06:49

Rather than banning or restricting car use, I'd love to see some real thought going into planning consents and town planning to make the use of a car less necessary.

I used to live in the Netherlands, where everything you need is a walk/short cycle ride away from home and public transport is reliable, frequent and affordable.

Unfortunately the UK seems to prefer the American way of life with massive out of town supermarkets and retail parks taking business from local shops and thereby increasing car use.

dopeysheep Fri 26-Apr-13 20:06:55

I definitely think more pedestrian areas should be created. Also more tunnels/bridges over busy roads so you can move around more freely.

Bowlersarm Fri 26-Apr-13 20:07:47

Won't happen any time soon. Car is king.

overprotection Fri 26-Apr-13 20:09:32


To enforce this we could either:

a) Have police follow people around to see if they drive a short distance and then get out of the car.

b) Microchip everyone and put a tracker in their car, to see if they drive it somewhere they could have walked.

A fine use of government resources I'm sure all will agree.

VinegarDrinker Fri 26-Apr-13 20:12:06

Ok, you're quite right, in the real world I don't actually think it should be made illegal.

chrome100 Fri 26-Apr-13 20:12:41

You're right - I live 20 mins walk from the city centre so I can access everything I want on foot, give or take and also the train station. I accept this would be harder for those living in the leafy suburbs. However, many suburbs are only 5 miles away from the city centre - an easy distance to cycle or if not bus and possibly walk for those with more time.

Everything would need hugely overhauling but, imho, it would be worth it.

sleeplessbunny Fri 26-Apr-13 20:14:47

everyone can learn to ride motorbikes instead! wink

HoHoHoNoYouDont Fri 26-Apr-13 20:15:00

Everyone should drive these when inner city. I saw one yesterday, they're great.


expatinscotland Fri 26-Apr-13 20:16:49

I think we should bring back horses and carriages, ankle-deep horse shite mixed with horse piss is much better.

HollyBerryBush Fri 26-Apr-13 20:22:29

I think they should do away with towns and cities and make people stay indoors and only interact through theinternet and do shopping online


imour Fri 26-Apr-13 20:24:14

go live in the country then knob

Eskino Fri 26-Apr-13 20:27:17

Holly I thought they had?

<twitches nets>

AngiBolen Fri 26-Apr-13 20:28:13

I agree. And I drive everywhere. Subsidised buses/trams are the way to go. I'd be laughing.

nailak Fri 26-Apr-13 20:30:25

but how would all the buggies fit on the bus?

What happens if you are disabled but don't drive and you use taxis? Also, what would happen if the government decided you just weren't disabled enough but you still couldn't walk any sort of distance?

thereonthestair Fri 26-Apr-13 20:33:58

So what do you do with me. I am lucky, I live in a city centre, and for me I cycle or walk, or get the train. My my ds has cerebral palsy. He can't ride a bike nor walk. What do you want us to do fly. If I had my way more congestion charging, more costs at bringing a car into the centre, better park and ride and much better public transport are all priorities. I am happy to pay far more tax for that. But I have to drive a little when I am transporting ds, and walking, cycling and bus just don't work. If they did I would use them more. But they don't because most people won't pay the tax we need to.

VinegarDrinker Fri 26-Apr-13 20:34:17

There would be affordable public transport at the end of every road in this utopia shro

Join the discussion

Join the discussion


Register now