Europe turns against cars

[GOLF]

I was reading an article in a Indian newspaper that Europe is going to make buying cars tough and parking driving them will be restricted.According to the article major roads are being converted into pedestrian friendly spaces and owing a car will be difficult.Europe with its century old roads is unable to cope with traffic and to meet future emission norms phasing the car is becoming a priority so as to move them to towards public transport.In France for example Bicycles have occupied main roads with restriction in movement of cars.

It really ironic that these same Europeans lambasted USSR 30 years ago for restricting ownership of car showed it as a symbol of opression - How times have changed.

What Europe is forgetting is that if motor industry collapses or is restricted it will lead to collapse of European Economy - it is the Golden egg laying chicken.

[asethi919]

I've heard about this. Green Peace is actively working to make life hell for car companies in Europe. Here is an example. Green Peace made this video slandering Volkswagon for trying to fight against further tightening of emmission norms. The video is rather funny by the way. It has a Star Wars theme.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bl3gTx7GKEw

[Durango Dude]

Don't worry Europe is a saturated market. If and when India catches up and families typically start having one/two cars for each in the family, it's bound to happen here too. As such there's no pleasure driving around in the city, if you happen to live close to the Usman Road in T'Nagar, Chennai,  life time will be cut short just by the hustle and bustle of traffic, honking, pollution and milling crowds of people all jostling for space and increasing stress levels. Public transport is the way to go and the car may be reduced to recreational tool (which you can live without) from a necessity. Previously cycle was the main way of transport in China, on my recent visit there, I could hardly find one and that's not sustainable. So enjoy it when it lasts; all good things in life have to come to an end.

[sgiitk]

@DD; Also, remember in Europe Public Transportation, at least in major cities is well developed. So there is an alternative. What about us - zilch.Where the public transportation is developed and not overloaded - say Delhi private car use is declining. Mumbai and Kolkata PT is grossly overloaded, but still imagine all the millions who use PT on the roads.

sgiitk2011-07-01 04:12:29

[Durango Dude]

All the more reason for us develop a good PT with our burgeoning poplation, we need it more than Europe. Here's clip of a video taken in China I believe.

[GOLF]

All the more reason for us develop a good PT with our burgeoning poplation' date=' we need it more than Europe.

[/quote']

It is easy to blame cars for mess when the actual problem lies with overpopulation which no country takes it seriously except China and lack of planning.Even if all cars are banned and people travel with Public Transport still problem of jams will be there as cities are all unplanned even Europe

Governments all over the world want to restrict cars for their own selfish goals  as use of Public transport will make them more richer and investment is less for long term.IMHO ,Public transport is good only for transporting School children and IT employees but not for people working in essential services.

[sarabjeet]

.Europe with its century old roads is unable to cope with traffic and to meet future emission norms phasing the car is becoming a priority so as to move them to towards public transport.

 

I blame BMC(Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) for going slow with road widening but atleast BMC does it. I guess its time for EU countries to take lesson from BMC

 

@Golf yes your are right. No matter how well developed Public Transport is your cannot have route for each and place from point to point. There has to be an interchange somewhere.

sarabjeet2011-07-01 06:38:38

[rssh]

I agree with Golf ,India need to reduce the growth of population like a  taxation scheme for people with more than 2 children applicable from a year say 2013 will need to pay annual tax to the govt. or need to pay more income tax . This will bound to give positive results in the future . Family planning commission has met with a bit of positive success but we need such policies to control the growth .

 

I don't see India ever going to have such Green peace activities as many American and European think that India and China as using all the fossil fuel for development .