Road Congestions Charges

[Mike]

Segways have now been approved for travel on the UK roads. That should help with the whole fuel issue, after all, you only need to lean forwards. . . .

[johnriley1uk]

Isn't there a European Human Right that guarantees us the freedom to travel?

[BarcelonAl]

Segways have now been approved for travel on the UK roads. That should help with the whole fuel issue, after all, you only need to lean forwards. . . .

I'm looking forward to seeing the first one on the M60 in rush hour...

[stimpsonslostson]

One of Beckys workmates already rides one to work (in Southend on sea), I suggested that if he ever tried it thru manchester he'd be walking home! NEDs on segways- it'd be hilarious, much better than minimotos.
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[Mike]

Isn't there a European Human Right that guarantees us the freedom to travel?

We have the right to travel but can not afford to travel. I think that is the nature of Catch-22.

[mr_e]

I think john's just discovered the difference between formal and effective freedom.

The first time I remember seeing a Segway was in the Weird Al video for "White and Nerdy". It has somewhat distorted my perception of them, but 12mph is pretty damn fast (professional marathon-runner pace!).

It's not like the police are going to go around arresting Becky's friends, but "...in the UK it is unlawful to use a Segway anywhere other than on private property...". So say the DfT. Hell, the police would be too busy either staring, laughing, or confiscating cider from hoodies.

[stimpsonslostson]

I was actually implying that it'd be stolen at the first set of traffic lights! (Probably at knife point if the papers are to be believed... its really bugging me at the moment, see in the news...)
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[mr_e]

Heh, I got what you'd implied but decided a tangential statement would be the best idea (as I usually do). They would be worth stealing, if you could find someone who wanted to buy one... the police would just have to find the one person in the UK who uses it and arrest them.

Mike, where did you read they'd been made legal? Can't find anything myself. There seems to be a lot of news recently, and I can't see the problem with them being used on cycle lanes if they're safe enough: the 12mph top speed is maybe a bit too fast for pavements. Any opinions on where they should be allowed?

A large issue is that £4,200 is way too high a price for these things.

[Mike]

I had heard they were being discussed in the House of Lords and they had passed a bill that made them legal on UK roads. I don't know exactly what website it was though. That will teach me not to post a link!

[stimpsonslostson]

A large issue is that £4,200 is way too high a price for these things.

there's always a premium to be paid for cutting edge tech... eh Mike (cough*iphone*cough)
12mph isn't that fast compared to a reasonably fit biker, I average just under 19mph to work on a mountain bike. whats the range on one?
I agree that they'd have to be used in the bike lanes tho'- I get REALLY annoyed with bikes on pavements (or going thru red lights), it gives the rest of us a bad name. I heard a rumour that if you're busted on the bike the points can be put on your driving license!
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[Mike]

Hum. Actually iPhones are of comparable price to other smart phones and therefore are not really costing any more for innovative technology. Anyway the rumour is that the new iPhone will be available on a 18 month contract for £100. Not too bad and better than the £269 cost of one at the moment.

[Mike]

Manchester has signed its death warrant as far as I am concerned with the introduction of a Congestion Charge. In a time where people budgets are being pinched at every corner they introduce an (illegal?) road charge. £3 per day is a very high charge on so many other taxes, especially when you consider £1.80 will be spent on administration of the system. They do give a small carrot of £2.8 billion pounds being spent on a World Class Public Transport System. Not falling for it. It will take 3 years to integrate the road C Charge and 10-15 years to get the pulic transport. That just seems plain wrong to me. I hope they are not going to start charging to go to the Trafford Centre else that will die too.

[stimpsonslostson]

trafford centre

its inside the m60 so it is technically inside the zone. MMU carpark is cut in half by the inner band, but you have to enter it (and incur a charge) to get to the entrance! So on the rare occaisions I need to take my car into the office I'll be paying £2 per day. My boss who lives in Glossop is looking down the wrong end of £5 per day. He's not a happy boy- I suspect he'll work 0645- 1430 with me covering 0845-1630. But thats not possible for some people.
Anyone wanna buy a bike? I've got one going spare!
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[Al Ogle]

So when does it actually come into effect? Will it make public transport more expensive? thats the things thats really going to annoy me. I can not see the benefit. Manchester should focus on moving business from london to manchester not put them off before they start. I am all for a congestion charge in a way. It just seems a bit too soon and a bit too much. The size of the area is crazy as well. Why the hell you should have to pay £3 to drive through chorlton doesn't make any sense at all.

[BarcelonAl]

Charging is due to start in 2013 as they'll have to work out some technological way of ripping your cold hard cash out of your bank account.

I don't think it will make public transport more expensive as the point of the whole exercise (alledegdly) is to make people use buses, trams and trains more frequently. The government has pledged £3bn to improve and extend the current infrastructure, but knowing Manchester Council, they'll balls it up!