REARVIEW:I FILLED THE car from empty at the weekend and managed to get almost €100 worth of fuel into the tank. Motoring has become an expensive pursuit, particularly if you are in the haulage or bus business. Commuters who use their cars to get to and from work, and whose salaries have also been cut of late, are also being very badly hit.
There is no good news on the horizon unfortunately, with petrol and diesel prices expected to surge further because of unrest in oil-producing regions of the world. At the same time there are no indications of cuts in Government duties on motoring, which make up a large proportion of the forecourt cost. There also isn’t a realistic chance of new public transport projects coming on stream in the near future; meanwhile transport companies struggle to continue with existing services. Many commuters, let down by our improved – yet still inadequate – public transport network, are forced into their cars to get to work. They, quite simply, rely on the car to make a living.
But there is a straightforward solution at hand that would help to ease the pain: surely it is time to open up often empty bus lanes to motorists who club together and car pool during peak hours. The system of giving high occupancy vehicles (HOVs) designated road space has worked well in other cities across the world, particularly in the US.
Generally those with more than two occupants can use specially designated lanes or bus lanes and get to their destination quicker and with the fraction of emissions or fuel cost. It could also significantly cut down on the number of cars on the road, which would benefit motorists, cyclists and pedestrians alike, not to mention the environment.
A car pooling system could be started quickly and with little cost to the exchequer, although any such proposal would likely meet with opposition from bus companies and taxi drivers. However, it is time to do something to ease the pain of the long-suffering ordinary motorist, without reference to the usual vested interests.