Smog!

All that I ask is that any pollution control is in place for all to benefit and not just for the enhancement of someones political career.

or their pocket!

I recall in the days of "smog" that people succumbed to bronchitis and other lung problems, I don't think life expectancy was particularly good and this was also the era of heavy smoking. It would appear that people are now being affected by pollution of a different kind. We were stuck on the M5 the other day surrounded by large vehicles and the air, even in the country side was unpleasant. It seems the calculations on diesel fumes didn't take into account increased traffic volumes moving at very slow speeds. Looks as though a major re-think is needed, we need transport but it will have to be powered by different means.

If you want to see real pollution of the air look no further than ocean going ships. The photographs of the Russian fleet passing through the English Channel recently was a good example.  We do not notice that pollution much as it gets dispersed over a huge area of sea, even though most large ships are pouring it out due to the type of cheap fuel they are designed to use.

So what the inner cities would benefit from is some better ventilation. One does not get smog up on the hills.

And as for public transport - what I see are dozens of buses driving about with very few or nil passengers. I really can't use them myself as they don't go to the places I need to visit, and three hours plus two or three changes of bus/train to get somewhere I can drive to in fifteen minutes is not a good overall use of resources.

The trouble now is that we also get pollution from other countries so we get a double dose of unpleasant pollutants.

Not being able to drive at the moment has thrown me back on to the public transport system. Last week we had to take OH's car in for a service and first MOT. the return journey home and return later to collect had to be by bus. A task that would normally have taken about an hour in total resulted in being tied up for almost the whole day. Locally, I use either my bike or free bus pass but for those with children, it becomes prohibitive.

More could be done to encourage all the population to walk for short journeys but time would seem to be more precious and if bulky or heavy shopping is involved there is little incentive to forgo the car. As I posted earlier, we need a radical lifestyle rethink.

Agree, it's no good saying to people 'take a bus' or 'walk' until an infrastructure is in place to allow this change without being prohibitive. Luckily where I live we have a decent bus service so if I need to travel into the city from our village its easy, relaxing and interesting, especially on the top deck.

We also have a disused railway nearby where a cycle ride can also take us into the city, but spending cuts have it in a poor state of repair.

Where we live we have buses every 15 minutes and they are electric. In lots of cities public transport is excellent so not as much need to use your car. Obviously not as convenient if you have a lot of shopping. There are all sorts of ways it could be tackled. I was surprised that in the Autumn Statement that the fuel duty of diesel wasn't increased. It wouldn't be very popular but it might be a way forward. The Government could really increase the subsidy on electric cars to make them even more affordable. We could resurrect the idea of road pricing so that how much you pay is dictated by when and how often you use the roads. Some of these extra charges could then be redirected to cleaner, cheaper and more frequent public transports. However it will be a brave politicial that suggest putting any of those things in place. Perhaps a start would be a consultation where the options could be put forward and we, as the general public, could add our own views. Atleast that way Government would get an idea of how much the public would accept.

David

I remember the Smog lingering over quite rural parts of Kent near Sevenoaks at this time of year - and the sulphur smell yuck! 

I won't waste my breath hoping for decent public transport in rural areas - but I do try not to use my car more than necessary - combining journeys etc. 

Our village doesn't have any public transport at all.

If we get any heavy traffic eg wagons etc it generally means they are lost & asking for directions.

The only smog we get is an occasional sea mist.

No pollution here!

Bugs

"Increase the subsidy on electric cars"  Do people think that electicity is produced without pollution of are they just happy that the pollution is not dumped in their back yard.