I read the following article this morning. "From August, bus gates will be in operation on Bachelors Walk and Aston Quay in order to restrict drivers from travelling through the city centre."
https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/major-changes-to-dublin-city-traffic-to-come-into-effect-in-august-1610937.html
The quays have always been a pain in the a$$ to use, no matter the time of day… So, how will this effect people?
The thing that bothers me about the "we need a Metro/rail solution first" piece, is the following:
In the meantime, I'd really like to know, for those who keep saying we need a widespread Metro solution first before we do anything to reprioritise road space to support more effective and efficient bus-based public transport - you're basically saying that bus passengers should remain deprioritised versus private traffic, for the next 20-30 years.
This in order to continue the convenience of more often than not, single occupancy private motorists, many of whom don't need to go via the city centre but chose to do so, just because that access has always been facilitated for them. And also to continue the convenience of a limited number of high wealth individuals who we are told are special petals, who won't go to Arnotts or Brown Thomas unless they can park precisely three feet away from the boutique handbag or expensive electronics department.
Absolutely buses need to be prioritised now. Hence the bus gates.
Rail or light rail development is glacial in Ireland.
You have to imagine there would probably be an initial rush of offences to deal with then a big drop off as people get the hint that if they act the maggot then they're going to get caught.
Most of the GPOs perceived work is done in sorting centres, not in the GPO itself. Penneys and Arnotts are big enough to get out of peak hours deliveries. None of this is rocket science.
Yes, mainly by the parking warden but it can be.
Thats always been the way with cameras, it is then up to the owner to transfer the offence, via the gardai, to the actual driver if they were not driving at the time by notifying the authorities. A relatively harmless procedure.
Politicians are well aware the sheer volume of offences and won't annoy the electorate, even if for their own good, when it will apparently annoy lots of them.
Motor tax is paid to help upkeep the roads.
When do you feel cyclists, tourists and pedestrians should start to pay that tax?
It is not. Or rather, it is no more paid for that than it is paid to fund hospitals or social welfare. And income tax and VAT is equally paid to help upkeep the roads.
Straight from the minister: https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-09-22/196/#pq-answers-196:
Since 1 January 2018, receipts from motor tax have accrued to the Exchequer and are paid into the Central Fund. Issues from the Central Fund are used in the day-to-day running of the State and it is, therefore, not possible to link specified revenue to specific expenditure.
Govt needs to accelerate the larger underground network plan, absolutely.
Public transport in the meantime should be prioritiised, but not to the total detriment of cars.
The people paying 50k upwards for a family car are the people with money. No, those people are not going to spend 50k on a car and then travel on the bus instead; even if the bus stops outside their front door. Every minute.
No, those people are not going to spend in the city centre if they can't drive there.
Then shouldn't motor tax be applied to everyone, including non-car owners?
If not, why are car owners paying an increased level of tax?
You don't understand what central funding is. You pay motor tax because you have a car.
And how is that money used?
As I said, you don't understand what central funding is.
To help pay for everything the government do.
You might as well say car drivers get special privileges in hospital because you pay motor tax.
Tax is applied to everyone. When I pay income tax, that is used to fund the roads. When I pay VAT, that is used to fund the roads. When I pay DIRT, that is used to fund the roads.
why are car owners paying an increased level of tax?
Why do smokers pay an increased level of tax? Alcohol drinkers? House purchasers? Why do people earning over X amount have to pay a larger portion? None of those taxes are ringfenced, they all go to the central fund.
Or you might say the tax is used primarily to fund local and regional roads. Novel concept, I know.
Motor tax is used primarily to fund road infrastruture.
All this is irrelevant to the fact that our public transport is poor and buses are not the future.
You might say it, but it wouldn't be true.
That is a lie. You have been given a direct quote from the Minister of Transport that states that you are now deliberately making a false statement.
https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/question/2020-09-22/196/#pq-answers-196
They don't pay towards the upkeep though. Roads tax goes into the general tax pot like anything else.
Because Car's and Lorries do a most/all damage to the road.
How do you propose to fix public transport in the city in the next 10 years. Not things that are 30 years away from happening.
You and I both know the government is not going to accelerate any underground solution. And as I said, even if they did that tonight, it would have a 10-20 year lead in time.
The salient point you're espousing still stands - people with wealth and means should have disproportionate and unfettered access, even if that comes with knock on effects that reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of the public transport network around them. You can dance on a head of a pin around that as much as you want, but that's what the argument boils down to.
Well then they're chumps who were scammed by the oil industry. Their choice doesn't have to be accommodated by society.
What is all this scutter about motor tax? Last time I had a car I paid €200 a year on motor tax while also paying €20,000 on income tax. The fact that I paid the 200 quid didn't make me better than anyone. The state chucked 15 billion on a new motorway network over 10 years. Motor tax wouldn't even come close to covering that. The take from motor tax covers feck all. The roads are heavily subsidised by other forms of general taxation.
Anyway it's completely irrelevant since the people on public transport are mostly also car owners and Dublin people voted overwhelmingly in favour of city councillors that back the transport plan. The current 'compromise' only benefits the selfridges retail Ltd. A multi national corporation effectively being handed public space for free
And roads are funded from that central pot.
And? Your claim:
Motor tax is used primarily to fund road infrastruture
That is a lie
It's a compromise.
Those folks spending the big money are not going to come into town on a bus. T
Can you tell us what the split is? How much of motor tax revenue is not spent on roads and infrastructure?
No, I can't. Neither can the Minister for Transport, as per the quote I've already posted twice. You have claimed, repeatedly:
My claim: Motor tax is not ringfenced for road infrastructure. I've provided a statement from the Minister backing my claim up
You back up your claim, or accept that you are wrong, and stop repeating the lie that has been disproven
