Did you regret giving up your car?

[Spartacus]

There was a petition to get the ULEZ implementation date moved back a year as we are just (or just not) coming out of a pandemic where a lot of people were financially impacted and the cost of upgrading an essential car was going to be a problem for them.

Not sure what happened to it but a similar one was rejected in March as it wasn't a government issue.

I am surprised that as this is being implemented in 2 months that there hasn't been stronger publicity to say swap your car or pay to drive it.

[womanofdulwich]

In order to implement it there will have to be a huge infrastructure of cameras. Its movement within the area, not just at the thresholds.

I can't see it being ready on time.

[richard tudor]

Why should the Mayor of London change or consider any other plan when he takes 3 cars when taking his dog for a walk.

Most people very soon would appreciate having a car for important day to day living.

[Sue]

richard tudor Wrote:

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> Why should the Mayor of London change or consider

> any other plan when he takes 3 cars when taking

> his dog for a walk.

>

> Most people very soon would appreciate having a

> car for important day to day living.

The mayor of London presumably has to consider security issues, and no doubt his cars conform to the ULEZ rules on emissions.

People may appreciate having a car, and as noted above, for some people it is virtually essential, however there is increasing evidence of the damage pollution does both to the environment and to health

The results of more research on that was just publicised this morning.

Edited for typos

[fishbiscuits]

Sue Wrote:

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> Foxy, I'm amazed you used to drive to Brighton and

> back in a day.

It's no big deal. Can do it in 1.5hrs or so, on a good day. I've done it to see friends for a night out, or to go to a gig. You need to pay to park in the City Centre of course. Free parking is available north of the centre if you have the appetite for a 25 min walk.

The train to Brighton is good too, though. Especially if you're mainly going to the Laines area which is v close to the station.

[oimissus]

I can?t imagine doing without our car (which has such low emissions we don?t pay any vehicle tax).

Although I didn?t often drive to my mother?s in north west London when she was terminally ill as it?s slower except at the weekends, my car was invaluable when it came to clearing her house and getting it ready to sell which dragged on for months. She was also reliant on someone driving her car, or driving her, to leave the house at all for the final two years - she put me on her car insurance.

We also use it for our U.K. holidays in the countryside and for days out - we?ve been to the seaside twice in the last couple of days - for getting out of London to recharge it?s invaluable.

We also need it to visit both my in laws, neither of whom live near a station and they don?t visit us as they hate the journey to Peckham now they?re getting on, and as my M-I-L was shielding for quite a while they won?t use public transport.

Being without a car is fine if your world is very local and you?re fit enough to manage public transport.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

Don't regret it at all - altho tbf I do have access to a friend's car when eg I want to buy a wardrobe off Gumtree or whatever.

Used cars are more expensive than ever - although that will probably ease in the next few months.

Sue Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> Seabag Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Get an electric bike or scooter Sue

> >

> > I expect most of your trips out are fairly

> local

> >

> > And join Zip too.

>

>

> I had thought of getting an electric bike, but I'm

> not very steady on a bike and I'm scared of the

> traffic.

>

> My push bike is too big for me and I do need to

> replace it, as it's been languishing in a hangar

> since I was too ill to ride it, however most of my

> local trips are to/from my allotment, and I

> couldn't carry bulky stuff on a bike.

You could try something like this if there's a shop that would give you a test ride. There's a bit less balance required (esp at slow speed) and you have a little basket for bits and pieces. It might work for you, it might not - everyone's needs are different.

https://www.milsegen.com/20-3-wheel-tricycle-with-basket-for-shopping-recreation

[first mate]

Lovely idea but where do you store something like this? Unless you have a large house with a side entrance to your property and an outhouse or garage, I suspect it is totally impractical for most people.

Similarly, electric bikes are touted as a solution for older people who might find the hills around ED a challenge, but they are also heavy and expensive, how do you lug them in and out of your home and where can you leave them that is secure- if you want to go shopping or similar?

[Sue]

I do know someone with a tricycle. She lives in Forest Hill

I also know someone with a unicycle. I'm not going to be getting one of those 🤣

Anyway, my ancient car has just passed its MOT, hooray, and I'm going to keep it while I suss out the financial effect of ULEZ.

[Dogkennelhillbilly]

first mate Wrote:

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> Lovely idea but where do you store something like

> this? Unless you have a large house with a side

> entrance to your property and an outhouse or

> garage, I suspect it is totally impractical for

> most people.

>

> Similarly, electric bikes are touted as a solution

> for older people who might find the hills around

> ED a challenge, but they are also heavy and

> expensive, how do you lug them in and out of your

> home and where can you leave them that is secure-

> if you want to go shopping or similar?

Calm down, our kid. No-one was suggesting they should be mandatory. Lots of people in East Dulwich have front gardens and side alleys - lots of people don't. I have no idea where the poster to whom I was replying lives.

As for the question about where you leave a bike while you're shopping - the same place everyone leaves a bike while shopping - outside with a decent lock.

[Earl Aelfheah]

first mate Wrote:

-----------------------------------------------------

> Similarly, electric bikes are touted as a solution

> for older people who might find the hills around

> ED a challenge, but they are also heavy and

> expensive, how do you lug them in and out of your

> home and where can you leave them that is secure-

> if you want to go shopping or similar?

You don?t have to own one. Electric hire bikes are now in ED.

Also there are now some cargo bike rental stations (e.g. at Pitfield St). Hopefully we?ll see more of this around London over time.

[malumbu]

Good CCTV at Lidl in Peckham. No signs up either saying that there is safe bike parking, or that this is at the owners own risk, but a camera and a sign (not aimed at cyclists but conveniently where they are parked) is a good thing. Shame more shops don't have some sort of secure bike parking, there are ones where I take it in with me (thanks places such as Wickes and Decathlon).

Sorry Sue for hijacking but in my defence I did have a thread at the beginning of the year about the ULEZ and private car ownership.

[Sue]

No prob re hijacking, the thread has been really useful for me 🙂

But as I have now discovered on the ULEZ thread that I only have to pay the charge when I'm actually driving the car within the zone, I'm keeping it for the time being.

Certainly buying another car isn't an option until my present car expires and I've done more research.

Before I found out about the ULEZ details I had made some enquiries about cars I had seen online and then got inundated with phone calls from dealers 😭😭😭 as I couldn't be emailed the details without giving my phone number 😭😭😭

Anyway, my car passed its MOT last week 👍

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

Does anyone know if the scrappage grant HAS to be used to purchase a new car?

The actual wording is:

"The payment can be used to purchase a vehicle which does meet the ULEZ standards."

[Sue]

"can" not "must" .... ?!?!

But presumably you have to give up your car ..

[DulwichFox]

The ULEZ is soon to be extended.. meaning there will be charges outside the Current ULEZ.

There is to be yet another charge (So I'm told) to be implemented soon.

Foxy.

[malumbu]

Scrapage scheme ?2k for those on benefit. Prey tell DF, I've still got contacts in this area and news to me....

[Sue]

DulwichFox Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> The ULEZ is soon to be extended.. meaning there

> will be charges outside the Current ULEZ.

>

> There is to be yet another charge (So I'm told)

> to be implemented soon.

>

> Foxy.

https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?5,2229172,page=1

ETA: Sorry, linked to page 3 by mistake on my first attempt :))