There may come a time when cars are no longer welcome in most cities. Already there are signs around the world this is starting to happen. The question is whether or when Sydney will stop its love affair with the car.
Diesel, once hailed as more efficient and less polluting than petrol, may be on the way out. While the VW saga drew attention to diesel emissions, there are signs this fuel is losing favour.
Authorities can see the polluting effect of diesel.
People who no longer live in Sydney often say they left because of traffic and parking headaches. Even Melburnians pay much lower fines for the same offences than Sydneysiders, who are racking up huge parking fines. Meanwhile, councillors in Adelaide are calling for CBD parking fines to be cut in half because they are deterring visitors.
The Get your hand off it campaign begun in June 2013 warned against using hand-held mobile phones while driving. Yet Queensland University of Technology (QUT) found using a hands-free mobile while driving is just as distracting as holding one.
When Australians are buying a car, what is the biggest factor in their minds? You might think it is power, but 80% of buyers make fuel efficiency their top priority. A survey commissioned by Ford in 11 Asian countries found 29% of Australian buyers who end up choosing a powerful car regret they didn’t pick a more fuel efficient one.
In Australia, especially in cities and busy suburbs, speed limits are on the way down. The message is clear: speed kills. It makes sense that moving more slowly creates less impact if you are forced to stop. But what if moving too slowly changes the way you drive?
Did you buy a new motorbike in 2016? You’re in good company. Sales of new motorbikes, all terrain vehicles (ATVs) and scooters in Australia lifted 6.6% from 2015 to 2016. People bought 114,783 shiny new motorbikes, ATVs and scooters during the year. This was the strongest result in 7 years.
Accidents in car parks are becoming more common. Many cars, especially SUVs, are too wide for old-style parking spaces and have scrapes on the sides to prove it.
According to a 2016 housing affordability survey, Sydney is the second most expensive in the world after Hong Kong. It’s no surprise that transport in Sydney is becoming unaffordable, compared to other Australian cities. Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has developed Australia’s first Transport Affordability Index. It reveals the real cost of car ownership and public transport.
Imagine you’ve just bought your dream car, and the first time you go for a drive it won’t start. Maybe this is just one unlucky occasion, or perhaps you are one of the unfortunate people who has bought a “lemon”. Is it time for lemon laws?
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