Choose to lose?

Some interesting, and even thoughtful, debates about Chooseday elsewhere.

I've met a few of the people involved in Chooseday, and got the impression that they are basically well-intentioned and well-meaning. But that doesn't make it a good idea.

In fact, the most useful thing about Chooseday is that it shows just how silly it is to pretend that carbon cutting is or should be a matter of individual choice. This has become an ever present refrain in the last few years: choose to leave your car at home, choose to insulate your loft, choose to buy fair trade coffee, choose to carry a shopping bag, choose to fly less.

Unfortunately there are two massive problems with this approach:

1. It completely lets government off the hook. Let's face it, major social and economic change is not achieved by well-meaning individuals (although they may get the ball rolling). The welfare state wasn't set up by some voluntary organisations suggesting 'Wouldn't it be nice if we all paid some money into a national social fund? We could use it to pay for healthcare and pensions!' Segregation in the American South wasn't abolished by a public awareness campaign. Laws had to be passed, and individuals had to abide by them, whether they wanted to or not. Choice didn't have a whole lot to do with it.

2. People don't always behave as predicted. A report out today suggests that we use the money saved by energy efficiency measures in part to pay for other carbon-heavy activities. So you might get a council grant to insulate your loft, and then splurge the money you've saved on your leccy bill on a plasma TV or a holiday abroad. Hey, that's your choice, and if the prices of the TV or the flight don't reflect the damage done, then who can blame you?

Now I'm not suggesting that we ban cars - on Tuesday or any other day. But people need incentives, both negative and positive.

It goes without saying that the buses in Bristol should be half the price and five times as frequent/reliable/clean. And I speak as somebody who actually takes the bus on a regular basis, unlike many with opinions on this subject. Nothing ticks me off more than hearing 'I can't be expected to get the bus until the service improves'. (Well, maybe 'I can't be expected to send my kids to a Bristol state school.') What about all the people who have to rely on buses - kids, the elderly, those who can't afford a car?

But even with the best bus service in the world, people will still choose to drive. So let's make that choice a bit less attractive - congestion charging, workplace parking charges and residents' parking should all do the trick. And, while we're at it, let's not build any more roads for a while.

All of this, and more, can be found in the eminently sensible Transport Manifesto for Greater Bristol. Interestingly enough, when in opposition, the council Labour group set up an epetition calling for 20 mph speed limits in residential areas - one of the manifesto's key demands. Now they are back in power, they seem content with draping Chooseday banners over the Council House. Looks like they've passed the buck back to us hapless individuals.