Initially the plan was for 10 electric low emission "green" vehicles to redistribute the bikes along with 20 staff. However, It quickly became clear that 10 vehicles couldn't cope, especially around mainline stations where the docking bays are either full or empty. The Alke electric vehicles are only available for a few hours in the day and have proved totally inadequate for the job.
So, undercover of darkness a whole fleet of Trucks, vans, Mondeo's and Fiestas take to the street.
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| Badly ridden these bikes cause massive congestion. |
The Taxi trade in London has lost a massive amount of corporate account work, as banks and big businesses seek to be perceived as greener. So any facilitator who can provide transport to their staff with a "Green" image is given a contract.
Even National Heath Service cheats Lewis Day who claimed £250,000 for ghost rides, (ones that never actually took place), which they subsequently paid back (but only after being caught) are given prestige accounts across the city as they use the Toyota Prius. Another company with large corporate accounts is the Green tomato company who also use the Prius.
But is all the hype about the Prius a positive fact?
Lifetime energy usage
In 2008 the British government and British media, requested that Toyota release detailed figures for the energy use and CO2 emissions resulting from the building and disposal of the Prius. Toyota has not supplied the detailed data they requested to support claims that the lifetime energy usage of the Prius (including the increased environmental cost of manufacture and disposal of the nickel-metal hydride battery) is outweighed by lower lifetime fuel consumption.
CO2 advertising claims
In the UK, the Advertising Standards Authority, an independent body charged with policing the rules of the advertising industry, ruled that a television advert for the Toyota Prius should not be broadcast again in the same form, having breached rules concerning misleading advertising. The advert claimed the Prius "emits up to one tonne less CO2 per year", while on-screen text included "1 tonne of CO2 less than an equivalent family vehicle with a diesel engine. Average calculated on 20,000 km a year.".
Points of contention were the vehicles chosen for comparison, whether "up to one tonne less" adequately communicated the reductions could be lower, and whether the distance used was appropriate:
20,000 km per year is around the average annual driving distance for a USA car, while in the UK its 13,440 km.
20,000 km per year is around the average annual driving distance for a USA car, while in the UK its 13,440 km.
An earlier complaint to the New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority, in 2003, was also upheld. It ruled that Toyota was in breach of the New Zealands advertising standards code of ethics, by claiming "up to 89% fewer smog-forming emissions.”
The figure was based on comparison with Euro 3 standards, which most new cars also met comfortably at the time.
The figure was based on comparison with Euro 3 standards, which most new cars also met comfortably at the time.
"Badly ridden these bikes cause massive congestion."
ReplyDeleteThere's 6 people there taking up the space of 1 car. How on earth is that causing congestion? It's cutting congestion by 5/6ths.
Perception is everything ,whether the prius is greener or not doesnt really matter.
ReplyDeleteThe hay day of radio work has gone forever.
There's 6 people there taking up the space of 1 car.
ReplyDeleteNo they are not! they are riding across the lane forming a barrier.
Riding across the carriageway causing traffic to congest behind.
There are thousands of miles of bike lanes mostly unused by selfish wobbly bikers who think its a good idea to cycle in the middle of the carriageway in two's and Three's abreast, instead of single file.
Cyclist frequently jump traffic lights causing traffic to come to a stop causing congestion.
Cyclists riding at night with no lights startle traffic sometimes causing accidents, even the none KIS accidents cause congestion.
In Jenny Jones own words most of traffic congestion on London bridges is cause by.
Many accidents are caused by cyclists wobbling about.
Jenny these cyclists need better training.
Unfortunately with boris bikes any nutter with a credit card can take one. Look at the way the young Arab kids are ridding round knightsbridge at night...its a wonder many more have not been killed
Rickshaw bikes cause frequent accidents involving moving vehicles, there has been three high profile ones in the last five days. But you wont read that in the Independent as rickshaw accidents are recorded as bike accidents.
All bike accidents for purpose of insurance (as they don't have any) are recorded as the motorist at fault.
They are about as green as my Taxi
Boris bikes have cost London tax payers £16K each in set up cost and for every £1 taken in they cost £5 in running cost.
But its not about the money is it, until you ain't got any left.
JB