What would a sustainable NRMA in a living city look like?
Here are some of the issues NRMA members have raised with me through the website and by email over the first three weeks of the campaign. Candidates for the election were limited to a 200 word statement so here are some more developed ideas on what a sustainable NRMA in a living city would look like.
Q. From Col: What do candidates think the NRMA can do about rising prices at the fuel pump?
A. The impact of higher fuel prices is being felt already. Less traffic on the road, long faces at my local independent servo, the weekly shop now seems to cost more for less. Cheap flights are no longer so cheap and my neighbour is downsizing from the four wheel drive to a zippy little station wagon.
I think this is just the beginning. We need to prepare for a low energy and higher cost future. The best the government and the NRMA can do is to slow the impact of much higher energy costs on this emerging world. Oil production has peaked and the production of the only fossil fuel alternative, natural gas will peak within ten years.
Under escalating demand (from China and other developing economies) and constrained global supply, the cost of fossil based transport fuels will continue to rise. As long as the Australian government continues with 'world parity pricing' policies and maintains the massive tax take on the price of petrol and diesel, the cost of fossil based transport fuels will also continue to rise across Australia.
The best role the NRMA could play in these circumstances is to advocate for and support the development of low energy, low impact transport solutions that use energy sources that are sustainable into the future. These transport fuels include biodiesel, ethanol; hydrogen and electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
Slowing Climate Change
Q. From Andy: How can the NRMA help to slow the rate of climate
change?
A. I think
the current NRMA public policies are part of the problem of accelerating
climate change. Over most of its history the NRMA has advocated in the interests
of the auto industry and road builders at the expense of the environment
and the quality of life and amenity, particularly for members living in Inner
Sydney.
With the inevitable continuing rise in oil prices and the impending decline
in global supplies of fossil fuels, the NRMA is in danger of becoming an
irrelevant dinosaur.- Advocating for better roads which very few will be
able to afford
to drive on even if they can get fuel for their vehicles.
A bit of background. The rate of climate change is primarily driven by the greenhouse gas effect. Emissions from transport vehicles make a significant contribution to greenhouse gases either directly from vehicle tailpipe emissions or indirectly (e.g. electric trains powered by electricity generated in coal fired power stations). The level of greenhouse gas emissions from transport can be reduced by measures such as reducing the need to travel by private motor vehicles, more fuel efficient vehicles, using cleaner fuels and energy sources and greater control of tailpipe emissions.
From contributing to the problem,
the NRMA can become part of the solution to slowing the rate of climate change.
If elected I will be endeavouring to get the public policy of the NRMA changed to actively support energy efficient vehicles powered by sustainable fuels. This would require the NRMA to lobby for tax, excise and investment regimes that advantaged builders, buyers and users of energy efficient, sustainable transport systems and vehicles. It would include campaigning for the development, extension and improvement of public and mass transit systems, greater use of bicycles and other two wheelers and improving amenity and safety for pedestrians.
I would push for the NRMA to become a best practice example of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through:
Ensuring the NRMA's $700m pool of capital is ethically invested in environmentally sound areas;
- Developing a corporate social responsibility policy and developing triple bottom line accounting practices (financial, social and environmental)
- Using some of the returns on investment to fund research and development into sustainable fuels, energy and transport technologies;
- Conducting a program of energy/waste and emission audits of NRMA buildings and operations;
- Buying electricity produced from sustainable sources (green power); Switching all their road vehicles to run on sustainable fuels (possibly biodiesel);
- Ensuring employees taking vehicles as part of their salary package are limited to selecting hybrid fuel efficient vehicles (such as the Toyota Prius)
The public and private transport mix
Q. From Tom: What could the NRMA actually do to get better public transport for me as a member in Simms?
A. The NRMA would actively lobby for clean, energy efficient strategies to meet the transport needs of Inner Sydney and across NSW. Some examples of what can be done right now are:
- Extension of the bus lanes with improved policing.
- Quieter buses running on natural gas and biodiesel
- Extensions to the light rail systems to the CBD, and to the south and west of the City.
- Safe park and ride stations
- A toll free CBD tunnel with no traffic capturing.
- Advocating for investment in improved public transport and supporting the development of alternative sustainable fuel sources and technologies is the only way forward for the NRMA.
Two and Three Wheelers on the Roads
Q. From: Linda - I take a train & sometimes a bus to work. However I also own a 150cc scooter and a push bike so safety on the road is a big concern. Are you intending on addressing any of these issues?
Q. From: Petra - What is your opinion on the relationship between the NRMA and cyclists and cyclists as road users in general?
A. Bicycles and motorcycles are more energy efficient
and less environmentally polluting forms of transport than four wheel motor
vehicles and their
use should be encouraged. As a cyclist and longstanding motorcycle rider
who
has come
to grief a few times on two wheels I am very aware of the higher levels
of risk faced on two wheels. People are deterred from using these modes
because
of the higher risks faced on public roads.
I support the legislation around compulsory helmets for both cyclists
and motor cyclists and the maximum engine capacity limits for learner
and provisional
motorcyclists. I would support initiatives to further improve the training
of two wheelers.
Until fairly recently you could not be a member of the NRMA if your mode
of transport was a motorcycle! There are number of initiatives the NRMA
could take to improve the safety and encourage the use of two wheeled
transport.
I would drive for the introduction of a low cost bicycle membership category
for the NRMA so the interests of cyclists can be represented by the NRMA.
I would advocate for the NRMA to become involved in a new two wheel awareness
campaign aimed at four wheeled road users (an example from a previous
campaign are the motorcycle aware driver stickers).
I would advocate for:
- More dedicated cycle ways to separate powered from pedaled vehicles.
- The provision of secure storage of bicycles at train stations.
- The elimination of charges for bicycles taken on trains.
- Reduced registration costs for motorcycles/scooters.
- More free dedicated motorcycle/scooter parking spots in key locations in the City/Inner Sydney.
- Employers to be more bicycle/motor cycle friendly by dedicating secure parking for two wheelers and providing shower and locker room facilities for two wheel users.
Learner and provisional drivers
Q. From Patrick: As a 21 year-old P-plate driver and NRMA member
in the Simms region, I am interested in your policies regarding provisional
and learner
drivers in NSW. Specifically your response to the controversial range
of new laws recently proposed or enacted by the NSW government.
A. My position is that, on the basis of the research findings into the reasons for the elevated accident and fatality rates amongst younger and less experienced drivers, I support most of the recent legislative changes aimed at reducing the tragic road toll in this group and making the roads safer for all road users. This includes:
- Zero alcohol condition for P-plate drivers
- Passenger limits for drivers who lose points
- Increasing supervised driving for learners to 100 hours
- Improved driver education and training for young drivers
Whilst agreeing with the logic behind the move, I have some concerns over the financial impact of vehicle power limits and V8 bans for P-plate drivers. This may require the P plater to acquire an additional vehicle if they have previously been utilising a high powered/V8 family vehicle.
I also have concerns about curfews limiting younger drivers ability to get to and from employment opportunities outside standard business hours.
I would also encourage licensed premises to play their part in reducing the alcohol related road toll by providing free soft drinks to the ‘nominated drivers’ in shared vehicle groups.
What About the Cross City Tunnel?
Q. From Mark: In the Enron scandal in the US it was revealed that
the electricity company devised a power shortage in order to make a killing
on the stock
exchange and increase profits. Am I alone in considering that the new tunnel
in Sydney uses a similar tactic of restricting road access to force people
into a tunnel thereby increasing the profit of the tunnel's private/public
operators. Shouldn't the NRMA consider taking this practice to court to
safeguard road users from such a racket?
A. No, you are not alone in thinking traffic capturing techniques are being employed in an attempt to bolster cross city tunnel usage and revenues. Whilst the analogy with the Enron scandal is not perfect, there are similarities. Profit driven organisations are always looking for ways to increase their share of the market and to leverage greater profits from consumers. It is what they are supposed to do. A monopoly has always been a good way to force up prices from captive consumers. The cross city tunnel is no different. Capture traffic, capture revenue. It’s a free world of course. You are free to pay the toll or free to fume in the gridlock.
The fundamental problem with the cross city tunnel was it was ill conceived from the outset. It should have been built as a free way, part of the infrastructure of the city. If it was not justifiable on these grounds (with public sector debt financing), it should not have been built at all. Clearly there were doubts about its stand alone commercial viability from the outset otherwise, why would the contract documents specify traffic funneling measures and financial penalties if the road closures are not progressively implemented?
The RTA
got greedy, the government starry eyed and the developers walked away with
guaranteed returns at the expense of motorists and a living city
is degenerating into greater gridlock.
The cross city tunnel is just one example of the alienation of public roads
for private profit. This is coming to a main road near you very soon. Talk
of Epping Road being narrowed to one lane and a very expensive off ramp
at Crows Nest.
I am not in favour of the NRMA going to court over this one.
They have already spent too much of the members money on litigation. (See
the Tim Shelton story
on the news page.)
There must be better way. Public transport you say? Well it would not have “solved” the
problem of north south car movements across the city but for the money this
has cost the public purse already we could already have :
- an extended light rail system down to the Quay
- extended light rail through the Inner West
- A start on the two light rail lines down to the south
I hesitate to say this but Melbourne got it right again, they are called trams.
Cycleways in the Inner West
Q. From Paul: As an NRMA member and avid cyclist, I have concerns about the
state of Sydney's cycleways. Around the Inner West, a number of cycleways
are poorly signposted, leaving you to try and figure out which way they go.
While there are a lot of cycleways in Sydney, they are not appropriately
linked together Ð check the RTA website for maps of cycleways.
A.The RTA seems to have plenty of money to throw at tollways (see the the cross city tunnel fiasco) but little for simple things like adequately sign posting cycleways. Improving the linkages between the bits of cycleways will encourage greater use.
More flashing lights and lollipops needed?
Q. Saul asked: What is your stance on extending the yellow flashing
lights and lollipop people to all school zones to improve crossing safety and
give
motorists good advanced warning? I have been campaigning for the introduction
of these safety measures.
A. Chris didn’t know exactly what his stance
was so he asked Saul for more information. –
Saul wrote - Thank you for your response and honest admission to lack of
information on the subject of this Government selling the safety of our school
children.
I am sure you know about the safety aspects of flashing yellow lights and "lollipop
persons" outside schools. It's a system that has been a tremendous success
in the United Kingdom, Europe, the U.S.A. and other western countries. It has
been the most effective way of protecting the safety of school children and
at the same time giving the motorist a fair go.
Flashing warning lights are actually in use to a limited degree in some areas of Sydney and certain areas of the State. However the R.T.A. has cynically procrastinated on extending these safety measures by declaring that a further evaluation period is required for the lollipops and flashing lights.
Saul concludes that the revenue raising from the speeding fines appears to outweigh the concerns over the safety of school children and thinks the RTA has become a money raising tentacle of the State government.
A. The lollipop patrols at school crossings in my local area seem to work well. Flashing lights could help protect the lollipops and the little people. Anything that makes it safer for kids to walk or cycle to their local school should be encouraged. About the RTA revenue raising. The RTA has a track record in setting revenue traps for others to harvest, just look at the Cross City Tunnel story.