Are we being forced to go electric?

[KnittyNorah]

When EVs become autonomous driving, then those shite and infirm drivers will be more able to get about

Only if autonomous EVs become available either at bargain rates which all can easily afford, and/or on production of the equivalent of a senior or disabled person's bus pass or rail card ...

 

[cougie uk]

Only if autonomous EVs become available either at bargain rates which all can easily afford, and/or on production of the equivalent of a senior or disabled person's bus pass or rail card ...

Should be as cheap as taxis at least ? Able to run almost 24/7 ?

 

[DRM]

Only if autonomous EVs become available either at bargain rates which all can easily afford, and/or on production of the equivalent of a senior or disabled person's bus pass or rail card ...

Motability?

 

[KnittyNorah]

Motability?

Motability's requirements are ... onerous, to say the least.
It requires that you are awarded at least the higher or enhanced rate mobility component of DLA or (nowadays) PIP or (in Scotland) ADP, so that would be of no use to anyone who is not entitled (as 'assessed' by the liars and rotters at whichever scam artist business is conducting the judgements nowadays) and is not something one can apply for past State Pension Age. So it is no use to anyone suffering any of the (sadly-common) independent-mobility-limiting conditions of older age ...

 

[KnittyNorah]

Should be as cheap as taxis at least ? Able to run almost 24/7 ?

Cheaper than taxis, and much more reliable/accessible. 'Taxis' is a very low level of provision to aim for.

The frequency with which just people who use guide dogs are refused service or - literally - thrown out of taxis, demonstrates this and who is to say that a fleet of autonomous vehicles would be any better. They'd probably be worse, as they could be maliciously programmed to slam the door shut on a guide dog's head or tip people out of wheelchairs.

All that said, we really have no idea what these fleets of autonomous vehicles will be like or how they will be operated, but if the past few hundred years of provision for the differently-abled and those with any sort of deterioration or disability associated with illness, injury, or age are anything to go by, anyone who deviates from what society deems to be 'healthy and normal' will continue to be disadvantaged and discriminated against - a mere afterthought in society who must be catered for reluctantly, minimally and with irritation and the expectation that they will be eternally grateful ...

 

[Buck]

I don’t think this has been posted before but it extended charging for those without a driveway.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-62714543

 

[icowden]

Cheaper than taxis, and much more reliable/accessible. 'Taxis' is a very low level of provision to aim for.

The frequency with which just people who use guide dogs are refused service or - literally - thrown out of taxis, demonstrates this and who is to say that a fleet of autonomous vehicles would be any better. They'd probably be worse, as they could be maliciously programmed to slam the door shut on a guide dog's head or tip people out of wheelchairs.

It's people that are rude, impatient, intolerant etc. An AI will just wait for you to get in. Malicious programming to that level is very difficult. Of course they *could* form a collective, run everyone over and take over the planet, but it does seem quite unlikely.

All that said, we really have no idea what these fleets of autonomous vehicles will be like or how they will be operated, but if the past few hundred years of provision for the differently-abled and those with any sort of deterioration or disability associated with illness, injury, or age are anything to go by, anyone who deviates from what society deems to be 'healthy and normal' will continue to be disadvantaged and discriminated against

So we shouldn't bother? Is that what you are suggesting? I'm more of a glass half full sort of person.

 

[DRM]

Motability's requirements are ... onerous, to say the least.
It requires that you are awarded at least the higher or enhanced rate mobility component of DLA or (nowadays) PIP or (in Scotland) ADP, so that would be of no use to anyone who is not entitled (as 'assessed' by the liars and rotters at whichever scam artist business is conducting the judgements nowadays) and is not something one can apply for past State Pension Age. So it is no use to anyone suffering any of the (sadly-common) independent-mobility-limiting conditions of older age ...

But it’s not stopping anyone with motability getting an EV at renewal time, there’s still a lot of them out there, and it’s probably one thing that’s kept car dealerships going

 

[CXRAndy]

The demand for EV is incredibly high. When I traded in our Nissan Leaf 40kW with 70,000 miles

. It sold in a flash from the dealer.

 

[KnittyNorah]

But it’s not stopping anyone with motability getting an EV at renewal time, there’s still a lot of them out there, and it’s probably one thing that’s kept car dealerships going

It's also not in any way whatsoever, a replacement or substitute for a decent public transport system as it is so very, very restricted.

 

[DRM]

It's also not in any way whatsoever, a replacement or substitute for a decent public transport system as it is so very, very restricted.

In some ways it’s better for a person with a disability to at least have a blue badge, it means you can park on a double yellow for 3 hours, use spaces placed to make life easier etc, even if you can’t drive, you can have a friend/relative drive you, but public transport in the UK is a joke, unless you live in London, who use our money to pay for public transport funding and everyone else can go to hell in a handcart

 

[icowden]

It's also not in any way whatsoever, a replacement or substitute for a decent public transport system as it is so very, very restricted.

I'm not sure that anyone suggested that. The original point was that public transport was very expensive when compared to the car. We all agree that public transport is poorly run, over priced and generally failing (partly due to the pandemic, but mostly due to longstanding lack of funding).

However, as it stands the car is often a cheaper choice. In the future there is a possibility that networked fleets of robocars will be cheaper to use than public transport. It may be that a robotaxi is a cheap way to get to the train station or airport as part of a longer journey. Whether we like it or not, EVs are the future and Musk has been a key catalyst in transforming the world from burning fossil fuels to a greener alternative.

There is still a long way to go.

 

[KnittyNorah]

In some ways it’s better for a person with a disability to at least have a blue badge, it means you can park on a double yellow for 3 hours, use spaces placed to make life easier etc, even if you can’t drive, you can have a friend/relative drive you, but public transport in the UK is a joke, unless you live in London, who use our money to pay for public transport funding and everyone else can go to hell in a handcart

I disagree, people with disabilities want to do things independently like everyone else does - at least I did when I was severely visually impaired - and not forever rely on friends or relatives if they are unable to drive. And what about people who don't have friends or relatives who are able to drive, or willing to drop things at a moment's notice and take their disabled relative to wherever they want or need to go?

In any case, the advantages of a blue badge vary somewhat according to where you live and according to where you travel (even within a constituent nation of the UK) as different councils and organisations offer different 'perks', and, depending again on where you live, may be either easy, or very difficult, to acquire.

The Great Wen and many of its surrounding areas have forever drained the rest of the country of money and investment, and I foresee nothing changing. Some retired Londoners came on a walking holiday to the little village where I used to live and when they got on the bus from the village at 9:20am to go to the start of that day's walk, they were all most indignant at having to pay for it.

 

[icowden]

I disagree, people with disabilities want to do things independently like everyone else does - at least I did when I was severely visually impaired - and not forever rely on friends or relatives if they are unable to drive... In any case, the advantages of a blue badge vary somewhat according to where you live and according to where you travel (even within a constituent nation of the UK) as different councils and organisations offer different 'perks', and, depending again on where you live, may be either easy, or very difficult, to acquire.

So essentially very cheap self-driving cars would be a godsend to those with mobility issues.

 

[Buck]

Perhaps it’s just me but I do feel we have gone a little off topic from electric cars to public transport; blue badges etc.