It seems a shame that such a basically good idea should be allowed to
fail because of its obvious present flaws, which are, in my view, that
it is too expensive, especially for people travelling together (for most
couples or groups it would be cheaper to take a taxi withint the
Pick-me-up zone) and that it is exclusive to those with an up-to-date
smartphone (the app won't run on older devices, or on a computer without
unreasonable effort, though I treated it as a challenge and it can be
done). I know 80 per cent of people have smartphones, but this falls
dramatically in the older age-groups (like internet use generally),
meaning Pick-me-up is of less use to retired people who may have given
up their cars. It is also rather relaxed about timing, which conversely
might be less of a problem if you're retired.
It seems to me that a service like this might have an important role to
play in reducing congestion and making it easier for people to do
without a car, but it's obviously failing the profit criterion. It would
be a waste of the effort that has already gone into the idea (I'm
impressed by the algorithm that designs journeys, even if they do always
go via Headington) if it were to be abandoned for this reason.
Thoughts?
Liz Lock
On 31/01/20 09:49, Stephanie Jenkins wrote:
> You need to address the city council about this, not me. When the only option
by bus is the Pick-Me-Up service (which is expensive compared to a city bus
pass, much harder to catch, and now under threat of closure anyway), I think
this was inevitable. Barton Park isn't a car-free zone.
>
> The city council is good at wishful thinking: it's the whole of Barton that
is supposed to be a healthy new town, not just Barton Park:
https://www.oxford.gov.uk/bartonhealthynewtown
>
> Everyone wants other people to give up their cars, but won't give them up
themselves.
>
> Stephanie Jenkins
> Headington ward, Oxford
> About/contact Stephanie Jenkins:
http://forums.e-democracy.org/p/stephaniejenkins
>
>
> None
>
>
> ------------------------
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