Thursday 23 March 2017

When Green Plans Run Up Against Reality...

Internet shopping vans could be banned from delivering to office staff in a bid to slash congestion on the capital’s streets.
The radical plan was outlined by Val Shawcross, London’s deputy mayor for transport, in a speech to MPs in which she revealed that light vans now account for a fifth of traffic in the city centre.
It's War on White Van Man!
Councillor Shawcross said that companies should consider banning workers from ordering goods direct to work, and instead promote click-and-collect facilities at transport hubs “so that people can collect their deliveries on the way home”.
I remember when Internet shopping would save us all. The desire to meddle with our lives never leaves these people, does it?

9 comments:

Demetrius said...

Ow gawd' our beloved white van men who save us so much time and trouble make numbers of deliveries on their runs. Its how they earn their living. And they save so many of us the trouble of getting in our cars to fill up the streets and jam areas near shops in order to obtain the basics of life. It is called economies of scale applied to retail network logistics.

Bucko said...

If they banned deliveries at our works, the warehouse staff would accept them for us anyway. I reckon a lot of places would be the same

John Tee said...

What proportion, I wonder, of light white van traffic is accounted for by people having personal packages delivered to their place of work? I wonder if the deputy mayor knows?

Andy said...

Yes, Mr. Moose, the men (oops) personnel working the loading bay are always popular.

The Blocked Dwarf said...

"so that people can collect their deliveries on the way home”.

and how, pray tell, is that any different to swinging in at the Supermarket on your relaxing unhurried drive home through the bucolic reaches of the metropolis, all of whom AFAIK, offer a 'Click & Collect' service?

Lord T said...

Sales of Red paint will soar as everyone gets their white van converted.

Next they will be employing people to stop and search any vans in the congestion zone. Blocking traffic routes for everyone.

wiggiatlarge said...

"lawks a mussy" the next thing they will be banning diesels in the capital, oh!

The Blocked Dwarf said...

Probably a stoopid observation but I seem to recall the whole point of Highway Robbery, or the Congestion Charge was to prevent C O N G E S T I O N on our capital's streets? Pretty sure that's what that nice Mr. Livingstone said...

So if it has obviously failed, hasn't stopped congestion, surely it should be revoked? How about making all travel on London Transport free of charge? Maybe look into freight use of the Underground?

I recall a Minder episode back in the 80s where Arffur looked into using the canals of LOndon to ferry his cheap tin trays and glass walking sticks. Always struck me as a possibility for none 'just on time' goods although I assume most of the canals now run past bijoux apartments which wouldn't want the disturbance of the fauna and flora (ie drug addicts under the lock bridge).

JuliaM said...

"It is called economies of scale applied to retail network logistics."

Well, quite! But it seems we are governed by idiots.

"If they banned deliveries at our works, the warehouse staff would accept them for us anyway."

Yes, it's totally unenforceable.

"...and how, pray tell, is that any different to swinging in at the Supermarket on your relaxing unhurried drive home through the bucolic reaches of the metropolis, all of whom AFAIK, offer a 'Click & Collect' service?"

Now, let's not confuse her with facts!

"So if it has obviously failed, hasn't stopped congestion, surely it should be revoked?"

Ah, if only. A bonfire of useless legislation would be very welcome.