So Sian Berry, the London Mayoral candidate for the Green Party, as reported in the London Paper on the 24th of May (yesterday), when asked how she’d travelled to work on that particular day stated that she had an appointment that she had to go to, so shared a taxi with four other people as a full taxi is as efficient as a two thirds empty bus. You’ve got to love that statement from someone who is supposed to be a role model for all green Londoners.
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If Sian hadn’t already realised the bus would have already been going as it runs to a set timetable so the additional emissions of a taxi journey DO cost the environment dearly. Sian may have well said that travelling to work in a diesel 4×4 is as harmful to the environment as a two thirds empty bus. We may as all trade in our Oyster cards now, after all the tube is hot and smelly, busses are inconsistent and there are two many kids on there travelling for free who threaten and abuse other passengers, play music on their mobile phones for all to hear and create a general nuisance.
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If everyone took the decision to drive to work or take a taxi when ever it takes their fancy then buses will remain two thirds empty and inefficient. The whole goal is to engage with the general public and convince them that public transport is a viable option for them to travel on. The do as I say, but not as I do attitude really isn’t the best way to convince people to take a bus. You have to admit, and it beggars belief in reality, that both Red Ken and Boris Johnson appear to be more ‘eco-friendly’ based on their transport choices. Ken takes the tube and Boris is an strong advocate of cycling. Couldn’t Sian have cycled, or even walked to her meeting? Maybe this was a one of instance and we shouldn’t judge her harshly for one taxi ride, but her comments sounded like uninformed bluster to us at Suburban Chimp and we are wholly unimpressed and cannot back Sian for London Mayor, she should be making EXTRA effort to be green.
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