In hopes of progressing the green movement in Ontario, the province is set to introduce 'green' license plates for drivers who operate plug-in hybrids and battery powered electric vehicles. Many benefits will be associated with these green plates, including travelling in HOV lanes with only one passenger, using recharge stations free of charge at GO stations and other provincially owned parking lots, and access to special parking at private companies, such as some Wal-Mart’s and the University of Toronto.
This move to promote eco-friendly cars is a band aid solution to the global problems of climate change and consumption patterns. How many people can afford these cars? How many of these cars will be on the roads in 10 years? Does this policy help the average person? I'm a little hesitant to answer in a positive light... The price of hybrids is very high and the structural support for these vehicles is non-existent. Have you seen any gas stations that have the capacity to recharge electric cars? Are parking lots in malls equipped to charge cars while people shop?
What about transport trucks, are they ever going to go green? So we make hybrid cars, but the trucks on the roads go unaccounted for, as long as someone's doing something to reduce emissions, right?
These questions are beside the point. My real frustration with this policy is that it completely misses the point. This doesn't reduce the number of cars on the road, nor does it make a difference in our consumption patterns. This policy is a waste of government money. Why not invest in rail and make Ontario mobile by rail? Take for instance the Region of Niagara - it has the infrastructure set up for rail, but it just sits there. Invest in public transit, and thus change people's consumption habits. Rail can transport people and products without such a harsh impact on the environment, and it can help to combat the sense of urgency of people's lifestyles.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/ottawa/story/2009/11/02/ontario-green-licence-plates642.html#socialcomments
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Expanding public transit is a great idea as long as you can get people to use it. I'd love to see some car free zones where you can park for free, then take transit through dense city zones like downtown toronto.
ReplyDeleteIt's just too hard to forget the convinence of hopping into your own car!
To be blunt, I don't think that new license plates will fix the problem. Environmental concerns are based on many more aspects of society than just cars, while they may remain a large portion of that concern. You're definitely on the right track here, the legislation completely misses the point. I found that it was impractical and the public doesn't change its behavior without a real incentive too. I don't find green license plates to be a strong incentive.
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