Remember the mystery road sign celebrating Jersey’s ‘Valley of the Freed Chickens’? The group behind it is back – this time with an unusual proposal that would put a price on driving and reward people for catching the bus…
Dear Editor,
If a new Oyster-style smart card called the ‘Harmony Card is issued to drivers and those who use public transport, it would enable some dynamic changes for the population.
Here’s how such a plan might work:
- The Harmony Card is issued to all road vehicle drivers (with the exception of emergency vehicles, public transport, disabled drivers, etc) and also those who use public transport.
- The Government places a further 10-20% tax on all fossil fuels being used for transport, this tax is transferred onto the Harmony Card when fuel is purchased.
- However this 10-20% tax can be claimed back when a holder of the card uses it to purchase rides or a season ticket on public transport.
- The 10-20% tax is held on the card for a maximum of six months, if it is not used it will then be given to improve public transport.
Money accumulating on the card can only be discharged in the following ways:
- On a 1:1 ratio with public transport and hiring e-bikes (by using the card on a daily basis or purchasing a season ticket).
- On a 1:2 ratio with taxis (50% of the payment for the taxi and 50% for funding public transport).
- The owner of the card can sell its value to someone who uses public transport – but understandably the buyer will only pay less than the transport company presently charges. The value of the card can be displayed on designated readers at railway stations. This will make existing transport users able reduce their public transport costs dramatically.
- The owner can alternatively give the cards value to a government approved environmental charity.
- The money on the card has a six-month life, if not used or sold or given to a charity it will revert to public transport funding.
- Any purchaser of fuel who does not supply their smart card when purchasing – the 10-20% will go automatically to the public transport system.
The above will:
- Reduce the number of cars on the roads.
- Bring revenue into the public transport system and will reduce the cost of fares and increase the existing fleet of buses and trains, add more routes to the system and bring down public transport costs.
- This will significantly reduce carbon emissions.
Please consider this idea, better it, and petition Government to trial it.
Implementation of the scheme on a small island will quickly show if drivers faced with the idea of losing money every month will use the Harmony Card on public transport.
The Anonymous Arts Collective
