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Number of US-style pickup trucks on UK roads up 92% in a decade, data shows (www.theguardian.com)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/unitedkingdom@feddit.uk
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[–] 5 points 9 months ago (3 children)

What's wrong with a van? They have barely any increased footprint over a standard car (unless it's a long wheel-base) and at least they're practical for those that need it for work. Pickups are bad vehicles to drive, bad vehicles for any form of work (outside of a few very specific things), bad for the environment, bad for pedestrians (especially children) because of the decreased visibility at the front, and bad for other road users because of how much extra space they take up.

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  • [–] 1 point 9 months ago (2 children)

    Why aren't the vans parked in commercial car parks or premises? And why do their owners insist on parking them wherever they like (but not their own drives!) without any thought for pedestrians? At the same time, after about 7pm it becomes almost impossible to find a parking space largely because of the sheer number of vans. I'm not talking about the little white vans but the big ones. Commercial vans and pickups have no place being parked in residential streets. Or, charge them higher rates of parking permit fees for commercial vehicles. No one is driving a big van as their family vehicle - unless they're Steptoe & Son or Trotters Trading.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago (1 child)

    I use a van for work and have to park it at home as part of my contract, why should I have to pay higher rates for that, or pay for parking somewhere a distance away from my home?

    Parking provision (and lack thereof) is the fault of the builder/developer/local authority, not the people who need to use that parking.

    Sounds like you've got a local parking issue that needs to be addressed, not collectively punishing every tradesperson.

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  • [–] 2 points 9 months ago

    Why doesn't your company provide parking? Why should other people not be able to park because people with business vehicles hog residential parking?

    I live in a road that's nearly 150+ years old. Not sure that the planners foresaw vans and monster-cars. They were probably more concerned with horses and carts. I doubt trademen parked their carts and hitched their horses outside of other people's houses in the street.

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