Friday, 22 July 2011
PEAJE - EXPENSIVE COMMUTING
Food for thought
Alimento para el pensamiento
Argentine luxury – Highway travel
Argentina De lujo - Viajar en autopistas
Out of a total population of approximately 40 million Argentines, 15.2 million live within close proximity of Buenos Aires, thus making it the second largest Latin American metropolitan area after Sao Paulo in Brazil.
De una población total de aproximadamente 40 millones de argentinos, 15,2 millones viven en las cercanías de Buenos Aires,por lo que esta es la segunda área metropolitana más grande de América después de Sao Paulo en Brasil.
See http://www.mpsargentina.org/turistic.html
Given the density of this metropolitan area, a large amount of people are forced to commute to work from the outskirts of Buenos Aires.
Teniendo en cuenta la densidad de esta área metropolitana, una gran cantidad de personas se ven obligadas a ir al trabajo desde las afueras de Buenos Aires.
Whereas public transport such as trains and subways are very cheap, commuting by car on highways to and from Buenos Aires is considerable more expensive than in most European counties.
Considerando que el transporte público, como ferrocarriles y el metro son muy baratos, los desplazamientos en coche en las carreteras desde y hacia Buenos Aires es bastante más caro que en la mayoría de países europeos.
Commuting from Pilar, a popular countryside residential area located 55km North West of Buenos Aires, to work downtown using the “Autopistas del Sol” highway which is the only feasible option during peak hours, toll expenses are approx 14$ Pesos, coming and going once per day, equals 70$ Pesos per week, 280$ per month, 3360$ Pesos per year which equals to 560 Euro!!!! (Exchange rate 6$ to 1 EUR)
El viaje desde Pilar, una zona residencial popular situada a 55 km al noroeste de Buenos Aires, al centro para trabajar usando la "Autopista del Sol", que es la única opción viable en las horas pico, los gastos de peaje son unos 14 $ pesos (ida y vuelta) una vez por día, es igual a $ 70 pesos por semana, 280 $ por mes, $ 3360 pesos por año, lo que equivale a 560 euros!! (Tipo de cambio $ 6 a 1 EUR)
Commuting 29 km from the northern suburbs of Buenos Aires to the city center at peak hours, using the highway for one roundtrip, toll expenses’ amount to 2544 $Pesos per year which equal 424 EUR!!!!
Los viajes desde los suburbios de zona norte , a 29 kilómetros de Capital Federal al centro de la ciudad en las horas pico, por la autopista implica un gasto de ida y vuelta de $ 2,544 pesos al año que equivalen a 424 euros!!
Compared to the 560 Euro per year, Argentine commuters pay on highway toll, European countries, with the exception of France are considerable cheaper.
Si comparamos los 560 euros al año que los viajeros argentinos pagan como peaje a la autopista con los países europeos, con la excepción de Francia son considerablemente más baratos.
Here are some comparisons:
Vignette (road tax system)
Aquí están algunas comparaciones:
Vignette (sistema de impuesto de circulación)
Vignette (sistema de impuesto de circulación)
AUSTRIA - Approx 76 EURO (456$ pesos) for 1 year unlimited use of countries entire highway system
Aprox 76 euros (456$ Pesos) para 1 año sin límite de uso en las carreteras de todo el país
SPAIN - Approx 45 EURO (270$ pesos) for 1 year unlimited use of most of countries highway system
45 euros (270$pesos) para 1 año sin límite de uso en las carreteras de todo el país
SWITZERLAND - Approx 31 EURO (186$ pesos) for 1 year unlimited use of countries entire highway system
Aprox 31 euros (186$ Pesos) para 1 año sin límite de uso en las carreteras de todo el país
GERMANY Free highway usage
libre uso de la carretera
Use of alternative commuting is rather limited due to infrastructural shortcomings, especially train connections to and from city outskirts are insufficient and outdated. Due to the heavily populated area, use of freeways as alternative commuting is becoming increasingly difficult because of permanent traffic congestion's, thus commuters using their car have no alternative but to utilize the privatized highway system. Subsequently private operating companies such as “Autopistas del Sol” have no scruple charging higher tolls then in Europe, for lack of alternatives.
Adding to the toll fuel cost and vehicle attrition, the feasibility to commute becomes “Food for thought”.
El uso de rutas alternativas es bastante limitada debido a las deficiencias de infraestructura, especialmente las conexiones de trenes hacia y desde las afueras de la ciudad son insuficientes y anticuadas. Debido a que las zonas se encuentran densamente poblada, el uso de rutas sin pago como rutas alternativas es cada vez más difícil debido a las congestiones de tráfico permanente, por lo que los viajeros con su coche no tiene más remedio que utilizar el sistema de autopistas privatizadas. Posteriormente, las empresas privadas que operan como "Autopistas del Sol" no tienen escrúpulos en utilizar el cobro de peajes más altos que en Europa.
Agregando a la cifra de costo de combustible y desgaste del vehículo, la posibilidad de conmutar se convierte en "Alimento para el pensamiento".
Ver los enlaces relacionados:
Saturday, 30 July 2011
LOOMING GENERATION CONFLICT - OLD VERSUS YOUNG
GOOD BY OLD CONTINENT Part 3
In addition to Europe’s looming financial crash there is the threat of a Generations Conflict. With a predominantly old population running almost all aspects of life, the youth of Europe is a minority. In Austria and Germany for example, the old outweigh the young, thus the entire structure of society is built around the needs and lifestyle of the old generation. Young couples with children have to adapt to the “rules and regulations” of the old.
In some cases young parents have to hush their children when entering the apartment building in order not to disturb the majority of old people living there, in order not to face complaints. Most restaurants and hotels cater for the elder and are not very child friendly, for pensioners dominate the “market” and thus the young minority has to adhere to the needs of the old.
In Austria with its aging population there are many pensioners and early retirees who receive large pensions which enable them to enjoy a lucrative life and thus are the driving force in most market sectors who in return adjust to the needs of those who are able to spend. On the other side of the coin young people, with an average monthly net income of 1300 Euro have to struggle to survive and on top of that have to adjust to the lifestyle dictated by the aging majority.
Furthermore the young generations of Europe are increasingly worried about their own state pensions, social welfare system which in most likelihood they will not be able to obtain when they are about to retire. Thus the “Generations Pact”, as referred to in Germany and Austria is in jeopardy for the young working generation sees themselves betrayed, paying for the old generation but without receiving the benefit themselves. Thus frustration is growing among the young and a generation conflict is looming over aging Europe.
Looming Generations Conflict, aging society, dept crisis and immigration denial are the most pressing subjects Europe has to analyze in order to avoid disaster.
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