And that’s only trivially because Patrick deals with other countries besides the UK. The deeper reason why all should periodically attend to UK Transport is that what it says about transport often applies with equal force to the rest of the universe. Consider the following, from a posting yesterday about airline seats.
I think there are archive problems over at UKT, because I couldn’t make the first of those two links work. Here’s the stuff I mean:
It may be that left to its own devices the market will solve the problem. But, of course, these days markets are not left to their own devices. Right now, at an airline near you the following conversation could be taking place:
“Why don’t we increase seat sizes?”
“Because, the government is thinking of introducing some new regulations.”
“How does that affect us?”
“Because, if we go ahead and change all our seats we could find they’re too small and have to replace them again.”
“Oh. And if they’re too big?”
“Then with the new regulations, everyone will assume that the problem has been solved and we’ll lose any competitive advantage we might have had.”
“So, we’re better off waiting for the government?”
“Precisely”
So, the change will be late, you won’t have a choice and the state will take the credit.
Now I think that’s about a great deal more than just airline seats, don’t you?
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