ArishMell · 70-79, M
@BritChick For years I could walk or use public transport as alternatives to driving, and often did. Now retired, I use the buses for most local and some inter-town, journeys.
Then my work was moved to a rural location a mile and a half walk from the nearest railway station (not nice on bad weather). Though at least the trains meant I could still attend work - as expected - even when a week of snow and ice prevented using my car.
The site was served directly by a regular bus from my home area, but only one each way per day turned your flexible hours to fixed ones; but anyway as fewer people used it, it became uneconomical and was stopped.
Most of the bus trips around my town are fairly punctual but this has slipped in recent years - though road-works on very busy roads with few or no alternative routes, don't help.
Also, I think the company (First) is a bit short of drivers, and some services end up cancelled.
I have seen very few bus breakdowns and no fires though.
We had a small, local bus service run by an independent company, serving a large residential area First did not. Sadly this became uneconomical and ceased. 'First' took it on but had to relinquish it after a six-months or so trial. It has re-routed one service partially re-instating this.
The problem of course, is that bus services depend very much on route viability, and if they carry insufficient passengers and are insufficiently subsidised from tax revenues, they make losses. The services are also hit by fares-caps and by we retired types with our bus-passes: the operators are insufficiently compensated for these schemes that were supposed to attract trade.
(Pensioners used to be charged half-fares. It was simple, easy to administer, affordable by most, and could be brought back.)
I can also reach much of the rest of the country easily by train, and without the inconvenience, cost and difficulty of going via London, too.
Then my work was moved to a rural location a mile and a half walk from the nearest railway station (not nice on bad weather). Though at least the trains meant I could still attend work - as expected - even when a week of snow and ice prevented using my car.
The site was served directly by a regular bus from my home area, but only one each way per day turned your flexible hours to fixed ones; but anyway as fewer people used it, it became uneconomical and was stopped.
Most of the bus trips around my town are fairly punctual but this has slipped in recent years - though road-works on very busy roads with few or no alternative routes, don't help.
Also, I think the company (First) is a bit short of drivers, and some services end up cancelled.
I have seen very few bus breakdowns and no fires though.
We had a small, local bus service run by an independent company, serving a large residential area First did not. Sadly this became uneconomical and ceased. 'First' took it on but had to relinquish it after a six-months or so trial. It has re-routed one service partially re-instating this.
The problem of course, is that bus services depend very much on route viability, and if they carry insufficient passengers and are insufficiently subsidised from tax revenues, they make losses. The services are also hit by fares-caps and by we retired types with our bus-passes: the operators are insufficiently compensated for these schemes that were supposed to attract trade.
(Pensioners used to be charged half-fares. It was simple, easy to administer, affordable by most, and could be brought back.)
I can also reach much of the rest of the country easily by train, and without the inconvenience, cost and difficulty of going via London, too.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@caPnAhab Public transport provision is very variable around the country; and non-existent in many rural and even suburban areas.
Some by vicious-circle. The more people prefer to use their cars the fewer the public-transport use, so the latter have to cut services; so more people use their cars instead, so... Then all of a sudden people complain that there are no buses or trains near them! (If there ever had been, of course.)
There is a notable exception. In many parts of Britain commuting by rail, even 100 miles each way, has risen in recent decades to the point of over-crowded trains on a network now filled to train capacity. The commuters need only drive from home to their nearest station. At a smaller scale many towns have their own "Park-&-Ride" schemes, using buses.
Some by vicious-circle. The more people prefer to use their cars the fewer the public-transport use, so the latter have to cut services; so more people use their cars instead, so... Then all of a sudden people complain that there are no buses or trains near them! (If there ever had been, of course.)
There is a notable exception. In many parts of Britain commuting by rail, even 100 miles each way, has risen in recent decades to the point of over-crowded trains on a network now filled to train capacity. The commuters need only drive from home to their nearest station. At a smaller scale many towns have their own "Park-&-Ride" schemes, using buses.
FreddieUK · 70-79, M
I have come away from home and am writing from a hotel room some 180 miles away. I have left my car behind and come on the train and will be using public transport for the next few days to explore city and countryside. If you are fit and able enough to walk to the nearest bus stop, in most places it's possible.
However, in many other places with low density population you're often stuck for transport for everyday living. It takes a lot longer to go by transit than by personal car for local journeys very often.
However, in many other places with low density population you're often stuck for transport for everyday living. It takes a lot longer to go by transit than by personal car for local journeys very often.
ArishMell · 70-79, M
@FreddieUK There are many placess with no public transport anywhere near (apart from costly taxis); even in suburbs. The residents will have less far to walk there than in a rural village, but if you are unable to walk even a mile to the nearest bus-stop, it may as well be ten miles away.
Often the loss of transport has been by vicious circle - more use their cars more often so the train and bus services become uneconomical so reduce services; so more use their cars....
Often the loss of transport has been by vicious circle - more use their cars more often so the train and bus services become uneconomical so reduce services; so more use their cars....
DeWayfarer · 61-69, M
Oh yes now that I am in a small city. With several bus routes.
That's how I became familiar with the area when I got here. The busses go into other bigger cities.
Unfortunately the whole area's only DMV isn't on any of the routes. Yet the malls, hospitals and only airport is on one of the routes.
I really don't understand why the busses don't go anywhere near the DMV. 🤷🏻♂
That's how I became familiar with the area when I got here. The busses go into other bigger cities.
Unfortunately the whole area's only DMV isn't on any of the routes. Yet the malls, hospitals and only airport is on one of the routes.
I really don't understand why the busses don't go anywhere near the DMV. 🤷🏻♂
You’re winning!
I live in DFW and we literally have the highest premiums because people here don’t know how to drive and it’s so dangerous.
If I didn’t have kids, I would totally be living that lifestyle of riding my bike because then I could also be getting exercise and I could save money by not having to go to the gym.
But yeah, car maintenance and the upkeep is something no one told me about whenever I got my first car knowing that anything at any time could literally break and I don’t know why I keep running over nails, but it’s like every 6 months have to get a new tire 🙄 not to mention how expensive oil changes are so if you are like me and you have a lot of kids, you have to get a vehicle that will fit your kids and usually that vehicle requires expensive oil changes 😩😩 I mean $90 may not seem like a lot, but it is a lot 🙄
I live in DFW and we literally have the highest premiums because people here don’t know how to drive and it’s so dangerous.
If I didn’t have kids, I would totally be living that lifestyle of riding my bike because then I could also be getting exercise and I could save money by not having to go to the gym.
But yeah, car maintenance and the upkeep is something no one told me about whenever I got my first car knowing that anything at any time could literally break and I don’t know why I keep running over nails, but it’s like every 6 months have to get a new tire 🙄 not to mention how expensive oil changes are so if you are like me and you have a lot of kids, you have to get a vehicle that will fit your kids and usually that vehicle requires expensive oil changes 😩😩 I mean $90 may not seem like a lot, but it is a lot 🙄
caPnAhab · 26-30, M
@TurtlePink Yeah, that's a lot of bills and a lot of stress off my shoulders since selling it. This city has crazy drivers too
ArishMell · 70-79, M
Locally yes.
I can walk or take a bus into town, whence buses to some other parts of the county.
I can reach many other parts of the country easily by train from here in SW England, and without needing go via London.
Some of my social journeys would be very difficult or even impossible without a car.
I can walk or take a bus into town, whence buses to some other parts of the county.
I can reach many other parts of the country easily by train from here in SW England, and without needing go via London.
Some of my social journeys would be very difficult or even impossible without a car.
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
CrazyMusicLover · 31-35
@caPnAhab We don't have good infrastructure for biking either. It can even cost you a life outside cities.
OogieBoogie · F
I think i probably could....if pushed to.
Itd sometimes be awfully cold and dark, and often way too early or late to be out so exposed....but i think i could uncomfortably make it work.
I do often think, (in summer), 'i could pushbike to work😇'
....but then winter comes along, and i wonder, 'what on earth was i thinking !' 🤦♀
Itd sometimes be awfully cold and dark, and often way too early or late to be out so exposed....but i think i could uncomfortably make it work.
I do often think, (in summer), 'i could pushbike to work😇'
....but then winter comes along, and i wonder, 'what on earth was i thinking !' 🤦♀
caPnAhab · 26-30, M
@OogieBoogie I'm assuming you live in a desert? Your area sounds similar to mine, that we both experience two opposite extremes of weather
Every winter I forget how hot summer gets. Every summer I forget how cold winter gets lol
Every winter I forget how hot summer gets. Every summer I forget how cold winter gets lol
bookerdana · M
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StygianKohlrabi · 46-50, M
caPnAhab · 26-30, M
@StygianKohlrabi you don't need to explain if you don't want but is it a condition?
StygianKohlrabi · 46-50, M
@caPnAhab 🤔
yes. beingamessitis
yes. beingamessitis