to think that the news is demonstrating our over-reliance on cars

[Bennifer]

I was watching the news this morning watching the petrol queues, I saw a mum on TV talking about how she needed the car to pick the children up from school. Then there was a story about Nottingham charging people to park at their place of work. As the reporter was talking about this on the streets of Nottingham, there was a stream of traffic behind him, I didn't see a cyclist or a bus.

I just think we've got ourselves into such a pickle over transport policy where so, so many people are dependent on their car to get around, and it's lunacy. I know we all have different circumstances, so I'm not going to judge individuals, but as a society, it just seems crazy. AIBU?

"Im amazed that anybody cares how other people choose to travel around"

It's to do with the environment, so it affects everyone.

The environment, seriously?!

So you don't shop at supermarkets, who transport goods globally to ensure out of season availability, who will transport even the most basic of items cross country to cut their costs?

And obviously you won't have ever flown, because a short commute to and from work isn't even on the same scale as a short haul flight.

Oh and I assume that the technology you're using to access this site isn't mass produced overseas either?? I mean nobody NEEDS an iPad, laptop or mobile phone either, and to ship them halfway across the world is just adding to the environmental problem.

I agree with you DoubleGlazing.

Seriously Squidgy, you're not that silly

Thanks Ariel.

Squidgy I don't have an iPad or a laptop and I have hardly ever flown, as it happens. My mobile is old and I have no plans to get a new one.

I rarely drive to the supermarket - if I shop there I get it delivered so at least there's only one vehicle combining all the car journeys people could have made into something more efficient. And no, I don't drive to work either.

Whether or not I fit your criteria for being a good environmentalist (which I've never claimed to be) the fact remains that, in general, reducing car use is a good thing :)

FFS it doesn't have to be all or nothing - most people try to recycle more, use less resources. It doesn't mean because you shop at a supermarket you are throwing the baby out with the bathwater.

If we all had that attitude nothing would ever ever change. It's the same attitude as someone saying "Why should I do my bit when China is industrialising?" or "Why should I not fill my paddling pool in a water shortage when there are leaks in the pipes?"

Backpacks are a lousy way to transport stuff on a bike, hurts your back.
Panniers much better, this one resembles a briefcase.
Good quality gear + good quality bike probably costs less than annual gym membership.

If someone wants to make other choices about transport & exercise, fair enough, it's a free country. Just please don't pretend that they weren't choices.

For some people there are no other choices which are feasible though.

LOL@ driving a mile because you are too TIRED to walk/cycle to the GYM.

What are you going to do when you get there? Not exercise, I take it?

I am not an environmentalist at all. However using cars for one-mile journeys is very antisocial, because you are almost certainly creating traffic, noise pollution, air pollution in urban areas, and going that little way to make the area less liveable and walkable

Poulay There's nothing wrong with being aware of the environment is there ? you obviously are IMO it's sad so few are. Our environment is extremely important and cars being driven unnecessarily are a PITA.

By my GD's school some parents actually park on the pavement (which is for the residents) where there are the zigzag lines on the road putting all the D.Cs lives at risk I cannot understand such selfishness.

Well what I mean is that I don't think 'I'm not going to go on holiday because of my carbon footprint', or 'I'm not going to get new towels in my hotel because of the sign on the door'.

I don't really know what to say about CO2 or whatever, but I do know that driving is anti-social, just as dropping litter is.

Are you saying by the way that the residents are allowed to park on the pavement? I think that's awful. Pavements are for pedestrians.

Ah, that old piece of sophistry, again.

To do A + B, may be more effective than doing solely A, but that does not render activity A pointless or ineffective in itself.

I don't think I am capable of being trilingual. Should I therefore not bother to become bilingual?

Yes the roads are small and it would mean traffic jams if that wasn't the case and we can't have that can we?

We live 50% of the time in rural Fr. and they are just putting in traffic calming measures in the villages and towns much to the annoyance of the drivers here who really do think that the car rules. (I was walking down to the village and a local said to me 'aaah le sport" thinking i was jogging) he couldn't believe I wasn't driving the mile or so to do my shopping they ALL drive everywhere it's quite amazing.