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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how long it been since you've used public transport?

267 replies

BoysofMelody · 19/09/2017 14:37

After a thread on here over change from bus fares got very heated, a couple of people said they'd not used buses (and possibly other forms of public transport) for over 10 years.

I find it fairly incredible that you can go so long without going on a bus or use other forms - okay I get that it may be months if you commute by car/bike or walk, but surely most people will make an occasional trip by bus or train across the course of a year for a night out or on a day trip or whatever?

OP posts:
AugustRose · 19/09/2017 15:25

I think the last time I was on public transport was on holiday in Spain last year. It was frequent, cheap and reliable.

I live in a rural location where the only bus has been diminishing for a few years and last December was stopped altogether (when we moved here 12 years ago it had 8 journeys a day) so I couldn't use a bus if I wanted to. The train station is 7 miles away and even small journeys cost too much, the only option where I live is to drive.

When DS1 was in Manchester I wanted to take the other DC on the train to visit but it was going to cost over £85 for a family ticket! The cost of driving there and back, plus parking was less than £25.

Before moving to a rural location I didn't drive and used public transport every day, it was much easier and not expensive but now, in the area I did live in, it costs quite a bit for trains/buses.

ZestyDragon · 19/09/2017 15:32

Not everyone lives in an area with good public transport. I lived in London until I was 30 and didn't need to learn to drive. I always used buses, trains and tubes. Now I live 15 miles outside Belfast and public transport isn't great. If you want to go into Belfast its doable but if you (like me) work 30 miles in the other direction out in a country village there is no other option other than to drive.

I only use buses etc when I visit London. That's it.

crazycatgal · 19/09/2017 15:33

I used a bus yesterday because I'm now commuting into the nearest city and the parking is expensive.

I had to put up with someone who smelled very strongly or urine sitting near me, and on the journey home two 11 year old boys called the driver a fat bastard and started kicking the bus when they got off.

I completely understand why people avoid public transport.

Cantseethewoods · 19/09/2017 15:33

In a typical week I'd use the bus every work day in summer to go 1km from home to work as too hot to walk. I get the MTR ( tube) a few times to get to the gym as quicker than a taxi. Public transport here ( HK) is pretty good though.

Funnyface1 · 19/09/2017 15:59

Train about 10 years ago.

EBearhug · 19/09/2017 16:02

I rarely use buses, though I did on Saturday. I am most likely to use them when I visit big cities where they are more likely to be frequent and reasonably priced.

I get the train whenever I go to London, or down to Bournemouth or somewhere. On longer journeys, I am usually travelling by myself, and the costs of train vs car are usually about the same. If there are more than just me travelling, the car will cost the same, but train will be more.

There are no direct buses to work, probably because there is a direct train line. It would cost more in time and money to get a train in, and then a bus to where the office is than it does to drive.

BeALert · 19/09/2017 16:03

Chortling a bit...

The bus used to stop 5 miles from my house, but now it's 1.5 miles. I still never take it.

TakeMe2Insanity · 19/09/2017 16:03

This morning. I took the bus to an area about 30 mins walk away, so 5 mins in bus. Can park in a supermarket there but was easier without the car. I live in London so have more options.

BeALert · 19/09/2017 16:03

...and the nearest train stop is 8 miles away.

Original poster
BoysofMelody · 19/09/2017 16:12

So that's almost 50 years without having been on public transport.

That must be some sort of record. How did you get about as a child? Did you have two cars?

OP posts:
TonicAndTonic · 19/09/2017 16:12

Train last Saturday (though that was the first time in several months I think). Bus - yesterday!

I'm quite rural and the bus options in particular are very limited but i'm lucky in that I can use one to get home from work (though interestingly not into work...). DP and I just about manage to have one car between us rather than one each. Most public transport users round my way that I know have at least some access to a car.

melj1213 · 19/09/2017 16:14

I was on the bus earlier today, train was a couple of weeks ago when I came back fro Manchester Airport. Train tickets can be expensive if you don't book ahead but I booked my train tickets 12 weeks in advance so got 1st class singles for £9 one way and £12 coming back (so £21 all together) ... buying a standard ticket on the day would have cost me £26 one way.

When it's my week with DD I tend to use the car more just because it gives me more flexibility when I have to get out of work, pick up DD from school, drop her at her extra curricular clubs/groups etc, do a few errands, pick her up from her club and get her home for dinner all in the space of an hour or so. It would be do-able using buses/walking but it would be constantly rushing and reliant on everything running dead on time.

When it's DD's week with her dad I tend to use buses/walk more because I only have to worry about my own schedule and have more freedom to deviate from the planned schedule. So if it takes me 25 minutes and 2 buses to get home after work instead of a 15 minute drive then so be it if it also means that I can get a few errands done since the first bus drops me right at the town centre and I can either get straight on the second bus at the stop 5ft away or walk through town and get the second bus at the next stop at the other end of the high street. Having a bus stop less than a minute walk from my front door also helps, especially when the route goes almost past the front door of a lot of my friends/family in one direction and the town centre terminus for all the buses in the other direction.

Original poster
BoysofMelody · 19/09/2017 16:15

I get the train whenever I go to London, or down to Bournemouth or somewhere. On longer journeys, I am usually travelling by myself, and the costs of train vs car are usually about the same.

I find driving so stressful and knackering that if the costs are in any way comparable then I'll take the train. Ditto with the bus for shorter trips.

OP posts:
EB123 · 19/09/2017 16:15

I use buses regularly with my three little ones as I don't drive. Last train journey was last month when we went out and DH was drinking so couldn't drive.

DamsonGin · 19/09/2017 16:19

Bus about two hours ago.

e1y1 · 19/09/2017 16:20

I've not been on a bus in my entire adult life.

Have used a tram/train (but only 1 or 2 times in about a 5 year period).

Eolian · 19/09/2017 16:20

That must be some sort of record. How did you get about as a child? Did you have two cars?

I almost never went on public transport as a child, certainly not for local journeys. We had two cars. I don't think that's that unusual. The other kids I knew didn't really use it either.

PennyLaneFlowers · 19/09/2017 16:22

I don't drive so I use public transport all the time.

My MIL learned to drive at 17 and is now 57. She hasn't been on public transport for 40 years Shock

AccrualIntentions · 19/09/2017 16:22

About 20 minutes. Have used it 3 times today so far, getting to work and travelling to and from a meeting. Then will use it to get home. I can't imagine living somewhere that didn't have good public transport links, it was really important to me when deciding where to live and work.

babybat · 19/09/2017 16:22

Bus to work this morning in London, as my bike's in for repair. We were in Norfolk at the weekend, and DD and I got the bus into Norwich for shopping. It was fast, comfortable, the bus had wifi and it cost less than parking. I know there are parts of the UK that aren't well-served by public transport, but tbh I think a lot of people just get used to driving everywhere and don't even try to consider the alternatives.

treaclesoda · 19/09/2017 16:22

I had never been on a bus as a paying passenger (as opposed to private hire for school trips etc) until I went to university.

caoraich · 19/09/2017 16:23

I haven't been on a regular bus since I was 17, so that's 13 years.

I live in a city now, but grew up somewhere v rural with the bus to school taking over an hour and passing my driving test meant I got 30 extra mins in bed!
I do use the suburban train line and the tube where I live, as it's handy for getting into town and cheaper than parking. But to be honest I wouldn't really know how to get a bus Blush

PurplePillowCase · 19/09/2017 16:23

every day.
have a car but most journeys are quicker by bus/train.

RonSwansonsMoustache · 19/09/2017 16:23

December was the last time - and that's when I was on a city break.

Dentistlakes · 19/09/2017 16:25

A few weeks ago when I got a bus. Quite enjoyable actually. You get to see things you miss if you drive. I haven't got the train for ages though.