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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that no-one will choose to swap cars for public transport when it's still easier / cheaper / faster to drive?

352 replies

BogstandardBelle · 08/03/2019 16:20

Since starting a new job 18 months ago I have used public transport to get there and back 3 days a week. I leave my house, walk 10 minutes to the metro, spend around 20 minutes on the metro with one change in between, then walk around 15 minutes at the other end to arrive at work. I always assumed that (living in a big busy city) it was cheaper and easier to travel this way and never really considered driving.

This morning I needed to take some heavy bags into work, so I decided to drive. I left around 15 minutes later than usual and still arrived at the same time! And I didn't need to walk anywhere or share my space with hundreds of coughing / sneezing / inconsiderate / odd people en route. The cost was negligible compared to the 64 euros I spend each month on a metro ticket.

I'm really disappointed! I know that the exercise is good for me, and god knows the air pollution problem in my city doesn't need yet another single occupancy, short distance car journey being added to it. But it was so much easier / more pleasant than using public transport... and now I know how easy it was, there's going to be a little voice saying "just take the car...".

So it is unreasonable to expect people to give up their cars when public transport is actually more expensive, less convenient and overall harder work than driving? I used to think that all the motorists clogging up the roads / causing the pollution were BU, but now I'm not so sure.

OP posts:
Sockwomble · 12/03/2019 13:43

Some people have the time to fart about with public transport. I did pre child. I used the bus to get to work including carting materials about ( 20 min walk, 25 min bus journey, buses hourly). I would not be able to do that now. The needs of our child mean that time is short and very regimented. If public transport was quicker and reliable ( we live in a Northern Rail area) I would use it when travelling alone. Ds's needs make it impossible to use it with him.

ceeveebee · 12/03/2019 15:15

It really does depend on where you live. To get to central Manchester in a car at rush hour would take me at least twice as long as getting the tram.

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