to civilly ask you to use your cars less

[mosquitofeast]

My last thread was deleted because I was not being "civil" enough, I don't actually think it is a subject there is much room for civility in, but I will try!

My last post was to try and answer some questions about me. Here they are

I think I have answered these.

No I am not a strict vegetarian. I don't buy milk or dairy, but eat it in other peoples houses,

no I don't fly,

foodmiles, well, I take them into consideration, but they are not the only indicator of the environmental impact of food. Tomatoes grown in a heated greenhouse 2 miles away might have more environmental impact than tomatoes grown outside in Spain, and flown in.

I have 2 adopted children, 1 is an adult no longer living at home I currently have 3 foster children, but that is likely to change this week

Yes I have a pet, it came with one of the adopted children.

No I don't smoke

I use mine as little as I can. Can't use it less unfortunately. Moving to the countryside later this year/ next year and will unfortunately have to use the car more then. But other environmental impacts will be reduced which will slightly offset it.

No. Use your computer/phone/tablet less first. Stop using a car at all. Stop taking holidays. Stop eating meat.

You can't do it. Why should I? We all destroy this world equally. You want the world to survive? It's not going to happen without elimination of humans.

Trackdays and Sunday morning hoons into Wales would be much less fun on foot, so no.

I definitely won't be using my car less in answer to your question.

So you can do what you like or be picky about what you do for the environment, but want to insist others do the thing you have decided is the worst?

You can ask away, but I'm going to decline. Shit, you've reminded me how little driving I've done over the past few months. I might just go and cane my Astra around the countryside this afternoon just for the hell of it!

I really dislike the argument that it’s not worth making any changes to your lifestyle to benefit the environment unless you’re willing to live totally off-grid in a yurt, foraging for berries and weaving your own sack cloth. Of course even cutting down on meat consumption, car journeys, single use plastics etc. is better than not trying at all.

Plus there are big health benefits to walking and cycling more. As a nation I think we massively underestimate the benefit of passive exercise, and think the damage done by our sedentary lifestyles can only be fixed by expensive gym memberships. Getting children walking good distances from a young age teaches them healthy habits (and good time management of that’s your primary form of transport).

Of course it’s not going to be possible for most people to ditch their cars, but the 50% of journeys stay the OP posted in her original thread IS shocking, and if people were a bit more honest with themselves they might find it’s not totally impossible to make some of those journeys by other means.

Hahahahahaha

No

I live in the countryside. My daughter has EDS and MS. If you took the car away she would be trapped at home. YABVVU.

I civilly disagree with you and will drive my car when I need to

What exactly do you think you're achieving here op?

Dear Mumsnet why on earth was the previous thread deleted?

We really DO need a comprehensive change to our car centric culture - for so many reasons but environment and health are right up there.

It really isn't that controversial. The government has issued a consultation on more cyclist and pedestrian-friendly streets only today with accompanying updates to the Highway Code.

Yeah sure I will OP. Just as soon as it costs less than £65 for a monthly bus ticket to use on services that take an hour and a half to get to work, as opposed to less than 15 minutes to drive.

What exactly do you think you're achieving here op?

Touching a nerve, judging by some of the responses! If every one of your car journeys is necessary, then the OP isn’t talking about you. If you feel like their posts DO apply to you, and it makes you feel uncomfortable and defensive, think about why.

Again, if driving is the only reasonable way to get to work, then you’re NOT making unnecessary car journeys. But let’s not pretend that every single one of the short journeys in the 50% stat is completely essential and can only be done in a car.

I live in a small village in a steep valley with no shops, the nearest town is 5 miles away and we get about 2 buses a day, I need my car. I don't drive every day though if I can help it, I only left the house about 3 times last week.

well I missed the other thread, pity, it sounds 'fun'.

Anyway @mosquitofeast - you've got the order wrong. If you want people to use their cars less, you need to put good cheap alternatives in place so they don't feel the need to use their car as much.

Eg. I used my car a lot less when I started getting food delivered rather than going to the supermarket, which I did when the service quality improved and the price dropped.

I increased the use of my car when I moved from a part of the country with very good, cheap public transport (London), when driving often took longer than public transport - to a town with crap public transport, unless you want to go to London and back. (For example, my nearest hospital with and A&E dept is a 20 min drive away from my house. I looked at going on public transport, it would take over 90 mins presuming everything ran on time).

I reduced my use of a car when I moved to a job that's walking distance from my house rather than one I could only access by driving. (See crap public transport issue)

Make using public transport easier to use, people will use it. If you reduce the need to travel for things (like making working from home easier, delivery for food/goods easier and quicker), people won't drive as much.

You are just suggesting people lower their standard of living. Much easier to sell the idea that we change society to reduce the need to drive to keep the same lifestyle and then watch when people choose to not drive as much.

@Mrsfrumble

What exactly do you think you're achieving here op?

Touching a nerve, judging by some of the responses! If every one of your car journeys is necessary, then the OP isn’t talking about you. If you feel like their posts DO apply to you, and it makes you feel uncomfortable and defensive, think about why.

What about if we just don't really care that much about the drum the OP is banging and want to take the piss?

I'm a non-driver so I couldn't use one less than I already do.

Have you ever tried taking a (rescued) 16 foot long Burmese Python to the vet by bus?

How am I supposed to use my car less? I use it for work (where I have to carry heavy supplies to different houses) and to take my children to their grandparents (there is no bus that goes that far out) and I live rurally, our most local shops are at least 30 mins walk away.

I really really wish electric cars would become more affordable.

Up yours smelly bum

I like a bit of uncivility (is that a word)

Where do you live OP? Is there good public transport?

What about if we just don't really care that much about the drum the OP is banging and want to take the piss?

That’s your prerogative. But you can’t deny there are some VERY defensive responses which are clearly not in jest.