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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To say people are totally over reacting about the fuel issue

439 replies

TikTokNutcases · 27/09/2021 22:54

People adamant they can't go to work, so get a train.

Ride a bicycle.

Use the bus.

Talk of closing schools for god sake, whatever next.

It's ridiculous that people rely so heavily on the use of their car that life appears to stop still when they can't drive it.

You don't see this type of hysteria among non drivers, ever.

I don't drive and never have. I've never flapped like this about not being able to go to the supermarket, work etc.

OP posts:
LST · 28/09/2021 20:37

@Keladrythesaviour

Yeah I don't get it either. In my village we can easily get a bus into the local town for work. We can't get back the same day, but if we just stopped worrying we'd quickly realise we could sleep in a doorway until the single bus the next day.
People are just so selfish aren't they. There wasn't that much rain last night. A good waterproof coat and leggings. I don't know what people are moaning about
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 20:38

You're not actually reading any of the good points let alone thinking about them are you.

Get buses.

I pointed out ages ago that bus drivers often can't get to work on the bus because if first or last there are no buses to take them Hmm

I mean that's basic and obvious.

Your argument is only opinion with no response at all to all the good points. IE you have no argument, and you're not even going to consider your position at all. Not even the slightest leeway.

Which indicates you are so certain of your opinion you will not consider any slight amendment for any situation no matter how obviously it merits consideration. And also that if that is your general approach you are closed minded, lacking in interest in anything which might challenge your world view.

Always interesting to see this happen as I don't really know anyone like that in real life!

blissfulllife · 28/09/2021 20:42

Just going to leave this here

My daughter is 12. She's autistic and has mental health problems. As a result she goes to an alternative provision unit in a hospital school. She goes by taxi with another child with a carer provided by the council. Due to the ridiculous fuel situation they had to send a larger taxi and cram other children in. This resulted in lots of very distressed children in an enclosed space. I'm sure you can imagine the fall out from that. I've just spent a few hours trying to stop her self harming before she finally fell to sleep.

Yes I wish I could just walk her to school myself

kungfupannda · 28/09/2021 20:43

@Keladrythesaviour

Yeah I don't get it either. In my village we can easily get a bus into the local town for work. We can't get back the same day, but if we just stopped worrying we'd quickly realise we could sleep in a doorway until the single bus the next day.
I know. People are such snowflakes, wanting to be able to get home from somewhere. They should just be grateful they managed to get there in the first place. I miss our old village bus which got into town at 12 noon and left to come back at 12.30. It was mainly used by elderly people, and the lazy buggers complained that they couldn’t actually run fast enough to get their shopping done in 30 minutes. They eventually got the bus timetable changed. Shameful. They could have just slept under some newspaper on a bench in the bus station.
cardibach · 28/09/2021 20:57

It’s not all rural people either. I live just outside cardiff and 3 mins walk from a train station. However, that doesn’t help me with getting to the place I work. This may be a bit outing, but here are the 3 ways offered when I google. I haven’t checked if they are fen available early enough (I have to be at work by 8.30, and usually aim to be there by 8.10 to set everything up). Look at the time difference for public transport, and the cost difference for either that or a taxi…

To say people are totally over reacting about the fuel issue
Keladrythesaviour · 28/09/2021 21:14

@kungfupannda Grin ours is the same bus. So it literally drops people off then turns back round, returns to the village and then I presume heads off to Narnia not to be seen until 10.30 the next morning to do exactly the same route. Confused

Minfilia · 28/09/2021 21:16

Give your head a wobble OP.

My DDs 15 minute car journey to school would take 1hour45 minutes by public transport and involve going via the city when we live rurally.

There is no public transport that goes anywhere near my work and I wouldn’t fancy walking three miles up a dual carriageway with no paths Hmm

DH can’t exactly carry a work van full of tools when he goes on his 7 hour car journey tomorrow.

Of course people need their bloody cars!

Lightisnotwhite · 28/09/2021 21:42

I think the Op has a point actually.

If you didn’t have a car you’d adapt. You wouldn’t have 3 kids at 3 educational establishments you had to drive to. Any secondary kids would be making their own way. Nursery kids wouldn’t be.
If you are a carer you’d do it for someone or something local.

Maybe the world would be smaller in some ways but plenty manage without a car.
How many of us with cars would admit to just driving because we can. Because it’s great to do whatever you want when you want.

dryasaboner · 28/09/2021 21:46

You'd adapt . You may not have a job that pays the bills but you'd adapt.

CouldBeOuting · 28/09/2021 21:57

@TikTokNutcases

People adamant they can't go to work, so get a train.

Ride a bicycle.

Use the bus.

Talk of closing schools for god sake, whatever next.

It's ridiculous that people rely so heavily on the use of their car that life appears to stop still when they can't drive it.

You don't see this type of hysteria among non drivers, ever.

I don't drive and never have. I've never flapped like this about not being able to go to the supermarket, work etc.

Public transport to my workplace (a school) takes two hours each way (if no traffic) and I only work four hours a day. The drive takes 15 minutes.
NannyOggsWhiskyStash · 28/09/2021 22:01

For goodness sake, people can cycle, I live in Holland and cycle everywhere. While I get that some people do need a car, there are far too many in the UK. I agree with the op

5BlackDoors · 28/09/2021 22:03

@NannyOggsWhiskyStash

For goodness sake, people can cycle, I live in Holland and cycle everywhere. While I get that some people do need a car, there are far too many in the UK. I agree with the op
How big is Holland?
moonfacebaby · 28/09/2021 22:05

I’m a single parent who has a 50 mile round trip to work.

If I was to attempt public transport, it would take me just shy of 2 hours to get to work. I’d have to leave my 9 year old to get herself up and to school, and there’d be no-one to pick her up from after school club.

I can’t afford to move somewhere closer to work, or take a job that pays less to be closer to home.

I’m sure there are plenty of us who’d like to use public transport, but let’s face it, it’s pretty crap in various parts of the country, as well as unaffordable.

kungfupannda · 28/09/2021 22:12

[quote Keladrythesaviour]@kungfupannda Grin ours is the same bus. So it literally drops people off then turns back round, returns to the village and then I presume heads off to Narnia not to be seen until 10.30 the next morning to do exactly the same route. Confused[/quote]
Narnia, by way of Mordor. And on every second Thursday it stops at Oz.

CouldBeOuting · 28/09/2021 22:12

@NannyOggsWhiskyStash

For goodness sake, people can cycle, I live in Holland and cycle everywhere. While I get that some people do need a car, there are far too many in the UK. I agree with the op
Seriously not possible due to health issues…. even my fit DH has said he wouldn’t cycle to my work with a very steep, long hill with no footpaths to negotiate.
MilduraS · 28/09/2021 22:14

I only started driving again 3 years ago because it opened up more job opportunities. I can't get to my new job by public transport and I can't cycle down the motorway. It was lovely when I had a 20 minute walk to work but even back then I wasn't naive enough to think everyone could get to work without a car.

NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 22:14

@NannyOggsWhiskyStash

For goodness sake, people can cycle, I live in Holland and cycle everywhere. While I get that some people do need a car, there are far too many in the UK. I agree with the op
Can you imagine trying to operate an ambulance service on a bicycle?!

Or carry a load of ladders tools temporary bus stops with cement bases to do your job keeping the buses in London moving?

Good luck!!!

TartanJumper · 28/09/2021 22:15

@NannyOggsWhiskyStash

For goodness sake, people can cycle, I live in Holland and cycle everywhere. While I get that some people do need a car, there are far too many in the UK. I agree with the op
The Netherlands is geared up for bikes. It’s a culture. The UK is not. No cycle paths where I live (plus no storage for a bike) for a start. I’d also have to cycle on an A road which I believe is illegal
NiceGerbil · 28/09/2021 22:15

Hello there's a burst watermain.

No probs! The team with tools to dig up the road will be along soon :)

Grin
TartanJumper · 28/09/2021 22:18

To clarify: googled and A road cycling is not illegal but I wouldn’t do it as not confident enough!

LadyCatStark · 28/09/2021 22:37

Nope. I drive around the countryside visiting children with a bag full of toys (I’m not Santa Claus, that would actually solve the petrol worries). I live rurally and there is one bus which I can use to get 2 villages over or into the nearest city which is in the opposite direction to my visits. It runs every hour and a half. I could actually get to one town that I visit by getting the bus 2 villages over, getting on a ferry and then walking or trying to find a bus at the other side. I think that would take far longer than half an hour though! I can’t ride a bike as it’s too far and my bag is too heavy. After 18 months of being forced to try to support my families from home, like hell am I going to miss visiting them on my first week back due to bloody petrol!

Offmyfence · 28/09/2021 22:47

@NannyOggsWhiskyStash

For goodness sake, people can cycle, I live in Holland and cycle everywhere. While I get that some people do need a car, there are far too many in the UK. I agree with the op
GrinGrinGrin

People in Australia surf, perhaps we should do that?

MyOtherProfile · 28/09/2021 23:03

People in Australia surf, perhaps we should do that?

At last a sensible suggestion!

Gilead · 28/09/2021 23:21

I’m disabled and unable to access public transport. There was no petrol available today. Good job I don’t have a hospital appointment this week.

ivykaty44 · 29/09/2021 05:45

People in Australia surf, perhaps we should do that?

Seems this guy did but there weren’t any waves

www.kentonline.co.uk/thanet/news/is-this-kents-best-way-to-commute-249660/