To say people are totally over reacting about the fuel issue

[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.

Also need to take their medication.

So because you don’t need car you can’t possibly see why it’s essential for anyone else?

There are jobs that you can’t do without a car.

There are parents who can’t get kids to school and then to work on time because they’re in different directions and public transport is rubbish.

There are plenty of people who live rurally.

Public transport services have been cut in recent years in some areas.

So many reasons OP. I’m glad you’re ok but try and see the world through someone else’s lens and not just your own.

And for context, my car is pretty much empty but I’m not fussed. I can’t get to my mum who’s disabled and elderly but that’s the only issue. Kids are home educated and I WFH as I’m self employed so I’m not defending myself here. But I can see how being without a car could be deeply problematic to many. You’re either using this opportunity to act smug or you’re desperately lacking intelligence - the issues are obvious.

I finished work at 3am this morning. Luckily I filled up last week so I'm OK, but although I only work 6 miles away, it's not on a public transport route.
I could get two buses, but not at the time I finish. It's not a walkable route due to a very long unlit 60mph road (where people normally do at least 80mph) on the way with no pavements or verges at the side.

It is potentially doable on a bike - but I don't have a bike, can't afford one , and would have no idea how to ride one.

I've just checked on Google maps and I'd still be waiting for my first bus now and would get home over 4 hours after my shift finished!

So I can definitely see how some people are worried about this. I didn’t learn to drive until my 30s and wouldn't have applied for my current job in the first place if I didn't. I used to live in Birmingham where the public transport was great and I didn't need to drive - even then I was happy with over an hour commute on public transport either side, there's just no way I could suddenly go without a car in my current circumstances.

@TikTokNutcases

I do think some people rely on their car far too much

That's the problem isn't it, so when people can't use one it's like the world has ended.

Clearly you are very sheltered and understand little of other people's lives.

I have no car either, this issue isn't affecting me - but because I read about how it is affecting other people's lives I do understand. It isn't the end of the world, but it is impossible for some to get to work, and that can result it losing pay or getting fired. Which is a big deal.

The idea that carers could use public transport to carry out 10 different home visits per day is just .

In addition to that, it is a massive deal that this conservative government has broken the bloody country. They can't run things properly.

OP I think all this post shows is that some people’s lives are different to yours. Hysteria, panic and flapping are words you’re using (as the media do) to undermine genuine concerns. This is a difficult situation which will hopefully improve for all of us soon, not an opportunity to sneer at people.

Where I live, semi rural, we have a reasonably good, hourly bus service. BUT no drivers. Every other bus has been cancelled.

I don't see hysteria or panic. I see empty pumps and where there is fuel an nice orderly queue to get some.

Sure, some people are worried. They rely on things that rely on fuel. That might be income, certain people being able to do their jobs via car (district nurses? Teachers, bus drivers) or goods arriving (medication, dressings, food).

Then there are people who think like you, who can't seem to imagine what other people's lives are like.

I think if we were all accepting that everyone is doing the best they can, we'd all be happier.

@UmbilicusProfundus how do you know that non drivers are such as it suits their life style? How do you know they can’t drive due to not fitting the criteria to having a licence and therefore have to adapt to not being able to drive?

Have you ever lived rurally where there is very limited public transport?
5 busses a day ( none on Sunday )out of a village and back, to one small market town?
First of 5 busses at 0750 last at 1510.
Winding roads with no pavements.

Presently fuel duty has been frozen for 9 years, when that stops, which it inevitably will do & the cost of driving increases, maybe then the 50% of journeys under 2 miles may decrease

I’m on the way to work at the moment via bus and train. I live in one city and work in another; the transport links are fine. I don’t have children or loads to carry, and can easily walk to work at the other end. Even so, my door to door journey time will be doubled and it’s significantly more expensive than driving would be. So, even without the hardships that many other people face, the risk of running out of fuel brings inconvenience. People are allowed their reactions.

SpeckledyHen

3/4 of the population of England are crammed into the south east, with great train routes and more frequent buses - so 75% won’t really experience this and the rest of the 25% are all going to live rurally

Wow! What a blinkered post - OP obviously can’t imagine a life different to her own.her rural Lincolnshire home must have as be e been one of the bigger towns or Lincoln itself. I live in rural Lincolnshire and have just googled my route to work via train and bus - it would take 2 hours each way - for a five hour working day - don’t think I’d bother!
I’m a HCA in a GP surgery ( the only one as it’s only 8000 registered patients) so no bloods, no BPs, no ecg’s etc etc etc not walkable as it’s a 35-40 min route by car ( 27 miles) via 2 motorways and an A road. I won’t be able to get to work by Friday if it doesn’t improve, the village I live in doesn’t even have a petrol station nearest is 5 miles away and gaz been empty since saturday

Nothingoriginalhere

Your post seems equally as blinkered

Try having a child with asd op!

My dc would not cope very well at all with missing her favoured activities due to not having the fuel to be able to go. And as her mental well-being is the priority in this house I queued at 8 in the morning on Sunday to get fuel to ensure she didn’t miss the birthday party taking place somewhere we couldn’t get to by bus or train

Belledan1 And how many miles between all the calls

My local carer has less than 3/4 miles between her Calls and does it on an electric bike, she’s says it’s quicker, no parking issues and the electric means she can get around up hills without effort. Added to which the cost is dramatically cheaper and the bike has a range of 60 miles

@APurpleSquirrel

You clearly live in a part of the country where public transport is an option - in many places it isn't.

Just this really.

I own a cafe and bake many of my cakes at home, there is no way I could get them to my shop on public transport. I'm also opening a new cafe, picking up new furniture etc, whilst having to drop my dc at school and obviously collect them. And the small matter of moving house at the weekend!

I need fuel, I'm really low but hoping to get some at costco tomorrow. I'm not panicking but I do need my car, 100% my life can not be carried out on public transport!

@ivykaty44

SpeckledyHen

3/4 of the population of England are crammed into the south east, with great train routes and more frequent buses - so 75% won’t really experience this and the rest of the 25% are all going to live rurally

I’m one of the 25% in rural Berkshire! When I was a child I lived in a hamlet with 2 busses a day on 3 days a week. I think it is still the same there .

@TikTokNutcases

I bet you wait at home with glee whist some mug delivers your Amazon parcels in a car. People like you make me incredibly angry. You sound like a smug twat

I don't shop on Amazon

You are making rather a prat of yourself I’m afraid.

You have grouped all drivers into a single entity in your rationale and thus declared them all to be idiots. Which was rather idiotic of you.

Some drivers are idiots who are fuelling their cars unnecessarily.

Some drivers are rightly anxious that they cannot fuel their car when needed.

It is idiotic to suggest everyone can cope without their vehicle ‘for a few days’.

I’m afraid Op that you have lost your argument and made yourself sound like a complete pillock.

I only use my car for work, I walk everwhere else. I work 11 hour shifts and finish late at night. There is no suitable public transport and the nearest train station is 8 miles away as the crow flies (longer using actual roads and bribleways). Not everyone lives in London.

SpeckledyHen

There will always be anecdotal stories

To add I don't even live particularly rurally, I live in a small town and 7 miles from a major city. I also need to get children to school before starting work so can't just leave 3 hours before and walk it!

I live rurally. I don't finish work until 8 pm, last bus is 6 pm.

In the village I live the train station is 6 miles away with trains running every two hours and buses one an hour. Not really ideal for working outside the village
If I run out of petrol, I can't get to and from work. You are lucky if you have access to public transport that is reliable. Not everyone does.

There are many angry drivers on this thread

Let’s hope you don’t lose your driving licence through an illness and DVLA take it away

This hasn’t happened to me but I’ve met many that it has happened to through my work. Not everyone gets to get their licence back when their illness stabilises either.