To despair at our obession with cars

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 09/03/2022 11:21

Because nothing can come in any way close to matching the convenience of a car - especially outside London.

And trains and busses are full of sniffing sneezing tossers, people shouting into their phones and gits playing tinny "music" loudly, who give you a mouthful of abuse if asked politely to desist.

These are not easy issues to address.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 09/03/2022 11:22

4 million people die every year from the effects of air pollution.
Can you post a link to the research for this please? I imagine it's relatively small proportion of that number attributable to cars.

SleeplessInEngland · 09/03/2022 11:23

On the plus side, the uptake of electric cars has surpassed all expectations and they're much quieter and cleaner.

irregularegular · 09/03/2022 11:24

If public transport was better and cheaper then people would use it more. I despair at the price of trains. I planned to take my son to a Uni offer day by train recently. Under 2 hours away. I was staggered by the price of travel. Even on a super off peak ticket I am saving over £100 by driving and paying for petrol and parking instead. It's just too much!

Sirzy · 09/03/2022 11:24

In many areas the public transport isn’t and never has been up to scratch. There isn’t an easy fix

Ds has regular appointments at a childrens hospital in a local city. It takes 25 minutes to drive, it would take over 2.5 hours to get there on public transport.

Momicrone · 09/03/2022 11:26

Damebarsatemydogsphone, aren't you forgetting that sitting on public transport, you are letting someone else take the stress of driving, you can look out the window or read, and no traffic jams if you're on a train, I know which I prefer, I always feel sorry for car drivers stuck in traffic

Momicrone · 09/03/2022 11:28

Iregulularregular, so buying and running a car is cheaper!? I travel with kids on the trains alot with a family rail card.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 09/03/2022 11:29

Why do we tolerate such terrible public transport and cycling infrastructure?
Any party/leader who advocates government spending in these areas is ridiculed by the media. People keep voting for parties who only invest in things for the already very rich.
I've commented on several local new build development plans around here suggesting better cycle and walking access but the legislation to make developers provide these is piss weak and they have an army of consultants to help them avoid it.

cavalierkingc · 09/03/2022 11:29

For some people cars a essential. Couldn't do my line of work without one, as I work in a different location everyday at late notice. (Supply teacher.)

Bramshott · 09/03/2022 11:30

One of the biggest problems I see is that many of us drive very short distances (less than a mile) when we could definitely walk them easily.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 09/03/2022 11:31

@Momicrone

Damebarsatemydogsphone, aren't you forgetting that sitting on public transport, you are letting someone else take the stress of driving, you can look out the window or read, and no traffic jams if you're on a train, I know which I prefer, I always feel sorry for car drivers stuck in traffic

Fair point - I'd never consider driving into London for example, but as there's no regular bus I still use my car to drive to the station.

Momicrone · 09/03/2022 11:31

Peer to peer car sharing is a solution where people make money by hiring out their own cars, schemes like hiya car
www.hiyacar.co.uk/

Sirzy · 09/03/2022 11:32

@Bramshott

One of the biggest problems I see is that many of us drive very short distances (less than a mile) when we could definitely walk them easily.

Fully agree. When I haven’t got DS with me (who is disabled and can’t walk far) I walk wherever possible.

Momicrone · 09/03/2022 11:32

Daimbar, I don't know how long the journey is to the station but cycling may also be an option

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 09/03/2022 11:32

@Bramshott

One of the biggest problems I see is that many of us drive very short distances (less than a mile) when we could definitely walk them easily.

In my case that's a simple case of being time poor - I just don't have an hour to walk when I can do the trip in 10 minutes in the car, sadly. If society could be restructured so I could work fewer hours (I already work from home) for the same pay, I'd gladly walk more.

Momicrone · 09/03/2022 11:33

Bramshott, or cycle them

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 09/03/2022 11:33

@Momicrone

Daimbar, I don't know how long the journey is to the station but cycling may also be an option

Not safe due to no decent cycle route - also takes much longer and I work long hours.

Woollystockings · 09/03/2022 11:34

I don’t have a car and neither do most people I know - but I do live in London. My DC - now teens - have never lived with a family car and have rarely even travelled in a car.

Konstantine8364 · 09/03/2022 11:34

I live in Manchester and public transport from the suburbs to the city centre is excellent and when travelling to the city centre I use the tram (most people I know would use tram/bus for this). However public transport from the suburbs into Cheshire and around the suburbs is dire. For example; my office is a 40min drive away, would take 2hrs plus each way on public transport. My friend A lives 10 mins drive away, 50mins on public transport. My friend B lives 20mins drive away, 1hr 20 on public transport. I cycle a bit in the summer but don't feel safe cycling on the roads when it's dark/wet/icy (which is 99% of autumn/winter). People have busy lives and can't spend half their life or really restrict themselves relying on public transport. And this is in a major city, it's much much worse rurally! Until public transport is much improved people won't give up their cars!

Theunamedcat · 09/03/2022 11:35

I would never have learned to drive had I been able to source employment close to home or public transport links or even had a reliable bus/train service to begin with I literally learned in my 40s

Momicrone · 09/03/2022 11:35

Daimbar, fair enough, it depends where you live, in cities cycling is the quickest mode of transport

Original poster

SelkieQualia · 09/03/2022 11:35

@daimbarsatemydogsbone

4 million people die every year from the effects of air pollution. Can you post a link to the research for this please? I imagine it's relatively small proportion of that number attributable to cars.

I think

Yes, this is primarily referring to energy production, but cars contribute. Also let's not forget that car accidents are a leading cause of death.

OP posts:

SnackSizeRaisin · 09/03/2022 11:35

Totally agree with you OP. Quality of life would be so much better without cars in towns. It's a big mental hurdle to imagine it for most people. Electric cars are not the answer as they are expensive, just as bad for the environment and just as dangerous. Electric bikes are where the future lies in my opinion. Ideal for lazy people. Just need to get the government to subsidise them

byvirtue · 09/03/2022 11:36

Presumably you live in a city with public transport? 17% of the English population live rurally and are dependent on their vehicles to access health, education and work.

WeirdlyKind · 09/03/2022 11:39

@Momicrone

Damebarsatemydogsphone, aren't you forgetting that sitting on public transport, you are letting someone else take the stress of driving, you can look out the window or read, and no traffic jams if you're on a train, I know which I prefer, I always feel sorry for car drivers stuck in traffic

My last experience of using public transport was the single most stressful thing I've done this year. It cost an absolute fortune, took almost three times as long as driving and I found exactly nothing relaxing about it.

I need a car because my work isn't on (or even near) a bus route and I live in a rural village where the buses stop at 8pm. Not to mention that I'm on crutches and the single bus stop is a mile and a half away from home.