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AIBU?

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Original poster

To despair at our obession with cars

633 replies

SelkieQualia · 09/03/2022 11:11

They are awful. Noisy. Polluting. 4 million people die every year from the effects of air pollution. Housing developments are built around them, which means that the most vulnerable people in our society - young people, the elderly - are made even more dependant on those who drive.
Why do we tolerate such terrible public transport and cycling infrastructure?

OP posts:
ivykaty44 · 11/03/2022 15:57

@user1497207191 I put links in further back he thread that explain this question you asked

ivykaty44 · 11/03/2022 16:05

user1497207191

I will reframe

people will avoid living in a place if it doesn't offer them what they want in the way of transport, then perhaps those places would need to look at what they could offer in the way of transport

If petrol rises in price people will seek alternatives, as people become old and some unable to continue to drive, they will also seek alternatives

ivykaty44 · 11/03/2022 16:07

You could if it had wheels, otherwise it would be obstructing the highway

not even with wheels - it was done in Kenilworth with with wheel and a motor, but had to be moved. It was a seat for everyone to use and the council had it moved. It now sits in a private car park for people to sit on - the carpark is next to a shopping corridor so pleasant enough

ivykaty44 · 11/03/2022 16:13

If the transport networks were much better more people wouldn't use cars.
everyone agrees with that, the question is why do we tolerate it?

Momicrone · 11/03/2022 19:11

User149, but said taxi wouldn't keep going back to office/rank c. I'd rather live on a street with one car serving 20 households than 20 cars

Original poster
SelkieQualia · 11/03/2022 22:43

@Sleepyblueocean

"Currently, however, the system does penalise those whi can't drive. And I suspect that the number of people who can't drive is much larger than those who can't use cpublic transport."

A large number of people who cannot use public transport cannot drive but they do need to be driven around by others in private vehicles.

Yes, and cars will always be there for those people. NO ONE IS SUGGESTING TAKING AWAY CARS COMPLETELY.

There is just currently no real alternative for those who can't drive, but could have some independence if there were other alternatives.

OP posts:
Original poster
SelkieQualia · 11/03/2022 22:50

@FreakinFrankNFurter

Shortage of time is a big factor for me and many people. I do every school drop off and pick up for DS, whether it's from school or after school club.

School is a 45 minute round trip if walking. On days when I'm in the office, it's another 20 minute walk to the train station. I get the train into Manchester City Centre.

I don't have 90 to 130 minutes available every day to do those walks, when I can save 60 to 90 minutes of that if i drive.

I enjoy the walks to school, it makes me feel better and it is good for DS too. I will be walking to pick DS up today as I'm not working. But I don't have time most days.

Bike isn't an option as we live in terrace so can only keep bikes in the cellar which is difficult to get bikes in and out of. We do have them for weekend bike rides.
DS school has also shut and still not replaced the bike/scooter shed. Partly as it was knackered but the HT told me it was also because not having bikes/scooters means playground at school pick up is calmer

And wouldn't it be better if there was a dedicated school bus that picked the kids up? When you have one of those, it's amazing - give you back so much time.

And this at attitude by the school to the bike shed - forget the health and environmental benefits (when we are having a health crisis due to under exercise), and the way in which having some kids on bikes would relieve the school pick up traffic problem (find me a school that does not have this issue), "the playground is calmer"?!

OP posts:
halfpastthree · 11/03/2022 23:26

We gave up our car when we moved back to London. I don't miss it at all. Our 7yo could walk to school by himself if he didn't have to cross a road. Cars ruin everything, don't they?

ivykaty44 · 12/03/2022 07:06

Cars ruin everything, don't they?

I’d disagree, cars have a place but itd be good if it was last on the list & other firms of transport were always first

HelloDulling · 12/03/2022 07:18

I’m not obsessed with my car at all. I last drove it last weekend. I walk to work, the DC walk to school, DH cycles to work, I get my shopping delivered, if I go into our city centre I walk or get the bus (which is increasingly unreliable).

However, I would find it very inconvenient not to have a car at all.

Original poster
SelkieQualia · 12/03/2022 07:22

I think it's quite an expressive phrase, "cars ruin everything". I think that is usually used to mean "overdependence on cars negatively affects many different facets of life in ways we don't fully appreciate" but it's less wordy.

OP posts:
Original poster
SelkieQualia · 12/03/2022 07:27

@HelloDulling

I’m not obsessed with my car at all. I last drove it last weekend. I walk to work, the DC walk to school, DH cycles to work, I get my shopping delivered, if I go into our city centre I walk or get the bus (which is increasingly unreliable).

However, I would find it very inconvenient not to have a car at all.

This is the sort of life that should be an option for more people. You are very lucky (or chose your living location well). Not enough people have the options to cycle or bus as often as you do.
OP posts:
Underhisi · 12/03/2022 07:38

"Cars ruin everything, don't they?"

Having a car gives my disabled child a good quality of life rather than a very poor quality of life.

daimbarsatemydogsbone · 12/03/2022 09:08

Cars ruin everything, don't they?
In London, yes. Everywhere else in the UK, no.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 12/03/2022 09:15

If cars weren't so popular, would public transport be better?

popwithit · 12/03/2022 09:16

I love my car. I haven't used public transport in years. I live in London. Wouldn't have it any other way. The freedom is incredible. It's electric. Love it !l I would be too tired to wait around for public transport and walk everywhere. I go to the gym for exercise. I drive there ! Shock horror ! Love it !

Twentypast · 12/03/2022 09:26

I do shifts which means I have to be at Heathrow at 4am for an early and finish after midnight on a late. No public transport at those times.

I take my disabled 82 year old mum shopping once a week. She couldn't manage on public transport.

Sometimes you need a car. Not everyone falls into neat little boxes where public transport or cycling is possible.

Momicrone · 12/03/2022 09:48

Twenty past, yes that is what the op said

Momicrone · 12/03/2022 09:52

I think it's a real shame that lack of bike storage puts people off cycling, some councils will provide bike hangars on the road, although it takes up a parking space which pisses car drivers off, i used to store my bike on a pulley system on the ceiling in the hallway

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 12/03/2022 10:08

For me to get to work it's 10 minutes by car, 52 minutes by bus, 52 minutes to walk or apparently 13 minutes by bike (as I don't was to arrive hot and sweaty it would take me a lot longer than that to cycle!).

Even if I wanted to walk or cycle it wouldn't be an option as I'm not putting myself at risk by going along a lonely unlit towpath!

Momicrone · 12/03/2022 10:35

I guess if you're a night worker that does make a difference

inheritancetrack · 12/03/2022 10:40

Tell me how I am to get DCs to school ( different ones) then myself to work, do a big shop, collect kids and all the other things we need a car to do? Buses are not at the right times, stops and a mile from school, 2 buses would be needed, and I'd never get to work on time. My car is a new one and the smallest low emission on I could get.

AngeloMysterioso · 12/03/2022 10:53

I’ve only just started learning aged 36 because I’ve moved out of London to somewhere with shite, yet expensive public transport and I have two children.

Original poster
SelkieQualia · 12/03/2022 10:54

Can you... just read the thread, please?

OP posts:
Momicrone · 12/03/2022 11:08

Inheritancetrack, a lot of people have the big shop delivered