To despair at our obession with cars

[SelkieQualia]

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?

@lampygirl

A cargo bike or trailer would take it for sure, really much more common in Europe.

I do think being time poor makes us more reliant on the car. The 'weekly shop' probably mostly does warrant a decent boot to bring it all home again, but if we were popping out every other day for that evening's meal and the bits for tomorrows lunch and that was it then this would be much much easier even with a rucksack or ideally a couple of panniers, nothing really heavy duty. When your working day is already 8.30 - 6 with a 30 min commute if you go by bike on top of that, plus changing time, the last thing you want to do is still be in the supermarket at 7 every night. If the working day was 8.30-4 it might be more viable.

I personally think 8.30 - 6 daily is a pretty crap lifestyle anyway (yes, I do it myself). There's a thread going about working part time without kids. We really need more part time / shorter hours jobs.

I'm not 'obsessed' but I need one to get to work and back as there is no public transport and it's a long way from where I live. I also live in a different county to most of my friends and family and use my car to go and visit them. That's the reality for most people I expect - they use a car because they NEED to. They're expensive to run and I'd rather not have to have one, but I wouldn't be able to work otherwise.

@Momicrone

"Maddening, you don't have to do all your shopping by bike, just some of it, weekly shop can be delivered"

I don't want it delivered, tried it, don't like the service. and I am sure a vehicle is doing the delivering, it is still a vehicle on the road so no thanks.

It's one vehicle, often electric, doing multi drops rather than lots of vehicles on the road

Cuntymcbollox, trains can be a great way to visit family in other counties in the uk

I never had a car in Madrid, the public transport was so good we didn't need it. Same with going on holidays to other parts of Spain, the AVE fast train network is so vast, we didn't need to take a plane.

It changed when I came to Australia - without a car you can't function, you need it for work, shopping or going to a restaurant. And I live in Sydney.

I walk and cycle as much as I can but I'm restricted in how much I use my car because Australia has an awful public transport policy, trains are slow and expensive, buses and metro are very restrictive to the CBD with most of the greater Sydney population unable to access.

One of the things I seriously miss from Spain is their public transport. The ability to go from Cordoba to Seville in 30 minutes in a fast train. Or from Madrid to Segovia in 20 mins with affordable prices.

I really miss the public transport system in Spain.

@Momicrone

It's one vehicle, often electric, doing multi drops rather than lots of vehicles on the road

Ocado's website shows 'green' deliveries, when they are already delivering to your area. I don't use them as they never seem to be when it's convenient for me but it's a good idea if you don't mind being flexible.

We really need more part time / shorter hours jobs.

But how many people can afford to reduce their salaries to take a shorter hours job?

I was going to ask my boss to reduce my hours. A p/t vacancy came up at work after someone left. The original hours were 8-2 Thursday-Sat, day off on Sunday, then 8-2 Mon-Wed with 7 off. I could get the train, which would save me a fortune in petrol and parking.

However, they have changed the hours to include a Sunday shift and some late shifts. I’m so glad I didn’t apply, as I’d still be spending the same amount of money (would only be able to get train on 2 days) but on half the wage. I’d love p/t but with those shifts it just isn’t viable.