Petrol 184.9 this afternoon

[Redlorryyellowlorryblue]

Petrol has gone up from 179.9 this morning where I am to 184.9 this afternoon! AIBU to think this is getting really worrying?

Whereas Germany is telling it's citizens to WFH if they can, to reduce demand for fuel.

Germany also offering a 9 euro monthly public transport pass.

Other European cities have just made public transport cheaper or free.

One of the best policies for "levelling up" in poorer regions would be to pay to establish a high quality, reasonable cost bus network that runs from early to late in areas which currently have poor provision.

It would put cash back into the pockets of a lot of low paid workers in car dependent regions. If they could get rid of a car, the annual reduction in their costs could be a couple of thousand pounds.

It requires little infrastructure development, and eventually covers most of its costs when passengers are confident it is a viable form of transport and they switch. I'd also levy a fee on big housebuilders to contribute.

Plus it would reduce road congestion and carbon emissions. Run electric buses and cut particulate emissions too.

The government cannot control oil prices - it's a global market. But they can make other forms of transport viable - the Tories have had over a decade to do so but aren't actually interested in improving anyone's lives in practice.

Makes sense what German govt is doing. Plus there should be a subsidy for those who can’t WFH, to afford to get to work. Serious fuel poverty already happening will mean people giving up/losing their jobs soon.

The Tory government are doing fuck all and will do fuck all.

I've downloaded a petrol price checker app to always find the best price. It's ridiculous out there.

Sounds as though I did well to fill up at Tesco at 175.9 pl (E10 petrol) this morning. Still cost me £84+ plus though, as the tank was very low. I used to get an MOT and a service for less than that!

I always brim it and then run it till it's nearly in the red, but I think I may fill up more often now that it seems to go up every 5 minutes.

There are a couple of cheaper petrol stations in the area, but none of them are less than 5 miles away. One, oddly, is a rural Esso station (rural filling stations are generally expensive ime), which is always the cheapest around and invariably has people queuing to get in.

At least I'm still getting 45p per mile for my work mileage, but it's been 45p since about 2010!

Thankfully, I mostly WFH, so no commuting costs. I really feel for people who have a long commute.

I was able to fill up at Costco before, I was impressed because it was “only” 164 but that is 8p cheaper than most places locally.

184.9 here for diesel - near Edinburgh. I used to be able to get the train to work, but with the reduced timetable, I can't get in until after 10:00, and would have to leave at 16:40. (I need to get two trains each way.)
It's so ridiculous. Not just hard for families - I live alone, and only my salary. Everything has gone up, except my pay.

All of this. The crap timetable aside, it infuriates me that as soon as there is two people or more it makes financial sense to drive. In fact, if the visit to town is less than 2 hours there is zero point, from a finance or convenience POV, in a person trying to use public transport.

Our trains are being cancelled too due to "covid" then "lack of staff" then "an electrical fault" that was all for the same train Friday

I was just thinking the same !

Yep don't get me started on the trains, I think you have a 1/3 chance of them actually turning up at my station, completely useless if you need to commute.

Drive to work = 25-30 minutes
Bus = 1hr 30minutes
It's only 11miles!
We wouldn't actually be able to go to work tho as the bus to get us there on time leaves before breakfast club starts. Luckily we can afford it but with no hope of a decent NHS pay rise we are considerably worse off and earn the least out of our friends. As much as I enjoy my job the private sector looks more and more appealing

Petrol on the A1 today was £2.01

At this rate, DH might have only see DSS once every 3 weeks rather than once every 2 weeks 😢 As DH does all the driving, it’s 400 miles each time DSS comes to see us. Thankfully we’re a way off that now but I suspect it may happen to other families before us. Cheers government 🤷‍♀️

I paid 192,9 at Tesco today (diesel). I will not be able to afford to drive to work soon.

And yet every thread on EVs is full of people worried about stopping for 20 mins to charge their vehicle.

As a recent convert to EV I'm saving an absolute fortune on fuel.

And then I remember that I have oil heating and when it's time to fill the oil tank it's going to cost ~2 grand.

Stopping for 20 mins to charge doesn’t worry me. But how am I supposed to fund the initial outlay of an electric car when I’m running out of money for food/fuel by payday every month?

How are we supposed to pay for the electric to charge them with electric costs going up?

For most people the biggest issue would be the ability to afford to change their car to an EV and then rhe costs for charging points. The range stuff is an issue but that can be tackled if you can actually afford to get set up!

my car is worth about £3000. If someone can point me in the direction of how I can get set up with a reliable EV with that then I would be all for it!

I don't think Carrie Johnson is an 'eco loon' as someone rudely said up thread.
She cares about the environment-since when was that an 'eco loon' and I think we were all pleased when a green tax was put on domestic fuel and at her behest I think, Boris pushed for zero emissions at some conference or other,

Zero emissions must mean less oil being used but how was that going to happen. I know these fuel prices aren't been done to help the environment but a side issue is that they are.

I think people will be forced to use their car less ands some may get rid of them. That is good environmental news.

There is no point harping on about the planet and then moaning when something wonderful-like high fuel prices-mean that the planet will thrive.

I think Carrie will be glad and so am I and so should anyone else who has ever worried about what we are doing to the planet.

The planet will be sighing a huge sigh of relief with every price rise. Try to think of it like that and smile.

I know it's painful but try to think of the wonderful side effects-albeit unintended- for our planet.

How can people who live rurally use their cars less? Nothing positive can come out of this for us except my children having to spend every weekend and school holiday doing nothing but a local walk (just like lockdown I guess) because we can't afford to go anywhere. Do you understand that for some people the nearest big supermarket is 20 miles away or more? I work for the NHS in the community, shall we just tel our patients we can't go to them due to the fuel but not to worry because it's saving the planet? I'm not against saving the planet but I still need to be able to leave my village.

@WreckTangled

You are using your unusual example to set a bench mark. Rules aren't made to suit the minority-we are guided by the majority

Most people don't have your set of circumstances. Most people live within a bus ride of schools, work and shops.

Should we all hop because one man might have lost a leg.
Should we ruin the planet because some people live far away from amenities.

Maybe consider moving or pay up. There are always choices.

Over 20miles each way for dh to work. Can’t use public transport it doesn’t exist. Can’t bike down a major busy A road either. Also doesn’t get my work from home work home. So I’d lose my job and he would lose his if he couldn’t afford to drive to work.