We just can't engineer the same level of thinking..
Motorway speed limit could be cut from 70mph to 60mph to reduce emissions
- Thread starter chaparral
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Or you take public transport/commute into consideration when buying/renting a house like many others do.
I'd love to live in the sticks and have a couple of acres of land but I need to work in the city centre and would prefer to take public transport so I can relax too and from work.
So instead of living in the sticks an hours drive from work places we chose to buy where we did. A bus at the end of the road takes us to the city centre and takes 40 minutes door to door, a train is 15 minutes walk away and takes us to the city centre in 40 minutes door to door and we can also go by car, which takes around 40 minutes as well.
When I lived in London we did the same, as do many, many other people. Same when I lived in a town outside London and commuted in. I walked to the train station and got a train in.
Obviously it's not a solution for everyone, (especially those of the fair weather persuasion that are put of when it's a bit chilly or spitting with rain...) but many more people than currently do could commute by public transport and even more could if they considered public transport when deciding where to live.
I still much prefer sitting down for 25-30 minutes (currently)and reading the news/browsing the web while I go to work, than sitting in a car in rush hour traffic concentrating on the car in front the entire time. The former is much more relaxing.
That said I still want to live in the sticks, but public transport is non existent so that will have to wait.
As for the topic - this is wheeled out every year or two and nothing ever comes of it. The sooner we move to electric cars and more people take public transport/cycle when they can the better.
Sure, if you can keep the same job for the next 60 years...
I wouldn't live in London even for 3x the wages. Most feel the same way, which is why the bubble is going to go bang at some point.
You don't generally live in the same house for 60 years either.
And the above shows the difference between the archetypal German and British attitudes. Brits seem to spend so much time putting up obstacles whereas Germans are considered to find solutions.
Much of our perceived issues with public transport are greater than the actual issues, case in point your previous post.
Most of that's not really the case at all, and if it is it's either such a minor issue or hyperbole from a few isolated cases.
I have similar issues. I generally hate buses and will make excuses not to use them most of the time (preferring driving). There's no real reason for me not to use them, it's just personal preference.
And what does living in London have to do with anything? Most towns and cities (around the world) have public transport, not just London.
And the above shows the difference between the archetypal German and British attitudes. Brits seem to spend so much time putting up obstacles whereas Germans are considered to find solutions.
Much of our perceived issues with public transport are greater than the actual issues, case in point your previous post.
Most of that's not really the case at all, and if it is it's either such a minor issue or hyperbole from a few isolated cases.
I have similar issues. I generally hate buses and will make excuses not to use them most of the time (preferring driving). There's no real reason for me not to use them, it's just personal preference.
And what does living in London have to do with anything? Most towns and cities (around the world) have public transport, not just London.
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Soldato
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The cost issue is completely true as soon as you have more than one person travelling. Getting in to town on the bus would cost us £8 and take about 45 minutes including waiting and walking. By car its 10 minutes and £2 for parking, plus maybe £1 for petrol.
Going to somewhere like portsmouth or bournemouth takes not even half a tank of fuel so £30ish where as train tickets are more than £80. And then when you get there you still have to get from the station to wherever, but car take you exactly to your destination.
Central london is about the only time I ever use public transport and even then if its the whole family going its easier by car.
Getting to a place of work if I had one would be more expensive and take a lot longer by public transport anywhere near me.
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There's always a counter argument on the cost front and it's rarely clear cut if you live somewhere with good transport links.
For the car argument above you need to be able to travel together, need to allow for the cost of the actual asset and the real costs of running it which extend way beyond fuel.
On the other side of life there is a question of how much you value time and convenience. For example the convenience of being able to quickly drop a kid off for childcare not in the direction of the station or working shifts that are poorly compatible with public transport making the journey in and out twice as long etc.
On the whole I would say we actually have a pretty good transport network in the country but there are some fundamental aspects that are just poorly thought through or that are allowed to perform sub par for significant periods without there being some action or consequence for those in charge.
Random examples but I can't buy a return bus ticket before circa 9am (why!?), The major provider insists that I have both cash and the exact sum of it and I can't use either a contactless debit or the same travel card (without specifically going to a station and knowing exactly what needs to be purchased) across/bus/tram/whatever in any of the "big" Scottish cities.
For the car argument above you need to be able to travel together, need to allow for the cost of the actual asset and the real costs of running it which extend way beyond fuel.
On the other side of life there is a question of how much you value time and convenience. For example the convenience of being able to quickly drop a kid off for childcare not in the direction of the station or working shifts that are poorly compatible with public transport making the journey in and out twice as long etc.
On the whole I would say we actually have a pretty good transport network in the country but there are some fundamental aspects that are just poorly thought through or that are allowed to perform sub par for significant periods without there being some action or consequence for those in charge.
Random examples but I can't buy a return bus ticket before circa 9am (why!?), The major provider insists that I have both cash and the exact sum of it and I can't use either a contactless debit or the same travel card (without specifically going to a station and knowing exactly what needs to be purchased) across/bus/tram/whatever in any of the "big" Scottish cities.
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That's why I said most.
. I was more commenting on his statement of smelly and ill which probably says more about his general feeling towards public transport than what it actually is like.
Soldato
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Isnt that why the national limit sign doesnt have a number on it? So all they need to do is announce a new number and dont need to print new signs.
No. The "National limit sign" is a different speed depending on vehicle. It should really be National speed limit applies sign.
That and everyone will just continue to drive at 80 anyway, making the whole thing a waste of time.
Not necessarily. A dual carriageway up our way had the limit dropped from 70-60. Yes everyone still speeds. But now at 70 not 80.
Soldato
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That's why I said most.
well that would be the two biggest reasons to use public transport - to save cost or to save time by avoiding traffic, the fact that it tends not to and its also generally not very pleasant is just an added negative
Soldato
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good point, forgot it was different for different vehicles.
double whammy though- if they want to reduce the limit they just need to say what the new limit is.
Depends on people's specific journeys. Not having to worry about parking for one makes a big difference. All depends where you live relative to where the public transport is. It's never going to be cheaper/quicker for everyone but for a lot of people it is, especially those that take public transport links into account when deciding where to live - hence why places with good public transport links are usually more expensive.
Probably not the best place to debate it though. A motors forum is going to be full of those that would rather drive even if it took twice the time.
As can be seen by the frankly "lame" excuses used by nasher (alongside some that are relevant).As I already said, where I've lived and works it always been quicker (or the same time) by public transport, and just less hassle to do so - but at the same time I've chosen to live where public transport is a good option.
On the other hand people's driving standards are going in the toilet - so I'd rather not see the average driver going faster.
Soldato
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probably the cars are getting better at stopping and people's reaction times are getting worse.
or all those advancements in tyre technology have been for nothing because so many folk just put part worn chinese tyres on everything.
And there are more and more cars on the road, making most roads much busier than they used to be. Driving standards probably aren't any worse, there's just more poor drivers because here are more drivers in general.