6p off diesel and petrol for next 3 months.....

[martint235]

Tell you what, seeing as I like you, you can have one of the cars outside my house. You don't need to do anything with it other than bask in the knowledge that you are no longer incomplete.

You have more than one? You are truly blessed. But how do you drive more than one?

 

[Linford]

It's not rocket science, Smeglington. Just draw up a list of Things Linford Hates, and see how many boxes I tick.

Shoot....I'll do my best to answer honestly - I do seem to live a lifestyle which you readily offer derisory comments on (so six of one/half a dozen of the other)

NB: Seeing as dissing Cheltenham is fair game, I don't see why I shouldn't be able to do the same for London, Swansea or anywhere else. Your old burb is on the doorstep of Reading (as you have already divulged so already in the public domain) so that is good enough for me if we are discussing people living further than practical as User482 observed.

 

[Linford]

At the risk of injecting some facts into this exciting debate, I would like to point towards the commuting to work and business travel survey by the Office of National Statistics.

Some interesting things arise from this small factsheet.

1) Average commuting distance is 8.6 miles to work in 2009. This is average, and makes me wonder how many car journeys are made which are less than 5 miles.

2) The higher your income the higher the commute distance

3) Around 40% of commutes under 2 miles are made in the car, around 75% under 5 miles are made in the car, as are 5-10 mile commutes. Long commutes over 50 miles have less proportion using the car as people start to use the trains instead and this becomes a significant modal share.

4) 85% of commutes in cars involve single occupancy.

Now just these smattering of facts seems to point to quite a lot of potential choices for a pretty significant number of commute journeys. It also indicates that those doing long commutes aren't normally the poorest in society - which is common sense when one thinks about it since, for the poorest, it is very unlikely that a long expensive commute by train is worth their while, or that they will have the funds to buy a car in the first place.

Many people have choices. Many people prefer the narrative that they don't have a choice in order to justify their choice.

I think it quite funny that my mate (who looks after their database) commutes there and back every day - about 120 miles as do a few others

 

[stowie]

I think it quite funny that my mate (who looks after their database) commutes there and back every day - about 120 miles as do a few others

Probably in the top bands for income as well just to make sure they don't upset the stats.

 

[stowie]

You have more than one? You are truly blessed. But how do you drive more than one?

I note he offered one of the cars outside his house without mentioning whether or not they were his...

If you get a car with a screwdriver where the ignition key should be I would be sceptical about the nature of Adrian's generosity.

 

[stowie]

Now look, we lost the original key and replacements are ludicrously expensive OK?

Ah I see. And I assume the V5 document would be in the post?

 

[martint235]

I note he offered one of the cars outside his house without mentioning whether or not they were his...

If you get a car with a screwdriver where the ignition key should be I would be sceptical about the nature of Adrian's generosity.

Ah I have actually met Adrian on numerous occasions. Scepticism comes as part of the deal usually.

 

[Linford]

Probably in the top bands for income as well just to make sure they don't upset the stats.

It is fairly shocking how much the Gov pay their contractors.

 

[The Jogger]

Eh? We're talking about people in work, not those looking for a job. If you choose to live a long way from work then you need to accept that getting there costs money.

What choice, sometimes people who are looking for work, sometimes have no option but to travel to get work, shift workers who can't always use public transport, farm labour on poor wages who would find a decrease in fuel cost would help them enormously., they don't have the luxury of a choice. They are usually the lower paid or even part time workers. Come on now, surely these people should be considered?

 

[The Jogger]

Yes, but these extreme examples are very much a minority.

Maybe, but becoming more common, especially part time workers and remember, minorities should not be ignored.

Using extreme, I think, is a bit extreme in itself.

 

[growingvegetables]

the requirement to spend a lot of money on commuting is simply a 'tax' on working.

Aaaah, the arcane art of apologetics for the motor car!

Nothing quite like it for defying any and all logic and fact. And indeed the laws of gravity and thermodynamics.

 

[Wobblers]

I just hoped my mother wasn't watching. She took me to school (walking) for the first week then that was it, walk on your own. My final primary school year was in a school two miles away. My secondary school was a two mile walk to the bus stop then a four mile bus journey.

Yebbut it's grim oop north.

 

[Wobblers]

I note he offered one of the cars outside his house without mentioning whether or not they were his...

If you get a car with a screwdriver where the ignition key should be I would be sceptical about the nature of Adrian's generosity.

Now look, we lost the original key and replacements are ludicrously expensive OK?

Would the proffered vehicle happen to possess a bright pink paint job?

 

[Wobblers]

It is more metallic blue with lichen

Does the lichen hide the rust?

 

[Wobblers]

Do you really want me to go out and look at the Damn thing?

Well of course. I want to know if I want to make sure Martin won't end up with some rusting death trap.