The Cost of Motoring...

[PhilDawson8270]

If 3k is all you do every year you don't need a car, taxis would work out cheaper and you wouldn't be the cause of most of the congestion that clogs up our streets. Anyone who doubts the last bit has only got to travel round any town or city during the school holidays to see how much better things are.

My car is now low mileage. But the miles it does are the ones that cannot be done by any other method. I really can't be bothered with driving these days, so the car is my last choice for transport.

 

[Tim Hall]

It's not just a question of the inconvenience of cycling; anybody who thinks they could persuade drivers to cycle is deluding themselves. Most people are so grossly unfit that they couldn't even swing a leg over a bike let alone balance and pedal.

Most people? You sure about that?

 

[Vapin' Joe]

My car is now low mileage. But the miles it does are the ones that cannot be done by any other method. I really can't be bothered with driving these days, so the car is my last choice for transport.

Taxi?

 

[Deleted member 26715]

You've got that arse about face.

Not surprisingly I disagree

High mileage drivers are mostly essential users and should not be penalised because they need their vehicles to work.

Sales Reps clocking up 60K+ per year yeah right

If 3k is all you do every year you don't need a car

Very judgemental of you

Anyone who doubts the last bit has only got to travel round any town or city during the school holidays to see how much better things are.

Yep, it's the teachers fault, can't disagree with you there, they are responsible for so many things

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Do give over. You could, if you wanted to, live closer to or in Manchester, in housing you could afford. You've chosen not to for perfectly understandable reasons, but that's what it is: a choice.

I could do so now. When I first started working in the city, on £17k per year at Manchester rental prices within the metro line. It's really not feasible. It is a horrible, horrible city to be part of.

So I am making the choice to go with my partner to Norwich and relocate there. But the situation we are both in, is because a car was the only option and affordable. You surely have to udnerstand, that being able to afford to live in a major city with plenty of opportunities and good transport. Is a privileged position to be in?

As I said, if public transport was affordable and suitable then cars would not be needed.

I am not pro-car. I am pro-affordable and usable transport. And of all the transport options, the car is currently the best choice for many. Instead of punishing every car driver. Surely it's better to invest in the infrastructure and provided a better, cheaper solution. Which is what the government seem to miss.

 

[classic33]

As you know Biggs, Mrs D too is disabled.

Nevertheless, for the lazy arsed majority motoring is far too cheap, and as a consequence is used far too unnecessarily.

Coming away from the Dr's. yesterday, saw two of the shortest trips/journeys by car to date.
Out of the carpark on one side of the road, over the road to the shops and back. First thought of he'll be going elsewhere after the shop was wrong.

 

[Vapin' Joe]

Not surprisingly I disagree
Sales Reps clocking up 60K+ per year yeah right
Very judgemental of you
Yep, it's the teachers fault, can't disagree with you there, they are responsible for so many things

No, it's the parents who make two mile journeys to school every day instead of taking their kids on foot or sticking them on the bus.

Also remember it is low mileage vehicles that cause proportionately the most pollution, cars don't like running with cold engines, waste fuel and catalytic converters don't work until they get hot.

 

[Jody]

All credit @Drago You always seem to pick an emotive subject

 

[User482]

I could do so now. When I first started working in the city, on £17k per year at Manchester rental prices within the metro line. It's really not feasible. It is a horrible, horrible city to be part of.

So I am making the choice to go with my partner to Norwich and relocate there. But the situation we are both in, is because a car was the only option and affordable. You surely have to udnerstand, that being able to afford to live in a major city with plenty of opportunities and good transport. Is a privileged position to be in?

As I said, if public transport was affordable and suitable then cars would not be needed.

I am not pro-car. I am pro-affordable and usable transport. And of all the transport options, the car is currently the best choice for many. Instead of punishing every car driver. Surely it's better to invest in the infrastructure and provided a better, cheaper solution. Which is what the government seem to miss.

I've lived in Bristol for a long time, a city known for high housing costs, starting out on a low salary. That meant living in a grotty house share. That was a choice. If we are serious about reducing the negative effects of car use, then it is going to mean motorists re-evaluating their priorities.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Taxi?

Admittedly, my car is often used for hobbies in which a taxi isn't really suitable for carrying the gear I take. But it is also used every other weekend when we go to visit my parents gran and take her out with the dog.

Buses are priced ridiculously, a 2 mile journey is nearly £6 return, and taxis are about £8 each way on the same route. Recently we went down to Norwich for an interview and look for accommodation. Driving cost £62 in fuel and 4 hours driving. The train was just under 6 hours, and cost £125ish each.

I agree that there are too many cars, and too many people driving. The question is why does public transport cost so much? Why is making the car so expensive, a better option than making public transport affordable?

 

[Markymark]

I like cars. Mine are big and fast. I use them when (I deem) necessary and expect to pay for the privilege of doing so.

 

[Dan B]

No, it's the parents who make two mile journeys to school every day instead of taking their kids on foot or sticking them on the bus.

Also remember it is low mileage vehicles that cause proportionately the most pollution, cars don't like running with cold engines, waste fuel and catalytic converters don't work until they get hot.

"Low mileage" and "short journeys" aren't necessarily the same thing. Our car does about 4000 miles a year and almost all of it on long rides to relatives, friends, and holiday destinations. We have a cargo bike for short journeys.

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I've lived in Bristol for a long time, a city known for high housing costs, starting out on a low salary. That meant living in a grotty house share. That was a choice. If we are serious about reducing the negative effects of car use, then it is going to mean motorists re-evaluating their priorities.

I do certainly agree, our next door neighbour drives a van to the corner shop (just checked Google Maps too) which is 0.3 miles away. There are many journeys I walk faster than people do in cars too. Car usage is ridiculous, and also has in my opinion a knock on effect of the obesity levels these days too.

The difference in my opinion is that I believe we should be focusing on making public transport more affordable and accessible, rather than making the car unaffordable.

I think that car usage was a symptom of a wider issue, that has now unfortunately become a cultural issue. I will admit that as a young new driver. I drove everywhere, it was the normal thing. 17, get your license, get a car, no more buses. But my opinions have changed as I have gotten older, my usage habits have changed as I have matured. It is now nothing more than a tool these days for when necessary. A walk with music is far more appealing to me now than driving and trying to find parking at a train station. But what I cannot forget is what the car did for me personally. It may not be the same scenario for others, and people may not share my opinion.

I may have been unclear, but I am certainly NOT disagreeing with the point about unnecessary car usage. Just that I think there's a wider social issue and imbalance of the national economy that contribute to it.

 

[growingvegetables]

So you're saying those who happen to be born in a more economic town. Shouldn't have a chance in life to get themselves out of that situation?

Hmm - there's a bigger picture though.

Just as people have made "rational" (but now unsustainable) chioces based on cheap motoring, so have employers and businesses. One (and only one) of the factors in the development of economic/employment hot-spots has been ... yup, the availablility of cheap motoring. Corollary - economic/employment deserts.

Just as individuals will make (unmake?) choices as motoring costs mount, and as the hidden, unsustainable bills have to be paid, so will businesses and the patterns of economic development adapt. One of Leeds strategies - a vast network of city-boundary technology, business, and office parks (all needing huge carparks!), with surrounding towns and villages relegated to dormitory commuter suburb status - that will ... have to change?

 

[Dan B]

I do certainly agree, our next door neighbour drives a van to the corner shop (just checked Google Maps too) which is 0.3 miles away. There are many journeys I walk faster than people do in cars too. Car usage is ridiculous, and also has in my opinion a knock on effect of the obesity levels these days too.

The difference in my opinion is that I believe we should be focusing on making public transport more affordable and accessible, rather than making the car unaffordable.

Dare I suggest: do both? The tax revenues gained from making car journeys more expensive could be spent on making public (and active) transport more appealing.