Planes, trains and automobiles

So after 10 consecutive years, I am without car. It’s a strange feeling to have to set off earlier, brave public transport and almost inevitably, arrive late for work and appointments.

After 10 years and a great deal of government talk about improved/integrated public transport, I am seeing no improvements. Those that use the buses and trains do so, not out of choice but sheer necessity. After a week of using public transport, I am convinced that it’s not for me, but right now, I have few alternatives.

My usual journey to work, by car, would last approximately an hour. However, in the past week, I have had to find an extra one and a half hours on top of the uncertainties. In theory, I have a bus from outside my house every 10 minutes. In practice, I’m lucky if there is one every half hour. This delay means I miss my 09:00 train, an hourly service, often late or overcrowded. A walk to the office would take 10 minutes from the station but a taxi ride would cost £5 once it has negotiated its way round the traffic and one-way system. If I wait for a bus, I may never get there.

I am not alone. Thousands have to make do with overcrowded buses, trains and inconveniences. Those taking cars as I have done for many years are just as frustrated in gridlocked conditions throughout the country.

So what’s the solution? A good point would be to identify the problems first. My train station is not well served by buses meaning people often missing their trains for a mere few minutes. There is an hourly train service to the second city with talks of cutting back on services to the capital. This will mean further anguish and inconveniences for many thousands. The public buses are used by those who don’t have a choice. If you need to get to work or be anywhere other than to collect your benefits, you are pretty stuck. For me, a one and half mile journey costs £1.20, each way. That’s £2.40 for less than 3 miles at 80p a mile, a full 70p more than the car and without any of the convenience. This routine is pushing me to the edge and having a detrimental effect on my health and business. On the bright side, I will be back in my comfort zone soon and won’t have to put up with that suffocating feeling from the stuffiness, young mums in prams, Grans with trolleys and prying teenage eyeballs. Until the government gets its act together and realises that if the roads are not widened, extra carriages are not put on trains, better and more frequent public buses introduced, people like me will have no other option but to use the car to earn my keep. Trying to tax us off the road is not going to work.