tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3928420733044643835.post4153912661918148052..comments2024-02-29T19:43:20.763+00:00Comments on Our Handmade Home: Why do people not use public transport? - Archives 2008Ann McGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12659212514949895285noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3928420733044643835.post-80618680102564384922008-07-04T08:25:05.000+01:002008-07-04T08:25:05.000+01:00You've rather hit the nail on the head. There ...You've rather hit the nail on the head. There are very few places where public transport is suitable for anyone with a buggy.<br><br>The London Underground (when I lived there) was pretty bad: the central stations had escalators for the most part, but there were nearly always stairs to street level. OK - someone would usually help, but it was still a pain.<br><br>The buses were better, but got so crowded that a baby in a buggy could be sat on! <br><br>But you have to remember that many people don't use public transport because they consider it "beneath" them. That of course might change with petrol at, what, £1.30 a litre (I'm converting from the Euro price here and adding a couple of pance, which seems to work much of the time); the question is, given the neglect of decades, will the networks be up to handling more people?<br><br>I read somewhere that train passenger numbers were up about 20% in the last nine months - but is there any more rolling stock to accomodate them? I rather think not...jondoustnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3928420733044643835.post-5193016989372713482008-07-04T12:20:42.000+01:002008-07-04T12:20:42.000+01:00Due to the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) the...Due to the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) there *should* be plenty of provision for buggy and wheelchair users (who often need the same facilities)<br><br>The buses are all 'low floor' and you *should* be able to get a buggy on with no problem, all the train stations do tend to have lift... surprisingly always with an 'out-of-order' sign.<br><br>The staff *should* be able and willing to help. They seemed neither, though I did not ask. I was offered assistance by a few members of the public, but not one member of staff.<br><br>Petrol is priced at around £1.20 per litre just now. It currently costs us approximately 12p per mile in our car, obviously that will continue to rise (as will public transport fares) <br>My fare yesterday equates to around 21p per mile, and that was just for one adult, if we decided to go by public transport as a family (baring in mind that under 3s go free) that is 42p per mile - and it still took me 2 hours (rather that 30 -35 mins by car) This doesn't factor in parking costs - but as I grew up in Glasgow, and we know the area, we are often able to find free or cheap parking in a backstreet.<br><br>My argument is not with the general public but with the transport companies and the government - how on earth can you expect a population to use a sub-standard and over priced transport system - buggy or not.<br><br><br>I am sure the transport companies are laughing, all this publicity about 'going green', government subsidies, and they still don't need to provide a decent service. Of course there isn't the rolling stock, why would you want people to have a safe and comfortable service when you can charge an arm and a leg for a crap one.annpannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3928420733044643835.post-32139199641369493882008-08-03T19:54:10.000+01:002008-08-03T19:54:10.000+01:00I have to say "chance would be a fine thing&q...I have to say "chance would be a fine thing" when it comes to using a bus for anything useful. The children can't get public or affordable school transport to school, so by the time we've driven them a carefully worked out round trip in the morning it would be madness to drive 8 miles home only to start the journey 12 miles away to work, when at the last school drop-off point I'm 5 miles away from work - do you see where I'm coming from? The comfort of public transport comes, in my mind, a walloping second to the infrequency-cum-absence of buses at sensible times.<br><br>Discuss!growinggirlnoreply@blogger.com