ivanthereasonable
Striker
We cycle and walk a lot. Car sits on the drive "most of the time". Only drive it to go get petrol.
What is needed to get you out of your cars?
- Thread starter The Muffin Man
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Mackem00
Striker
I don't see reading as a particularly weird past time Harry. Just a bit tricky when riding a bike or walking down the street. I'd be on the bus about 15 minutes each way for my daily commute. Would barely be worth opening one. That journey itself wouldn't be that bad but what happens after when I need to go do some shopping/go to the gym/pick dog up/something out of the ordinary crops up? There's no flexibility like having your own car.
Harry Angstrom
Striker
I enjoy cycling and walking and it's free exercise. I'm also lucky to have shops local and pool within walking distance.
Society is ordered around the car. 20 years time this will have to be radically different. Get a house close to work and public transport, you will be quids in.
Mackem00
Striker
I like exercise. I do it in my spare time. Me moving closer to work seems a daft way to solve a problem I don't need sorting mind. I like where I live for starters.
Cars provide a flexibility public transport simply can't compete with.
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Harry Angstrom
Striker
You don't need sorting now I agree. It is much easier, more convenient and cheaper to use a car in North East. 20 years time this may not be the case. I was speculating about 20 years time.
Mackem00
Striker
And cars are much more flexible.
Public transport will never be able to compete imo. The only way it does in London is by making it shit for cars as well. A race to the bottom if you will.
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Harry Angstrom
Striker
It will if cars are very very expensive. Which they will become when resources are more expensive. Luckily, I won't be too affected. Old and live near town centre.And cars are much more flexible.
Public transport will never be able to compete imo. The only way it does in London is by making it shit for both.
Mackem00
Striker
Yeah. Like I say, make it shitter to have a car so public transport is seen as being less shitter than it was. Great.
Harry Angstrom
Striker
It's a price people are going to have to pay, sooner rather than later.
The Muffin Man
Winger
Used the tube for years when I was down there it was class......Would allow me to get up later as could eat breakfast on the tube, read paper and have a nice chilled start to my day. Loved it and massively cheaper than owning a car when you got an annual pass.
Moved jobs recently, was about 7 miles to work by shortest road route and all had to be done on main roads so couldnt cycle, I found some back/off road routes where was safe to cycle but meant a 12 mile ride. As a result of it being best part of an hours ride each way I would only do it odd day as had kids to get back for etc.....New job is a 7 mile road ride and the roads are ok, not brilliant but not hitting the A roads....Will likely ride pretty much every day when its not pissing down......I honestly think if the cycle network was decent there are 1000s would ride to work over using cars.
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PT can't compete with it agreed, but cycling can. But nee one is gunna cycle on our roads, they're awful.
Mackem00
Striker
And lack of changing facilities. I sometimes do it like. Only takes me 20 minutes. Not when I've got anything post work planned tho.
A 20 min cycle shouldn't need changing facilities!
If you had protected routes no one would need a shower really, your pace drops significantly as there's no need to keep up with traffic. In the meantime though it is necessary, even providing things like hairdryers for the lasses etc removes those small but important barriers to people giving it a go.
The Muffin Man
Winger
Complete truth, was cycling along North Hylton road the other day while doing a recce for new job, I nearly fell into some of the pot holes......Gonna have to take Hybrid bike (slower) because the road bike will get smashed to fuck on the pot holes etc.......As an aside, the level of negligence by councils is unreal, the number of cyclists who hit pot holes and are badly injured or killed as they are thrown from their bikes is ridiculous.
A 20 min cycle shouldn't need changing facilities!
In the meantime though it is necessary, even providing things like hairdryers for the lasses etc removes those small but important barriers to people giving it a go.
Used to run to work (11 miles) and didnt need showers as was as fit as a lop and rarely sweat.....These days I need a shower by time I climb the stairs to bed
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Mackem00
Striker
Just sit at work covered in mud and me hair all a mess then?A 20 min cycle shouldn't need changing facilities!
In the meantime though it is necessary, even providing things like hairdryers for the lasses etc removes those small but important barriers to people giving it a go.
Also I need to pop to the supermarket and take the dog to the vets after work. I'm gonna need a canny big basket on the front for all that.
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Didn't realise you cycled across fields, I take it back!
My commute is going up from 15 mins to 25 next week. Gutted.
DaveH
Striker
I think plenty of people will want to own a car, especially if you do a long journeys or have kids.
How many times have you got on a train only to find the table covered in mess? I can imagine a car turning up filled with pop bottles and pasty crumbs because some scratter has booked it before you. At least on a train there is someone trying to keep it clean. Worse if you plan to do a 350 mile journey and one in a really bad state turns up and you know you are stuck with it for a day. Same for the person who gets if after me finding it covered in dog hair.
In my car I have things like a first aid kit, a spare pair of glasses and contact lenses, some sun glasses that live in there, a child seat, mobile phone charging cables, a dog towel etc. All useful stuff to have and not something you would want to lug around when you get to your destination - especially the child seat.
I go on camping trips. Having the car as a secure place to lock valuables is useful. On trips like that, maps and big coats etc tend to live in the car or we will go out for the day leaving a picnic in the boot to come back to later. Imagine waiting ages for a self drive to come into a remote countryside location then having to carry stuff that you only want if the weather changes, will be a right pain. Putting the roof box on will be interesting.
I think if you live in a town or city and mainly use the car for a short commute or shop, then it will be fine. The more rural you are, the more outdoors stuff you like to do or if you have kids and pets, then it quickly becomes impractical.
Bollocks. My route in is quite hilly, with one being very steep (it is not uncommon to see people pushing up it). The fitter I get, the faster I go and I do get sweaty. If it is wet then at the very least I have mud splashed up my legs. There are no road surfaces that only spray up crystal clear water and no mudguards that stop 100% of splashes. At just over 20 minutes of that, there is no way I would consider doing it then not even getting changed, let alone a shower when I get in.A 20 min cycle shouldn't need changing facilities!
In the meantime though it is necessary, even providing things like hairdryers for the lasses etc removes those small but important barriers to people giving it a go.
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just catching up on this thread (how did a public transport rant thread pass me by originally)
re: the bolded part - £7 p/person - all day all zone Go NE ticket
whether you'd want to be on the bus for that long is a different question though
Well yes obviously if you're going up massive hills you'll be knackered. The fitter I get the same pace I go, I'm trying not to work up a sweat, it's a way from a to b not a fitness thing for me.
I've never once had mud or water splash up when cycling, but I do have a dutch bike which is extremely practical and built for it.
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