irritating.

[Edwards]

Personally I never use "That woman's" name, even as some sort of insult. It is just going to far to do so and is not even disguised swearing.
R2 you should wash your keyboard out with Carbolic soap for even typing it.

[Mick F]

Car vs Train:

We came back from Kent yesterday evening, having been there for a Wedding.

The very thought of driving to Chillham, Kent from here in Cornwall never even crossed our minds. It would take the best part of 6hrs to drive there. Close on 300miles - A30/A303/M3/M25/M? to Kent. Perhaps £100++ in petrol there and back?

Instead, we went by train. £130 return, in comfort. No stress, no wear and tear on the car, no holdups, perfect. Left here at 06:00 on Saturday, checked into the room at 12:30. We left there at 10:00 and were home at 18:45 yesterday. Those times included walking to the stations, and an hour and a half in a pub in Plymouth on the way home!

For convenience locally, the car is wonderful. For distance, it's awful.

[PW]

Try getting Bike from Plymouth to Chesterfield on the train. We gave up on rail for Cornish holiday trips because of the hassle of getting a family of 4 plus bikes on the overnight train to PZ or Plymouth ( if going to Brittany). The straw that broke the camel's back was the through train which turned into a change at Plymouth and the onward portion was then cancelled because of a loco failure. 2 adults, 2 kids & 4 bikes in 2 taxis to PZ at 2am, and when we got there it turned out the gear hanger on my bike had been damaged en route. I can get to Lands End in 6 1/2 hours in a 1 way hire van, dump everything bar 1 bike at the campsite, drop the van off and ride back from Marazion. Overnight travel dead easy, sleep it off on the beach next day and have a skinful in the Lamorna Wink before bed time.

[JohnW]

PW -

This doesn't add to the debate, but it'll make you smile.

We used to have "Percy" as a senior and respected member of our section.

During the war, he was an aircraft engineer - or something associated - at an air base somewhere north of York. He lived somewhere south of Doncaster, and he and two or three of his mates who lived in the same mining village had a weekend pass - which actually meant Saturday teatime to Sunday teatime. Percy, being a true cyclist, cycled home - much to the amusement of his mates who had a rail pass - Percy could have got one as well if he'd chosen.

There was much pulling of Percy's leg, on the basis that if he wanted time with his girlfriend, the quickest form of transport - the train - was the best.

Percy rode away from the base with a comment something like "......I'll be there first and be on my way back by the time you get there........." and his mates got on the bus to the station (which I think was Northallerton). It was already dark and it was good that Percy had done this route very frequently before.

Percy's mates ridiculed him, and bets were taken.

That night there was an air-raid and all rail traffic in the area was halted until it was over. Goods trains had precedence over passenger trains during the war years, and it was nearly lunchtime before their train got on the move again. By this time it was running out of water and low on coal, and had to stop, first for water at a wayside station, and then for coal at a loco shed somewhere. It was dark again before the train got to Doncaster and the other chaps had to miss their tea, miss meeting their folks and get straight back on a train north.

Percy had set off from Doncaster just after lunch - in daylight - and was back on the base before the others got back.

He never said whether they paid up on their gambling debt.

[PW]

That sounds like some of the tales I used to get from Dad and his brother. (Uncle Oscar reckoned to be the shortest serving sergeant in the British Army. Made up after Dunkirk, thumped an officer whilst celebrating that night and back to the ranks first thing next morning )

[Cunobelin]

i would like to see a law restricting lung roasters to smoking only when stationary.with an on the spot fine for smoking when moving.

If they are moving, an "on the spot fine" would be inappropriate because they aren't

[karlt]

Car vs Train:

We came back from Kent yesterday evening, having been there for a Wedding.

The very thought of driving to Chillham, Kent from here in Cornwall never even crossed our minds. It would take the best part of 6hrs to drive there. Close on 300miles - A30/A303/M3/M25/M? to Kent. Perhaps £100++ in petrol there and back?

Instead, we went by train. £130 return, in comfort. No stress, no wear and tear on the car, no holdups, perfect. Left here at 06:00 on Saturday, checked into the room at 12:30. We left there at 10:00 and were home at 18:45 yesterday. Those times included walking to the stations, and an hour and a half in a pub in Plymouth on the way home!

For convenience locally, the car is wonderful. For distance, it's awful.

Add three children and the equation doesn't half change.

[hubgearfreak]

Add three children and the equation doesn't half change.

especially if they're small. and you've got a connection to make at say, birmingham new street. say a 5 year old who needs his hand holding and a 2 year old who needs a pushchair. you've got 5 minutes to make the connection accross lifts, bridges & past sweety shops.

[hungrydave]

Car vs Train:

We came back from Kent yesterday evening, having been there for a Wedding.

The very thought of driving to Chillham, Kent from here in Cornwall never even crossed our minds. It would take the best part of 6hrs to drive there. Close on 300miles - A30/A303/M3/M25/M? to Kent. Perhaps £100++ in petrol there and back?

Instead, we went by train. £130 return, in comfort. No stress, no wear and tear on the car, no holdups, perfect. Left here at 06:00 on Saturday, checked into the room at 12:30. We left there at 10:00 and were home at 18:45 yesterday. Those times included walking to the stations, and an hour and a half in a pub in Plymouth on the way home!

For convenience locally, the car is wonderful. For distance, it's awful.

Second that - the cars benefit for me is middle distance journeys; up to 3 or 4 hrs, and for hauling large loads. We used to live in Edinburgh and have family in Devon - the rare occasions we drove were a PITA. More that a few hundred miles is a slog in a car. Now, driving a few hours to see family is very convenient and public transport would add time and cost. We rarely use the car in town now, perhaps a few runs to the tip etc.

We have two big cars - one a long wheelbase defender - and almost sold one. But it struck me that ownership of multiple cars isn't the problem, or much of the cost, it's the usage of them.

Cutting down on mileage saves a huge amount of money but I like the choice of having two vehicles when we do need them. Cycle commuting four days a week and the train one day now costs me £7 per week vs £50 diesel.

We live in a modern world where cars are, for better or worse, a fact of life - and have a role to play. In my view, ownership isn't a problem - its how we use them that needs to change.

[Edwards]

We live in a modern world where cars are, for better or worse, a fact of life - and have a role to play. In my view, ownership isn't a problem - its how we use them that needs to change

I could not agree more.

[hubgearfreak]

In my view, ownership isn't a problem - its how we use them that needs to change.

i think i agree, it'd certainly be a more pleasant place if they were used for essential journeys, and then used with consideration for people not in cars.

it'll not happen though, i pay c. £500 VED & insuarnce as does my neighbour, his car is off the drive several times a day, ours fortnightly. what you propose could easily be encouraged by policiticians with a backbone..but where are they?

[reohn2]

........ what you propose could easily be encouraged by policiticians with a backbone..but where are they?

pandering to the majority who own cars (and use them).I'm not being pedantic,its just a fact of life more people own and use cars for convenience than necessity.Politrickians know that and try not to upset them.
If it were cheaper and as convenient to hop on clean,pleasant public transport,people would would do IMO.

[Mick F]

Yes, we use public transport when we can. Train to town for instance. Mrs Mick F walks to work, and I'll cycle to the shops, though the car is needed for bigger shopping or going to out of the way places.

We've done 4,500miles in the car over the last 12months. I easily cover more miles on a bike than I drive.