Discussion
I know this might just be a one off but I feel in true PH fashion this should be discussed, my usual route to work is walking - tube - tube - walking sometimes jumping on the bus for the walking part.
Long story cut short, my car thats normally not kept in Centre of London was so I thought I would drive into work. My usual commute is just under an hour, I left at the same time this morning and made it in just under 40min!
Now I know cost is an issue ish but I arrived at work feeling 100% better than the usual public transport commute!!
Plus a couple of thumbs of from some Porkas this morning as for the hell of it I had the roof off!!
Long story cut short, my car thats normally not kept in Centre of London was so I thought I would drive into work. My usual commute is just under an hour, I left at the same time this morning and made it in just under 40min!
Now I know cost is an issue ish but I arrived at work feeling 100% better than the usual public transport commute!!
Plus a couple of thumbs of from some Porkas this morning as for the hell of it I had the roof off!!
Sounds about right, there are so few public transport routes that are faster than the roads, even with terrible congestion.
I drive to Manchester from Hampshire every fortnight, 220 miles each way, takes anywhere from 3:00 to 4:00 depending on traffic, my driving style, and if I'm in a "proper" car or the GF's fiesta.
Public transport costs me approximately twice as much as taking the car (and I could take 3 extra people with me as well "for free") is faster by anywhere from 30 mins to 90 mins (train takes 4:30) and I can depart when I want, to the second! makes it easy to work late in Manchester, if I leave any later than 8:00pm I wont be going home that night.
If the government are serious about getting people out of cars there needs to be a massive reduction in cost of public transport and a huge increase in the level of services. It is just not a viable alternative for so many people.
Even doing the opposite and sticking the cost of motoring up to 10x what it is now will not get people out of thier cars, as there simply isn't a way for them to get to work, to the shops, etc via public transport.
I think the commuter route into central london from the likes of berkshire, hampshire, surrey, etc are some of the few time effective (quicker by train than by car) train lines in the UK. Pity they are so damn expensive, £38 return for me (60ish miles each way).
I drive to Manchester from Hampshire every fortnight, 220 miles each way, takes anywhere from 3:00 to 4:00 depending on traffic, my driving style, and if I'm in a "proper" car or the GF's fiesta.
Public transport costs me approximately twice as much as taking the car (and I could take 3 extra people with me as well "for free") is faster by anywhere from 30 mins to 90 mins (train takes 4:30) and I can depart when I want, to the second! makes it easy to work late in Manchester, if I leave any later than 8:00pm I wont be going home that night.
If the government are serious about getting people out of cars there needs to be a massive reduction in cost of public transport and a huge increase in the level of services. It is just not a viable alternative for so many people.
Even doing the opposite and sticking the cost of motoring up to 10x what it is now will not get people out of thier cars, as there simply isn't a way for them to get to work, to the shops, etc via public transport.
I think the commuter route into central london from the likes of berkshire, hampshire, surrey, etc are some of the few time effective (quicker by train than by car) train lines in the UK. Pity they are so damn expensive, £38 return for me (60ish miles each way).
Adenauer said:
I have a daily drive to work of 40km, along empty roads such as this, it's a real pain in the arse 
MUST... CONTAIN... JEALOUSY... I started off (in Devon) with a comute that made the above look like the M25, which was nice. Then I moved to Essex, and it got a lot less fun, but still had its moments. Then I moved to London and a new job where it's tedium in the extreme. If there was a viable mode of public transports I'd take that instead. As there isn't I'm going to start cycling to work - tried it out recently and door-to-door it's quicker than using the car.
ewenm said:
Adenauer said:
I have a daily drive to work of 40km, along empty roads such as this, it's a real pain in the arse
You do know we already all hate you, yes?
The peace and quiet will be shattered from this weekend though, as the happy campers start arriving for the 24h race. Then it'll be go to bed listening to the cars hammering down the track and wake up listening to the cars hammering down the track, *sigh*
Adenauer said:
The peace and quiet will be shattered from this weekend though, as the happy campers start arriving for the 24h race. Then it'll be go to bed listening to the cars hammering down the track and wake up listening to the cars hammering down the track, *sigh*
Do you just live near, or do you work at the ring?evenflow said:
Adenauer said:
The peace and quiet will be shattered from this weekend though, as the happy campers start arriving for the 24h race. Then it'll be go to bed listening to the cars hammering down the track and wake up listening to the cars hammering down the track, *sigh*
Do you just live near, or do you work at the ring?
Adenauer said:
ewenm said:
Adenauer said:
I have a daily drive to work of 40km, along empty roads such as this, it's a real pain in the arse
You do know we already all hate you, yes?The peace and quiet will be shattered from this weekend though, as the happy campers start arriving for the 24h race. Then it'll be go to bed listening to the cars hammering down the track and wake up listening to the cars hammering down the track, *sigh*
HRG said:
Adenauer said:
ewenm said:
Adenauer said:
I have a daily drive to work of 40km, along empty roads such as this, it's a real pain in the arse
You do know we already all hate you, yes?The peace and quiet will be shattered from this weekend though, as the happy campers start arriving for the 24h race. Then it'll be go to bed listening to the cars hammering down the track and wake up listening to the cars hammering down the track, *sigh*
parakitaMol. said:
When I worked in London I enjoyed my commute - 40min direct train and a 10min walk. Had time to read the paper and drink a coffee and people watch.
Not sure I'd go as far as enjoying it, but when I've done stints in central London I've definitely found zoning out on a train with my MP3 player on beats sitting in traffic feeling the onset of road rage lapping at my adrenal gland.Chris71 said:
parakitaMol. said:
When I worked in London I enjoyed my commute - 40min direct train and a 10min walk. Had time to read the paper and drink a coffee and people watch.
Not sure I'd go as far as enjoying it, but when I've done stints in central London I've definitely found zoning out on a train with my MP3 player on beats sitting in traffic feeling the onset of road rage lapping at my adrenal gland.I guess I was lucky - my train line was reasonable compared to some...
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