Are you a public transport traveller? Would you rather let the train take the strain or go by bus. We are encouraged to be green, but forget that for a while. If you have a car would you be without it and if you don't have a car, is it important to you to get one?
[question posted by p1kef1sh]
responses and comments:
Well, my poor ol' town has neither bus, nor train...not even a taxi service. So I do intend to eventually get another car. But I do enjoy the occasional use of public transportation...if you were to include hitchhiking in that category. [OZONE_PLAYER]
i rather go by my own car.i change the music i listen to whatever and wherever i want. the thing with public transport, for example the train, is that i can't stand of people with body odors! other than that, i'm afraid of pick pockets. because i experienced it a few times. And i can't handle another one. [soundfreak22nd]
As someone who doesn't have a car and who has just had to wait 20 inutes in the freezing cold for a bus, then had to walk about 1/4 of a mile from the bus stop to my house, I would love the convenience of a car. It also cost me £2.90 for a 21/2 mile journey. Reliable and cheap public transport would be great but we don't have it now and never will because too many people have no choice but to use a bus. Also because in my area we only have one provider and they have bought out any competition. I've yet to work out how they get away with it, I thought we had a monopolies commission or do they just play monopoly? [nannacroc]
I know you do that's why I asked you for lessons. Can I book the first one for Sunday please? [nannacroc]
Hi p1, If only we have a bus who will pass by in our area, I will love too! I am very dependent with my husband in terms of transportation and if I have no friends who will pick me up, I cannot go out also! We have bus around but we are not near to the area where they are picking passengers! I need to learn how to drive!happyhappyhappy [checapricorn]
Hi p1, with this weather, I will freeze! hahahha! But, you know I love too though the last time I rode a bicycle was like 20 years ago! I guess I still have the skills with me! hahahah!lollollol [checapricorn]
No PT here p1kie! I could call the ONE local cab, but probably couldn't afford the fair. I'm not sure how PT would even work around here, probaly cost the state an arm and a leg. People are too used to having their own wheels cause we're so spread out. [Irishfrndly65]
Ok, then. Off ya go, sweet sleep Peter! [Irishfrndly65]
You know, since I work at home now, I hardly ever drive my car, but I certainly don't want to be without it. I may not want to get out and go anywhere, but, if somebody borrows my car, it drives me up the wall knowing that I don't have transportation until they get back. We have public transit here, but not in my particular area, and the cost to take a cab, well, forget that. [thebohemianheart]
Crazy, ain't it, little man? [thebohemianheart]
Well travel by bus are nice you can see it a lot of places and its cheap but for me its a little more tired than other kind of transport!! i like it the bus travels and the most numbers of travel that i do, its in bus!! so by bus its a nice way to travel its cheap, its nice and its funny!! well have a nice day and hope you will have a very good week ;) see ya soon and bye bye. [theembittered]
Bus rides can be great fun and a good way to see the country. [p1kef1sh]
When i lived in the city it wasnt a big deal to have a car - alot of the time the car i did own was at my parents 3 hours away. Now living on the farm a vehicle is VERY important or I'd be stranded with no way to get the 10 miles into town or 40 miles to work. [saundyl]
:) i didnt mind not having access to my car when i lived in the city plus not having to pay for insurance was nice! [saundyl]
P1ke..San Marcos has it all..we have a train station that includes a section for all the buses..the trains go allover America..the buses stay in town..we have cabs,taxi's and college buses too..We really haven't any reason for anyone to complain they can't get anywhere..since most things are easy to walk to and since its a college town, alot of them use bikes or scooters.. Go Green! [Rosekitty]
You sound very well equipped there Rosie. Very green. A lean, green Rosie machine! [p1kef1sh]
I would much rather take a bus or train! The gas and insurance and upkeep on a car is a lot of money, about $100 a month. I have no car payment but if I want to see my dad, the bus doesn't go there. We used to have trains crisscrossing the state-and the country-but they tore them all out. Now they're talking of opening an Amtrak passenger route going north to south in my state. I'm really happy about it, I can travel to two really big cities and enjoy their museums and sights without worrying about driving. [dragon54u]
We pay much more for gas here than you do and even with a supposed environmentally friendly hybrid car I still spend about $80 a month. I love train travel and here mot large cities and towns are linked. Unfortunately we lost most of the countryside stations in the 1960s. [p1kef1sh]
I used to, when I worked in San Francisco; I was living in a suburb about 40 miles away, but the public transportation system was so proficent it made it easy, and a lot more convenient, for me to take the train to the city and then the bus around town. My wife and I moved to a smaller town and the bus system here is not nearly as good. I actually walk to close destinations, and my wife and I are sharing a car right now to save money. I will eventually need to get one because of my impending job and us planning to move again, but for now, I don't have one just for myself and it's just fine! [thrwbckjay67]
Cities are usually better appointed than the country for PT. But car sharing is a good idea if you can manage it. My wife doesn't drive at all, so it's just me, other than when I am her taxi of course! [p1kef1sh]
Hi there pike. I do use both the bus and the train (or rather said the subway). In the city i prefer using the subway in rush hours as it is faster, and in the night when going or coming from my girlfriend i prefer the bus. At my university i go usually 15 minutes by foot + subway, even if i have the choice of taking the bus, as i think that the daily walk of minimum of 30 minutes does help the muscles. [elitess]
I think that when we have a car, journeys that we thought were quite short to walk suddenly become only manageable by driving. LOL. I miss the subway here I have to say. But as I can walk clear across the city in 40 minutes it is hardly needed. [p1kef1sh]
I used to depend on public transportation and didn't mind it but now that I drive I think I'd hate it. I'll stick with my car. [camomom]
Hi P1kef1sh, Well I do walk locally but use the car for work and for the weekly shop. I couldn't do either on public transport at all especially as they have just cut the bus service from the end of my road into town so I vote for keeping my car. I do in fact help by giving 3 other employees lifts each shift so we are not all using our bikes or cars. They return by giving me social lifts when needed. Huggles. Ellie :D [ellie333]
You are very organised Ellie and I suspect that you trips to work are much more economical that the bus, even when it's not been cut! XXX [p1kef1sh]
Yes i use public transport & i too have a car, not good car but a car !! This past week i have used the train,bus,car & taxi. It makes a difference having a bus stop just up the road with buses evry 20 mins. The fairly new train station has been fantastic as well. A car i can tak or leave,have done & will no doubt have to again ! [LoudnProud]
When we first moved here, there was still a steam train running up to Sydney - we used to love the trip winding up around the coast and through the gorgeous green valleys, and you could actually open the train window and get the lovely smell of the engine, etc. Then they changed to diesel, and now it's electric from a couple of stations up the track - so nowhere near as enjoyable (and actually a much slower trip for some reason only known to CountryLink!) No good getting buses around here - I think they run twice a day - and when I see them go past, there's only ever a couple of diehard old pensioners snoozing on them, and I'm betting they stay on it all day going around and around without any idea whether there's any destination. I hate car travel - but it's a necessity. I'm a menace on the road, and try to avoid it as much as possible. I have an automated route to the shopping centre and back - I try to stay off the highway as it brings on panic attacks (in other motorists, mainly). We had two cars while I was at work and the kids needed ferrying around ... but now we happily only have one, and I wouldn't mind doing without that, too! Maybe when we retire up north we can get by with our bicycles ... [guybrush]
All I need now is my Toad costume ... but wait ... maybe not ... [guybrush]
There's very little in the way of public transport in this resort area that I live in, P1ke. There's a minibus service that can take you from Point A to Point B, but that's about it. It's important for me to have a car, although I depend on it less and less these days, except to run for groceries. That would take numerous trips by bike and even at top speed, my frozen good would begin to thaw in the three or so miles from the market to my home. There's a market about 1/2 mile from home, but the prices are high ... too high for me to shop there on a regular basis ... and for all my groceries. So I just use that source for quickies. I imagine that the cost of driving an additional 2.5 miles to the less expensive source is offset by the lesser mileage but higher cost of "Store Number 2." [rjscott]
I have always had a mental image of you RJ on your bicycle acknowledging folk as you pass by them, your panniers bursting with good things for RJ to eat, and to take to the beach. Naturally Light things come to mind! LOL. [p1kef1sh]
I used to be a public transporter. It was my life until I got my first car. I'd rather depend on public transportation rather than wait for someone to give me a lift. Not too long ago, I had to take my car to the shop. After I left my car, I simply waited for the next bus to get home. Now if I ever take a train, that would be considered for a road trip! I love to move around a lot. [leonelaphotography]
Sort of, LOL... Actually, my car needed service. I didn't to call anyone to give me a ride home so I just hopped on a bus to get me home. Where I live it's not that bad to take the bus. [leonelaphotography]
It's not very important to me to get a car. Sure, it would be nice. But I live in a fairly well populated city... large enough that we have our own bus transit system, so it's not a big deal to me. I tell myself now that I'm best to stay without a car, because the expense of having one is atrocious, and not worth the trouble. I also tell myself that I'm being environmentally friendlier this way too. Whatever works, right? [CanadaGal]
Right. If you can do without quite happily then why bother. I think that when we have cars we become very dependent on them without even realising it. Mine is pretty cheap to run, but cost a fortune to buy! When I think what I could have spent that money on instead.......... 38 trips to London Ontario for a start!! [p1kef1sh]
Hi p1key, We have our own car but hubby rides his bike to work and I don't work so I don't go out that much but when I do I walk or get lift from my hubby or just take a taxi, but if we are going long distance we go by car. I think it is important to have a car for emergency. Hugs. Tamara [tamarafireheart]
You aren't too far from the town centre are you either Tamara. Like us here. Except we usually take the car! It's daft, I can walk it in 20 minutes. XXX [p1kef1sh]
Hi p1ke as you know I don't drive therefore don't have a car, also I am glad I don't drive in many ways as well as the fact I would be an accident waiting to happen on the road!! I prefer letting the train take the strain lol...hugs LoLo [littleowl]
I like a good train journey too LoLo. But it's getting ridiculously expensive these days. [p1kef1sh]
Oh my it has been a bit since I have been on here. I actually am in NYC now so your question definantly applies here. I use the Public Tranportation here because it is not worth the cost of insurance nor parking in NYC. There is a massive difference though between where I am and other parts of the United States. I am fortunate to live in one of the best states for Pulic Transportation so I choose to travel that way, however when I move back to the Mid-west next year, a car is a needed evil. Take care, Ainge [Aingealicia]
I am very fortunate yes to be here. I will tell you I don't know how the MTA does it here. Anyway, I am moving to a small town in a year and I am thinking the horse and buggy works for me too. Ainge [Aingealicia]
I just couldn't do my life on public transportation. I couldn't get to my job, to my mom's and back to the job in a reasonable amount of time. So, no public transportation for me. [ElicBxn]
it would take longer than that trying to get from my client's to my mom's or back because I would have to go downtown to catch the change. [ElicBxn]
Hey p1ke! I don't have a car and I don't drive! So all I do have is my feet and my bad knees! And now I have a whole bunch of snow to deal with! If I have to travel it is always by busses and that is not too much fun! But, since I don't have a choice I have to first walk to the busstop and then walk to wherever it is I am going! I am used to doing it but, since this winter has been really cold it hasn't been too great waiting outside in the freezing cold for the busses to come! That is the worse part of it and now add the latest snowfall to that! [Opal26]
That's the downside of buses Opal. Waiting for them. Then they either don't come, or three arrive together! Keep warm. [p1kef1sh]
Well, personally it depends on the situation. With the Economy and prices being the way they are, a lot of times there are people that will give up their cars except in the case of short trips a lot of the time as well, and either rely on the Bus system in that area, or the rail system as well. Considering it is a lot cheaper a lot of the time for Gas, and parking this is becoming a Great way to do it for sure. I know I take a Bus a lot of the time myself, and my husband and I took a train 3 hrs. from here due to being cheaper than driving last August as well. [KrauseHome]
Trains are becoming very expensive here. It's cheaper to fly! However, cars are much persecuted and the price of gas, although falling, is still very expensive. [p1kef1sh]
hi plkelsh..before i was when i worked full time..but now not often jsut on important errands and trips to grocery stores and week end outing together with the family...i don't drive ..and surely i like to ride in a private car rather on a bus or train..but since during weekdays/workdays i have no choice ..i have to ride a PUB ...not really that important to me ...we have one and my hubby wont let me drive one..so no use for having another one i guess.. [vanities]
I guess that you have no choice then Vantities. You have to get the shopping home somehow. [p1kef1sh]
i am not a public transport traveller.i often go shopping or go to office by bike. if i have a car,i certainly would make full use of it.as car is very expensive here,if i don't use if often,its value doesn't present. in fact,i don't have a car,currently,i have no intention to get one,as my office and shopping center is not far from my house.it is very convenient for me to get there by riding bike. [vikeyshuy]
Your country has a great tradition of bicycle riding. Although I think that many more people are buying cars now. A bike is a very clean and efficient way of getting around though. It keeps you healthy too. [p1kef1sh]
I have a car, so I don't "need" to take public transportation. But, I would love to take public transportation with the cost of gas these days! There are 2 things that stop me from taking the bus: the bus does not come out to my house, and I have a son that I can't haul around on the bus system because he is so young. Otherwise, I would love to take the bus. It would save me a lot of money. I don't know what the big deal is about public transportation and why some people refuse to take it! It would also help the environment if more people were to use more public transportation! [coxjamir]
Buses have long been criticised for being child "unfriendly" especially when it come to getting buggies on and off. I like to take PT, but confess that I don't usually! [p1kef1sh]
I don't have a car and my town doesn't offer any public transport. I would like to have a car but it is unfortunate that I don't have one. I think it would really help my husband be able to get more work then to have to rely on people to take him to and from work. If they were however public transport I would use it mostly except for times I have to do the monthly grocery shopping since I doubt I would be able to have that much on a bus. I think we should all do what we can to help the environment though it is the only one we have and when it is gone..well there is no other planets we can use to habitat on. [mtdewgurl74]
That is cool! Cheaper then $15 dollars in gas I have to pay to get to town which is 10 miles away. I wish ours did do delivery. I would be happy as a lark. [mtdewgurl74]
We do not have any public transport in our area. We have to rely on our own vehicles to get us from here to there. [stephcjh]
You have no choice then Steph. We have area where there is no PT also. [p1kef1sh]
maybe bus much greener. But before taking a bus, you have to await it for a long time. um, if u have a car, u needn't waste your time waiting for a bus or subway. yeah, something bad will happen at times, like traffic jams. hah [michel_sun]
It does save time, but you can be stuck in jams and you have t pay to park too here. [p1kef1sh]
We have a car, but only my older brother gets to use it because his office is far enough as it is. The rest of us commute. I commute using public transport here we call FXes. An FX is this vehicle that carries eleven people [driver included] pretty much in the same way jeepneys do. Only difference is that it costs more and it's got ACs. [chance2691]
I have seen FX type vehicles. They are very handy, but as you say, do cost more. But then they are more comfortable too. [p1kef1sh]
We live in another of those towns where there is no public transport so for anyone who wants to leave the town for anything at all, they either have to have their own car, be able to borrow one or prevail on their friends to help them out. The other option is to get the interstate bus which makes a brief stop here at midnight and goes to the large town a couple of hours away. Only problem with that is there are no shops open at that hour plus of course waiting around till 10.00 pm to get the bus back home again. Most people opt for the car though or else they see no need to leave the town at all, which is the case with some of the older residents. Not having any public transport can be a drawback here in Australia but it generally only applies to small rural towns. The thing is that we are fairly spread out in the sense that when it comes to rural areas, there can be a huge distance from a decent sized town. For example we have friends (farmers) who live several hours from us and they are on a property which is 20km from a small town with a population of 99! The nearest town to them with a population of only 3000 is 80 km away from where they live. However they can travel 100 km to a larger town with a population of about 20,000 people. However there is no public transport to any of these towns and that is why we have so many cars on the roads here in Australia. The cities are different of couse as there is plenty of public transport. However on the downside of that there are many complaints about lack of service and trains or buses always running late. Think I will just stay right here living in the country and use the car when I want to go any distance. whistle [oldboy46]
Over here we are rarely that far from a reasonable sized town and although we moan about it, our public transport service isn't too bad compared to other English speaking countries. I say that, because much of northern Europe has better PT systems than us! I am fortunate. I live on the edge of a small city of 55,000 souls. We have buses, trains, cycle tracks and of course car parks. I can also walk to the centre in about 20 minutes and to the middle of nowhere in the same kind if time. Not bad. [p1kef1sh]
I am a not-through-choice public transport traveller. Fortunately, I don't need to use it to get to work although that may change if I get a new job before I get a car! I prefer trains to buses but our local train stations are all a bus ride away anyway. I would really like to have a car but I would probably still use public transport sometimes. Our bus service is terrible and, of course, it takes a whole lot longer to get to places. I'd like to be able to jump in a car and not worry about whether I'll be able to get to and from a place, whether I'll be on time or having to start back at a certain time. If I was going on a longer journey, I might do what my sister does and drive to a local train station and get the train to wherever I'm going. [pumpkinjam]
I would like to jump on a train in your direction but it is currently well out of budget. As soon as I can do it, I will! [pumpkinjam]
I am a public transportation traveler because I have never had a car. I prefer to take the train but that is not always an option. I rely mainly on the bus because unlike the trains they don't make me take a convoluted route to get to my destination. [razcal2267]
Trains are great if you want to go where they are going. But they tend to join up towns and not so much smaller places. At least here. I sometimes wish that I didn't have to have a car. Then I drive somewhere that is very hard to reach by PT and I am pleased that I can! [p1kef1sh]
Yes I'm a public transport traveller.When I have to visit other city I travel by train.Within the city I travel by bus.Because of traffic jam to reach the destination it takes lots of time. But I have no alternative.To have a car requires big amount of money.I have no such capacity. [bhanusb]
When you own a car it is like you have a hole in your pocket. The money just falls straight out! [p1kef1sh]
It is NOT better by train/bus/any other mode of transport that isn't a car. It IS better in the car, the fares here are awfully high, I have to pay £4.90 for a return to the next town, which is only about 8 miles away, it works out much cheaper using the car. Also, with the car, I can buy whatever I want to without worrying about whether I can get it home ok or not. I'm afraid you've hit a sore point with me at the moment, as our car is due for its MOT and Mr.Panda STILL hasn't booked it in. I only passed my driving test either last February or the February before, I can't remember and it's the best thing I've done so far. [dorypanda]
You make a very good point Dory. It's the same price in the car whether one or four travel. But that price is quartered. Whereas the cost on the bus quadruples. [p1kef1sh]
keeping a car, without counting amortization is costing me approximately 100€ a month. Public transport is for sure cheaper, even taking a taxi or renting a car from time to time you don't spend that much. Of course having your own wheels is lot more comfortable and you save a lot of time and even money if you can go shopping to a big mall only reachable by car. I have to say that I rarely use public transport because my location and job timetable don't make it a real option. If I was in another situation I would use it a lot more. [overwings]
But if you did that journey by public transport how much extra would it cost in your time? [p1kef1sh]
I am a real car lover and switch altogether too often. Right Now it is a SAAB and I have the strong urge to describe it to you!! HAHAHA HOWEVER! I try also to be practical and think about the global warming and our natural resources and.. see? I am thinking about my car too!! Are you sure I couldn't just describe the features of this car??) w00t I use it only for certain kinds of trips that a simple train, bus, tram trips will not look after conveniently.. We have a great transit system in place, I must admit, but I still like ( and NEEED) my car! The prices for transit travel are very reasonable, I find, and the connections good, One needs a little self discipline and tolerance as well and all then becomes automatic and second nature, I find. You can even 'sms buy' your tickets via your mobile phone! You seldom get stuck in traffic and you never have to fuel up. You get that time to read the local 'Metro' and look around at people and sites, should one like that. THERE IS NO TROUBLE WITH PARKING!! and, well, you can even stand if you like( or not) my SAAB is ice blue!rolleyes [fjaril]
A Saab Leif? I thought that you said that you had a car!!! LOL. They are very good cars. Very safe. We can buy tickets by mobile phone here in some places. However, as I don't have such a thing it's a little bit of a problem. You are quite right that with PT there is no problem with parking. But you have to travel when they want and not in your own time of course. My car is red! [p1kef1sh]
Hi ya p1kef1sh I would love to take buses or trains more often and my boys are always telling me they want to go on a double decker bus or go on a train but my two youngest get cronic travel sickness not only in cars (which we can cope with) but in buses too which is always inconvenient. There are no buses that go in or out of the town I live in on Sundays and in order to catch a train to go somewhere we would have to travel 12 miles to get there!! School is in walking distance and there are local shops and a supermarket in my town so really my car is a luxury!! [Humbug25]
The Boss suffers from travel sickness when she goes in the back of cars. My BIL has a Jaguar and she says it's like ship rolling! Good job that I can't afford one then. LOL. [p1kef1sh]
I could not live with out my auto, I guess if I lived in a big city I might have to take the train to work, but as far as not having a car I would go nuts. Recently my friend let her daughter use her car, she just kept it till she finally wrecked it. Now the friend is out of a car, and her insurance went up so much I don't know how she will be able to afford it again. And sure enough as soon as the wreck happen, her insurance dropped her. Now she has no way to get to work but to take a cab every morning and evening. She can't go anywhre now without calling a cab and that is expensive. [bdugas]
Some people in Louisiana paid for 30 years through State Farm for homeowners insurance and when Katrina came through they refused to pay. 30 years of payments gone down the drain for nothing. Yes always pay them but they dont' think they should have to pay you, each person is taking them to court and winning the battle but half their money will be tied up in lawyer fees. [bdugas]
I live in the sticks and though they now have a bus that travels to the main city pass through daily, it would cost me $22 to use it but only $10 on gas for my car. Considering I usually take my children with me that would be $58 for us to bus it and still only $10 for gas. Also this way I can do my monthly stock up shopping which would be difficult to put on the bus. They would likely charge an extra fee for that too. They have a hybrid bus too but I don't see any savings in it. I consider myself very green. I recycle and compost. Reuse and give away anything that I can. I energy save around the house anywhere I can even though I rent. I walk when I can. But I do have a car and drive it when needed. I don't just got for a drive to get out of the house. It is cheaper than the bus or taxi here so that is what I do. I was wishing for a bus service but never in my wildest dreams though it would be as expensive as it is here. So though I would have wanted to I just can't afford it. [vicki2876]
This is the problem. It is nearly always cheaper to use the car than to take PT. Of course you may well make unnecessary journeys too, but someone really ought to address the cost thing. [p1kef1sh]
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Traveling by bus and train is a heck of a lot cheaper than going by car. The public transport here is decent so I survive. I wish I could afford a car though. It's more convenient to go by car. [TheCatLady]
That is always going to be the trade off. Car versus PT. The car becomes cheaper the more people that you carry whereas the PT cost increases. [p1kef1sh]
I do have a vehicle and to be honest it is a huge pain sometimes if I want to park downtown in the city. The parking issues there are just rediculous! Sometimes it's so hard to find a spot to park and the parking police are just waiting every chance they get to issue people tickets immediately. I really can't stand rush our either! I'm so very happy I don't live in the big city as I reside in the country where there's barely any traffic now. Apparently in the summertime though, our population triples or even expands more because I live by the beachside. I would rather take a bus when I"m in the city though. Our here there's no public transportation so I have no choice. Have a nice day [nixxi76]
Thank you. I guess that you have the same issues as many others. Parking is a major problem for all folk these days. [p1kef1sh]
i dont have a car to drive as my hubby takes our only vehicle, so i have to take the bus to work. i really hate waiting for the bus to be honest, i dont mind taking it, but in the super cold weather or rainy weather, its nasty. if you had a car, all you have to do is hop in the car. [cher913]
I guess that is the main reason why cars are so popular. They are so convenient. [p1kef1sh]
I live in the city and go everywhere locally by bus or will walk. I have a car and if I am going to travel to a destination some miles outside of the city, it is by far the quickest way to travel. :-)Derek [derek_a]
That makes sense. It's a similar setup here. [p1kef1sh]
Where I live there is no public transportation but when I have to travel far, sometimes I will opt for public transport rather than a car. It all depends on many factors. [nanajanet]
When we were in Italy we took the high speed trains rather than flying to different parts. I liked it better than flying and it was so comfortable. Even coach was not bad but since we had an unlimited pass we had first class. I like it better than flying! [nanajanet]
I am not able to drive anymore and I started walking. I found how difficult it is to transition after taking advantage of the car for many years. You are able to sit comfortably and have climate control and protection from things you don't get protected from by just walking or riding a bike. Where I live, there is no train.. there are a few buses but they are seldom used. [Lore2009]
I can see that not having personal transport in a place where there isn't too much public transport can be a real frustration. You become reliant on friends or cabs I suppose. [p1kef1sh]
I use public transport at the moment, I get to work by bus. I dont drive but have made it my resolution this year to learn to drive and hopefully pass my test. There are times when I feel that having a car would be really useful as would be able to drive to places such as my mums when I want rather than using the train or her driving to me all the time. Also having a designated driver when people fancy nights out is always handy and saves loads of money on taxis!!! [cinderella2007]
Yeah i think women feel safer in their own cars until they break down. I remember once when my mum's car broke down, she was travelling alone and was waiting for the RAC to come out. She sat in the passengers seat with the doors locked so that if people saw her they would assume she was with someone. I don't think anywhere is really safe anymore is it? [cinderella2007]
I take the bus usually, I walk often and take the bus whenever I can. If I had a car, I am sure I would be driving it everywhere tho :) [ShellyB]
That's exactly what happens. It is very hard to do without a car when you are used to having one. [p1kef1sh]
The only trains we have in the area are freight. We do have buses for public transportation, cut only a few people use them. Most people here would rather drive themselves. There's not that much in the way of carpooling either. [6precious102]
Whatever happened to "Pardon me boy, is that the Chattanooga Choo Choo?" Yes, many people here prefer it that way too. Trains really are very expensive here these days. [p1kef1sh]
Hello my friend p1kef1sh Ji, It all depends upon urgency and to raech the spot. If I am not in hurry and have to travel less tahn 20 Kms in a city, I would prefer public transport system, by bus (may be even luxury ones), if I am going from one city bto another, I will always prefer to go by train and never by bus as I can just relax there, stretch my feet. I will maintain natural ways of my transportation, considering economy as well. may God bless you and have a graet time. [maygodblessu44]
I also prefer the train over the bus, especially for longer journeys. Thank you. [p1kef1sh]
I don't have a choice Pikey. I don't have a car; I once had a scooter, but I sold it. So, now I just take the public bus. :) Cheers and happy Mylotting [positiveminded1977]
Sometimes no choice is the best way to be! [p1kef1sh]
Yes bus traveling is better but not during peak hours.Its better to have our own car.We can travel to places in the fastest time.In buses there are fights.there is also people shouting on top of their voices which is very irritating.sadsad [vicky30]
Clearly buses where you are are very different to here Vicky! No fights or shouting. Usually. [p1kef1sh]
I am not a public transport traveller, neither do I drive. My hubby drives and he takes me wherever I need to go. Where I live it is a bit far out from a lot of places and so getting the bus is a bit of a long journey and as my kids are travel sick I tend not to bother!! My nearest train station is a way away from me too, if it was closer I would be on it all the time because I would go into manchester on it or birmingham. If my buses were more reliable I would probably go on them more too. Other than that I get hubby to take me places. [gemini_rose]
Are we married Gemini? LOL. You sound like The Boss - who trained in Manchester and lived in Birmingham coincidentally! I am her chauffeur. [p1kef1sh]
I rely heavily on public transport as the bus that stops near my house is the most direct and fastest way to my office. However during peak hours, the buses are always crowded and cause certain delays. Other Alternative is to take the train which is faster than the buses, but still need to transfer a shutter service to my office which sometimes suffers delay as well. If I've a car, I'd love to drive to work due to the delay in public transport, and I'd also use the car for long distances. [naka75]
I really like the MRT in Singapore but the nearest station from where I stayed (close to Katong Mall) is at least a 20 minute walk. So the bus is a better bet. They do get crowded though, so taxis become a better bet - they cost more of course. LOL. [p1kef1sh]
well my hubby was taking the bus till he got robbed at gun point walking home from the bus stop.. that ended our "green" effort in that area then sad [moonlitmagikchild]
That['s awful, how horrible for him. I wouldn't be too green either if that happened to me. [p1kef1sh]
hi p1ke, my husband has a drivers license but I dont cause of sight problems. My sight field of the left eye partly is damaged and I dont have good three dimensional sight. Found out when I tried to learn to drive. I prefer trains to buses and cars. I find it much more comfortable to use the train than get anywhere per car. [book1962]
I used to work with a man who drove everywhere and did it very fast. Only when he retired did we discover that he was blind in one eye and had only partial vision in his other. Terrifying! Sadly he died quite soon afterwards. [p1kef1sh]
When we moved to Washington DC we didn't own a car so public transport was our means of transportation. Now that we own a car my husband uses it mostly and when I'm called in to work, I take the bus. I don't drive (yet) so use public transport all the time. Don't mind it at all. [maddysmommy]
That sounds very good. I quite like the bus myself but I don't use it often enough. [p1kef1sh]
Yes, I take public transportation every single day that I work and sometimes when I don't. I wouldn't mind having a car, but I can little afford it. I don't know how people do it with the cost of car payments, gas, insurance and maintenance. There are times though when a car sure would come in handy. Like grocery shopping. Its a little hard to carry a bunch of groceries on the bus. As for the bus itself, you get used to it for the most part. Unless it was like a night like last night. There was the drunk who wanted to talk art with me who absolutely reeked. There was the man who smelled like urine and the kids who thought spitting on the floor was cool. Those bus rides are endless. Uuughh! [kbourgerie]
Yuk. That bus ride sounds horrid. I am amazed though just how much we spend on cars without thinking about it and how naked we feel if they are of the road for some reason. Even in the city. I had a work colleague that went without his car for a year. He sold it just so that he wouldn't give in to temptation. He took trains and buses and taxis back from the store (many UK supermarkets have phones connected to local taxi companies). Very occasionally he hired a car. He saved a huge amount of money. But when the year was up he went straight out and bought another car. He said that the convenience factor outweighed everything else. [p1kef1sh]
In other countries, a car is a necessity. Here in the Philippines, a car is a status symbol. Majority of the population here don't have a car. I myself don't even know how to drive (but I'll sign up to a driving lesson real soon. wink). My travel time going to work is two hours. The traffic here is really crazy so I never ever wanted to see myself taking a bus. The train operates here till 10pm only so whenever I miss the train, I normally take a cab. But this is so expensive that it eats up 10 to 15 percent of my daily rate. [_Honey_]
Buses and trains here are prohibitively expensive, especially round London. Yet for many they are the only option. There are more and more cars on the roads too. We are slowly turning into one huge traffic jam! [p1kef1sh]
I'm a public transport traveller because I don't own any vehicle and I even don't have the means to buy myself and my own family a car. With the present erratic prices of fuel and gas locally, it isn't my priority to purchase a car at the moment. Generally, I prefer taking the ordinary bus when going to the province specially if I'm taking the trip alone. I must admit that I'm a budget-conscious individual. But often, when I'm with my spouse and our daughter, we would take the airconditioned bus because I'd want to avoid pollution. But on my short regular trips going to the office during weekdays, I have no option on whether to take ordinary or airconditioned mode of transportation simply because I have to take an fx taxi. This is the only public transport which goes directly through the workplace or the street where our office is located. It surely takes much of my allowance but I have no other choice. On some occasions though, I would get up early in the morning and take a jeepney ride going to the office. This does not go straight to my workplace and I have to ride off at one point along the way. From there, I would walk the rest of the way not only to save money but also as a form of physical exercise. 'Til next discussion. Regards. [mykmari_08]
I used to have complicated public transport routes to work when I lived in London. I think that in cities it is much wiser to travel that way though. A car is a positive handicap. There's nowhere to park when you do get to work. [p1kef1sh]
I travel by train everyday to my place of work. It would not be advisable for me to travel by car even if I liked it because of the traffic in our city. The time taken for me to travel by car would be twice as much as I am spending now. I have not thought of buying a car because we have a lot of parking problems here and if the vehicle is not parked in a safe place there is no guarantee that I would see the vehicle in a proper condition the next day. [mayka123]
Those are all very sensible reasons to keep with public transport. Thank you Mayka. [p1kef1sh]