You don't have to live in the deepest countryside to need a car!

Tish_P

The price of petrol isn't going to go down, though, is it?

In the long term, it's going to go up to the point where it is unfeasible for almost anyone to run a private car, because there is only so much oil, and every acre devoted to biodiesel is an acre that can't grow food - which we really *do* need.. We're all going to have to find ways to rearrange our lives, towns and societies that don't presuppose that everyone can go everywhere at 50mph in a half-ton metal box.

And I think if we do it right, and soon enough, our lives will be all the better for it.

NEH

Tish_P wrote: »

The price of petrol isn't going to go down, though, is it?

In the long term, it's going to go up to the point where it is unfeasible for almost anyone to run a private car, because there is only so much oil, and every acre devoted to biodiesel is an acre that can't grow food - which we really *do* need.. We're all going to have to find ways to rearrange our lives, towns and societies that don't presuppose that everyone can go everywhere at 50mph in a half-ton metal box.

And I think if we do it right, and soon enough, our lives will be all the better for it.

The real problem with rising petrol prices is the Government, it's not the oil companies that take the majority it's the government....

piratefairy

Tish_P wrote: »

The price of petrol isn't going to go down, though, is it?

In the long term, it's going to go up to the point where it is unfeasible for almost anyone to run a private car, because there is only so much oil, and every acre devoted to biodiesel is an acre that can't grow food - which we really *do* need.. We're all going to have to find ways to rearrange our lives, towns and societies that don't presuppose that everyone can go everywhere at 50mph in a half-ton metal box.

And I think if we do it right, and soon enough, our lives will be all the better for it.

hmm. i kind of disagree, as there are other things you can run cars on, when oil runs out, all the large companies will do is strat selling an alternative.

HappyMJ

NEH wrote: »

As for Taxi fares you're lucky to have such cheap ones....I've yet to find a cheap taxi service charging £1 a mile and i've lived up and down in the country in a fair few places...;)

All the private hire firms around here charge that. Minimum charge £3 plus 50p for every half mile over 2 miles. So it's about £1 per mile plus £1 flagfall. You can get private hire firms in reverse so if your small village only has one uncompetitive company then ring one up in the town that you are going to and they'll send one to you for half the price. Every town I've ever been to charges about the same. Hackney Carriage is the most expensive and the maximum local rate set by the local council is £1.85 per mile.

Not sure where in North Yorkshire you are but a quick google search reveals many private hire firms advertising on the internet for around £1.20 per mile in North Yorkshire. You need to shop around get on the phone and get them to compete with each other.

Mrs_Ryan

onlyroz wrote: »

Regarding 1, many employers offer a "ride to work" scheme, where the company purchases the bike on your behalf, and you pay them back over a year, minus the VAT and income tax. This is what I did.

Regarding 2, surely it is possible to learn?

Regarding 3, isn't there a less dangerous back street or "cross country" route?

All good suggestions but unfortunately the area of the NHS I work in is so rife with cuts we dont get anything like that. To happymj and yourself about learning to ride, not possible at the moment. Waiting for treatment after a car accident in November - my shoulder is knackered and my knees have been knackered since I was 13 so not really at the moment!!

There is during the day but not at night - its a totally unlit back country road so I wouldnt dare!!!

ceridwen

nickyhutch wrote: »

On the bus, you can't call in the shop for a pint of milk, pick your child up from his friend's house which isn't on the bus route, drop in to see elderly mum-in-law, set off when YOU want, leave when YOU want, go the way YOU want. I can expand my learning if I want by listening to the radio or audio books. I don't have to listen to what Chantelle got up to last night with her boyfriend or what Tyler thinks about Torres' transfer to Chelsea. I don't risk whiplash or bashing my teeth on the seat in front every time the driver slaps the brakes on. I don't have to stand in the rain waiting for the late bus/train, getting me and my work stuff wetter and wetter. I don't have to ring my boss to say I'm going to be late, again, because the bus hasn't turned up, or the train was full.

I'm sorry - I like spending time how I want to spend it rather than sat on a bus or walking for a bus or waiting for a bus.

...and the word that hit me straight in the eye - very forcibly - reading this post "YOU YOU YOU YOU" - ie what I want goes:(:cry - errr...that did NOT come over at all well...

ceridwen

Spider_In_The_Bath wrote: »

We live somewhere with no public transport (nearest bus stop is 7.5 miles away and train station is 20 miles away). We have a car each as we both need them for work, buying food, getting to the doctors etc. It would not be possible to live where we do without a car as there are no local facilities or local shops (unless you count the postbox as a facility). Taxis are also expensive. I recently had to go to my doctors and then the hospital. As I was ill I could not drive. It cost me £22.00 to get to and from the docs and £70.00 to get to and from the hospital (yeap £70.00).

Yes, we chose to live in the middle of nowhere as we like it and because this is where we could afford to buy a property. It is not possible to move nearer to where we work for financial reasons and also because we both work in different places and there are not that many jobs around here. If everyone supposed to move out of the rural areas into more urban areas for work? If so then the demand for housing and public transport in those areas with better public tranport would just get worse.

So, yes we choose to have a lifestyle that requires two cars. However, we don't fly, we don't have children, we use very little water, are are planning to have solar panels fitted when we can afford them to reduce our electricity usage. We also grow a lot of our own food. Many of these things (particulary flying and having children) are more polluting (in terms of carbon footprint) than running a car. When we can afford to work less than it may be possible to reduce our car useage, but not at the moment.

I DO understand where you are coming from.

I know that I am "allowed" a bit more of certain things - precisely BECAUSE I am so darn "good" in some other ways - ie I dont have more than 2 children (in fact I dont have any at all), I dont fly, I'm vegetarian, etc, etc, etc.....

I think the problem lies with people who don't do any of these things - but STILL drive cars - even when they dont need to...

I simply don't know what to do about those people who simply don't CARE and never will - no matter what you/I/anyone else says or does....it just makes me want to go back to bed and never ever get up again at the mere thought that some people just simply DON'T give a damn...I just try not to think about that attitude for any longer than I can help - because I WOULD go back to bed and think "Blow everything and everyone - why should I bother in the circumstances?...... It IS very frustrating - and I personally would welcome all suggestions as to how to cope with the fact of TRYING to "do one's bit" and then having to face the fact that a lot of people simply DONT care...

nickyhutch

ceridwen wrote: »

...and the word that hit me straight in the eye - very forcibly - reading this post "YOU YOU YOU YOU" - ie what I want goes:(:cry - errr...that did NOT come over at all well...

And as I've since mentioned, by "you" I meant "one". It isn't about what I want, goes; it's about what I need. I need to be 9 miles away for 7.5 hours of the day and I need to spend time with my DH, son and stepkids, so I need a car.

ceridwen

No comment.....

KxMx

People have to manage without cars and do. It may seem surprising but that's the truth.

I have to visit the Hospital on a regular basis and will need to for the rest of my life. So I do a double bus journey both ways (which although they have been cut it's still a decent service) or I have to pay for a taxi where it is not appropriate for example after surgery. No one drives in the household and no-one close by who can give me a lift. I even had to get into a taxi recently after taking laxatives (luckily by that time I was cleaned out).

Visiting family (who are 20 minutes away by car) involves, bus, train, taxi, taxi, train and then bus (despite being a mainline station it is not served by buses).

It's surprising what you can manage when you have to.