No Wonder the High Street is Dying

LilacPixie

the highstreet where I am is now a mx of arcades, chain stores and we buy any gold type places. Occasionally I venture in to get the kids feet measured or because DD1 school has a specific uniform that you can't get in the likes of BHS or M&S and you need to go to the school shop that is intown, but mostly its because I have a reason to be parking in city centre anyway, my dentist is in town so the 6 month family check up is usually the day when i have a good look around town but TBH I would rather go to the out of town centre that has local suppliers

custardy

HAMISH_MCTAVISH wrote: »

Not an option for the large numbers of people who live in rural areas though, is it?

well what high streets are in rural areas? by its definition they would need to travel to the place that has a high street. no?

custardy

lostinrates wrote: »

Yes, every purchase....i live in a rural area not a town or large village and drive to the nearest high street. Its not too far to walk or cycle....but i am not able to walk long distances usually or cycle.

Even for the perfectly able bodies, with a full time job or a family their doesn't exist the luxury of a couple of hours walk in a day when other stuff must be done too.

Perhaps you walk past me in m car, but i am pretty sure even sitting ina traffic jam i would get to the high street and back in the car before you have done a one way journey on foot! I certainly guarantee i would not make it there most days, and if i did carring shopping home with the walking stick i would need by then would be a bit of a pita tbh. Nevermind where it ohysically hurt!

For your situation i am sure you are right, for others of us your soltuion is not reasonably viable, especially if someone is prepared to deliver what we need to the home!

Ive done it on foot,bike and bus
in a congested city,the car is often the slowest
I can be in the city centre on the bike,pick up what i need and be home while a car driver could stil be looking for parking
I have 2 cars,however I am not shackled to it as many seem to be

custardy

lisyloo wrote: »

For goodness sake, have some empathy or even sympathy.
Some people do not have the use of their legs.

I do and I enjoy walking to the supermarket in summer but I get frustrated at the amount that I can carry in a rucksack.
I would be delighted to spend several hours walking to my doctors on a nice day, but I cannot talk the time off during the working day.

yes,I as obviousy having a go at the disabled.....

Idiophreak

What I don't understand is this:

Surely an "out of town mall" is just the high street, but with better parking and no chance of being rained on? They also integrate shopping and leisure in a way the high street don't.

Call it high street 2.0?

Idiophreak

custardy wrote: »

I can be in the city centre on the bike,pick up what i need and be home while a car driver could stil be looking for parking

Excellent in theory, but I think you're missing out a couple of things:
1) You're making the wonderful assumption that all of your bike, having been left while you "pick up what you need" is still actually there when you want to head back. And that all the wheels are still circular and not "pringled" - this is in no way guaranteed in my nearest city.

2) You've got back before the car driver, sure...But now you're going to have to take a shower, stick your clothes on to wash, faff about with locking the bike up, removing the saddle etc.

Don't get me wrong, I used to romanticise about the bike being faster a lot when I was younger...but I was drastically underestimating the convenience of getting out of a car, pressing "lock" and being completely done...

I'd like to cycle to the city centre, but to be honest the stolen and damaged parts of my bike add up to be more expensive than car parking fairly quickly, so there's no point.

stonethrower

Every Shop I see closing seems to reopen as a bookmaker shop.

custardy

Idiophreak wrote: »

Excellent in theory, but I think you're missing out a couple of things:
1) You're making the wonderful assumption that all of your bike, having been left while you "pick up what you need" is still actually there when you want to head back. And that all the wheels are still circular and not "pringled" - this is in no way guaranteed in my nearest city. what like peope know their cars will be there?

2) You've got back before the car driver, sure...But now you're going to have to take a shower, stick your clothes on to wash, faff about with locking the bike up, removing the saddle etc. lock bike up,remove saddle lol. where exaclty do you think my bike lives at home? As for shower. maybe for some big blubbery car driver. I can have a relaxed cycle without sweating 10 litres without issue

Don't get me wrong, I used to romanticise about the bike being faster a lot when I was younger...but I was drastically underestimating the convenience of getting out of a car, pressing "lock" and being completely done... convenience of getting out of the car. is that once you find a parking space and walk to the shops?

I'd like to cycle to the city centre, but to be honest the stolen and damaged parts of my bike add up to be more expensive than car parking fairly quickly, so there's no point.

Im not really sure where you park your bike
with intelligent bike location and proper locks
the theft issue is minimised
my saddle and wheels are ftted with security bolts,I don't need to take parts of my bikes for a stroll
always plkenty of excuses for staying in the car
I hear it all the time at work from folks who are in walking distance

custardy

stonethrower wrote: »

Every Shop I see closing seems to reopen as a bookmaker shop.

we just had a pub close to become a Tesco!

FTBFun

Tippytoes wrote: »

If only. It seems this country is top of the league for the undesirable things in life (mentioning nothing in particular) and bottom when it comes to the good things.

Utter !!!!!!!!.