Pricing

14,218

20 Jun 2021, 12:20 pm #1,447

(20 Jun 2021, 11:12 am)streetdeckfan The only time I really feel like I need a car is if I need to get somewhere on a Sunday (but due to the archaic Sunday trading laws, that's rarely the case!)

For me, journey times aren't an issue, I'm lucky in that I can do my work from anywhere, so if I have a 2 hour bus journey I'm working for those two hours. The same journey may only take 40 minutes in the car, but those 40 minutes are 'wasted'. But I suppose if you work a 'normal' job, then that won't be the case.

As for the convenience, I suppose I'm also lucky in that I can literally see the bus stop from my window (I bought this house specifically based on public transport availability), and basically all of my family and friends live within a 2 minute walk of a bus stop.

That's not to say I won't get a car, I probably will (and it'll most certainly be electric because they're cheap to run), but I haven't reached the point yet where the inconvenience of a bus outweighs the increased cost of running a car.

So it suits your needs, wants and expectations.
Not everyone is in the same position, not everyone lives outside a bus stop, not everyone has one bus taking them the majority of their journey and not everyone can 'work' on a bus.

Eldest C has a personal life and 3 buses just to see his girlfriend (who lives 10/15 mins away in the car) was just one of the reasons he learned to drive.
Price, practicality and his job role were other factors.

I've mentioned previously that I bought a house in the past and part of the decision to buy that house was based on its public transport links.
Those links have gone unfortunately.
Fortunately, the road network allows me to get to most places quicker, easier and cheaper than the bus ever did when it operated directly or since it became a military operation to ensure connections.

The soft improvements to the on-board experience doesn't make much difference and neither do the bus lanes which appear at some point en-route to either of the 3 City Centres or at various points at other stages of my drive in.
Pricing does (been chatting about the £1 fare this morning to some mates) as do the practicalities in getting a bus home at the end of the evening.
As attractive as that £1 fare is, it's looking like a taxi home that particular night as there isn't a bus which works for us.

'Illegitimis non carborundum'

Andreos1