Why do you use your car?

[RosyRat]

OH and I own a car between us. He has to travel a long way to work & back so uses it. I don't drive, so use public transport to get around. Except at the weekend, when we do the shopping, go visiting etc when we use the car and, of course, he drives.

[fabulous_girl]

i use my car for work, but not commuting as such- when i am in the office i use the tram into town - although soon to start using the bus because i am moving. But i do go out at least once a week to visit clients in Hull, Halifax,Leeds etc- mostly schools so i cannot use public transport very easily in these cases.

[newvanandman]

Maybe I didn't make it clear - it was a route that the office workers regularly used (all in their cars) in real life, its wasn't a made up scenario, it was just a test of peoples perceptions.

 

And to newvanandman, they were office workers, mainly in their 20's, nipping out for lunch - no kids in tow, just their lunch to carry and it wasn't raining on the day in question...

 

I do wonder how we coped when cars genuinely were a luxury though, anyone would think we'd dissolve the way some people talk about the rain.

 

 

When cars were a luxury,most people worked in their own villages,and cycled to and from work which was usually within easy reach.Today its a very different situation,very few work close by and have to commute to work in different towns,some of this has been brought on by the high property values.The car is an important factor in alot of peoples lifes,this goverment would have you believe they care about being green,when infact they couldnt function without the taxes from cars.Their goals are set from making much more too,wait till after the next election!

[birdsandbees]

How about driving to nursery leaving the car there and bussing in?

 

 

I did try that, but the busses that come through at that time are full, and even though its only a 30 minute walk (again I have tried) with the time I can drop off at nursery, due to it opening, and the time it takes to walk or get a buss that has space, it makes me late for work

[Cyclone]

Why is the visiting friends option coupled with hating public transport.

 

I visit friends yes, and sometimes I take the car.

 

Mainly because public transport simply isn't an option.

[Cyclone]

I use my car because i get hammered on tax,insurance,petrol,servicing,repairs etc etc...and after all that,why would i want to pay x amount of pounds per week on top of that to use public transport?Take note any of the Sheffield anti-car councillors reading this!

 

At least 3 of those costs are dependant on the use, petrol, servicing and repairs. Your logic isn't.... well, logical.

[Cyclone]

My grandad walked 10 miles a day for his entire working life to and from the colliery... Assuming that he was a fast walker, that's still 2hrs a day for 5 days a week for 40 years.

That's over 2 years of solid walking. The car ride would have been 10 minutes each way, using a car he would have had 1.75 years to do something else, read a book, rest, talk to my gran, whatever.

Just because you can walk doesn't mean you should. Time may not be money to everyone, but it is worth something nonetheless.

[Ms Macbeth]

My OH uses our car for work - he's all over Sheffield so can't use public transport and I mainly use it for supermarket shopping. We also use it for visiting the family in Cheshire, although I sometimes go by train. It takes about the same time. Visiting friends who don't live nearby and holidays are other reasons.

 

I never drive into town, there's no shortage of public transport in Hillsborough, and I walk to the local shops and library. I only take the car locally if I'm buying something that is too heavy to carry home on foot.

[Quagmire]

I use my car because it would take 2 hours to get work in the morning on public transport, would be more expensive, less convenient, far more unreliable and much more uncomfortable.

 

Hopefully soon I will have escaped this cesspit of a country and with either have much cheaper fuel or a nice stroll to work along the coast

[fox20thc]

All interesting, so how many people dare acknowledge using their cars for short journeys due to weather or can't be bothered to walk?