Forum Topic

Advice on how to deal with spiraling peyrol prices

It's all too obvious really, people need to reduce the number of shorter car journeys where possible and walk or cycle to save money. It's hardly revolutionary, is it?

Richard Carter ● 1050d16 Comments

No reason why the regions should keep quiet. Everywhere needs good public transport as well as London. 

Michael Ixer ● 1049d

"I suspect you never played any competitive sport?"As Mr Carter cycles on London roads, the answer to that is:-"Oh yes he has! High stakes competition."

David Ainsworth ● 1049d

"Do you think we should walk them to the fixtures."With such a good walk you would not need sport.

David Ainsworth ● 1049d

We once had a list of all the children's names, addresses and home phone numbers in their class at the start of the year.  This meant we could meet up and the children could meet and travel together.  We could also share any pick-ups. Data protection changed this.  We didn't have smartphones then.  We do now so it easier to share lifts.  It's even better when schools have their own minibuses.  Travelling together enhances team spirit.

Philippa Bond ● 1049d

Nick, I suggest you read my post again, noting especially the words "reduce" and "where possible."

Richard Carter ● 1049d

Richard, I have three children. All of whom play sport. There fixture can be 20/30 miles away. Do you think we should walk them to the fixtures.I suspect you never played any competitive sport?

Nick Gulliford ● 1049d

It does help when children have places at school within a short distance.  In one place I lived as a teenager I used to run out of the door when the civic centre clock started to strike nine.  That was no good for the afternoon at two!In another our parents shared the school run to the local bus which only went on the main road and not down to the villages.In another we walked and knocked on doors or joined friends as we went.

Philippa Bond ● 1049d

"Zoom and Teams haven't taken over the world completely yet!"Of course not Michael but they have reduced numbers. Less numbers means less fares. We need to accept that and be a bit more imaginative.Trains and tube need to attract those that would have travelled by bus due to it being less expensive. Many shorter bus journey need to be replaced by bike or scooters and smaller more efficient buses .The days of the regions keeping quiet as London is bunged even more have long gone.

Ed Robinson ● 1050d

I'm sure that's right, Ed. But if there's a need to shift people that are travelling from cars to public transport there's a need for frequent, affordable and comfortable services. I don't normally travel from Putney to Waterloo at around 9am but I needed to this morning and was surprised at the number of people travelling at that time. Zoom and Teams haven't taken over the world completely yet! 

Michael Ixer ● 1050d

Michael,If there is a government/TFL deal, London's public transport is unlikely to ever go back to pre pandemic levels of service/cost.Even if one of the main parties were to commit to higher subsidies the old commuting model is gone forever.

Ed Robinson ● 1050d

So how did people manage to live in these small towns and villages in the past?

David Ainsworth ● 1050d

Reducing car use and the number of cars one has is viable in London where we have great public transport (or at least at the moment, let's hope the current government extends funds to TfL) but if one lives in the countryside where bus and train services are sparse that isn't an option.

Michael Ixer ● 1050d

Very true David,but to be fair to Richard he did stipulate shorter car journeys.Adding to Ivonne valid list - some short car journeys may be the first or last leg in a longer journey. The school run before driving to work etc. It may be wrong to assume that all who do the school using a car are just using it for short distances.Having said that clearly SOME school runs are short journeys. I have noticed that there is a big difference in enforcement if the school is located on a red route as opposed to residential parking areas.WBC seem to turn a blind eye to parking around the three schools on Charlwood Road for example.

Ed Robinson ● 1050d

Popping down to the shops for a few items is doable for many and there are  some shop deliveries done by cargo bike.  E-bikes help with the hills.  It is good to use different shops and not just the supermarkets for everything.  I see a lot more mothers cycling with their children in those large bikes now doing the school runs to and from school.  They may also have car for longer or more difficult journeys.  It certainly makes it is easier to only have one family car instead of two.

Philippa Bond ● 1050d

"That same brush cannot be applied to all."And the reason for that is that, on average, we live much further from our place of work than did our grandparents, but the journey time has been kept down by the use of motorized vehicles. ------------------------"“There was a rocky valley between Buxton and Bakewell, once upon a time, divine as the Vale of Tempe... You Enterprised a Railroad through the valley - you blasted its rocks away, heaped thousands of tons of shale into its lovely stream. The valley is gone, and the Gods with it; and now, every fool in Buxton can be in Bakewell in half an hour, and every fool in Bakewell at Buxton; which you think a lucrative process of exchange – you Fools everywhere.” John Ruskin - "Fors Clavigera".

David Ainsworth ● 1050d

Hello Richard,That is a very sensible solution, in a few cases.I am not too sure that plumbers, carpenters, roofers, builders, etc work within a couple of miles from where they live and that it would be possible for them to transport their tools on a bicycle, tricycle or similar.Similarly, severe disabled people being transported in an adapted people's carrier will not be able to cycle or walk easily instead.Of course, you may be referring some cars doing the school run by able bodied people within a relatively short distance.However, delivery lorries to our supermarkets and shops cannot do this by riding bicycles or tricycles.  The rise in petrol prices for them means more expensive goods at the shops.As I said, a very sensible and hardly revolutionary solution for some.  That same brush cannot be applied to all.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1050d