Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
17 December 2010
18:0285180Without upsetting my old pal john, this goverment like all others has a dilema on how to get people out of there cars and into privatised trains, deregulated buses.
Train fares are so expensive in relation to a car, and of course in a car you can go from place A to place B without standing around on freezing cold platforms with few staff for help.
All my life like a few other forumites i travel via buses/trains, but to get such a major change in the mind set is going to take a lot of doing.
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
17 December 2010
18:0685182The only time I take a bus is when I sit on one for hours taking notes of peoples conversations for stories to write. There would need to be a blinking good reason to get me on public transport, and there is no way I could work if I had to depend on public transport, in terms of distance, reliability cost and comfort.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
17 December 2010
18:0985183Its not the governments job to get us out of our cars.
Its a matter of individual choice and freedom.
I use public transport infrequently and much prefer the convenience of my car.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
17 December 2010
18:1785186your partly right baz, and the govt is still chucking millions if not billions at this one industry(trains)they do have a role to play
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
17 December 2010
18:1885188Lots are fares are not expensive eg 4 day returns to London £34,advance tickets are really good if you know well in advance of when and where you are going,and singles and returns to Ireland are really good value.The problem is because there are so many train companies there are different rules for different train companies.
Railcards are also a good way of cutting back on fares,Family Senior Network 16-25 and Disabled are all good ways of reducing fares.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
17 December 2010
18:2285190john
of course your correct
my boys just got tickets to manchester for £30
not bad and a bed in premier lodge £13
if you shop around you get results
john
can you e mail your e mail not working
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
17 December 2010
18:3985197fewer journeys made on our roads mean that people who need to use their car are not delayed by traffic.
british industry leaders constantly demand improvements in public transport because of the losses that traffic jams and hold ups cost them.
Guest 655- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,247
17 December 2010
18:4285199Maybe instead Labour should not have cancelled the road improvement programme in 1997.
Keith Sansum1- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,942
17 December 2010
18:5485203ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
17 December 2010
21:5985242Keith, you seem a lot happier, no doubt since Labour got a seat in Kent County. It's nice to see you so happy, and I believe the result will give many people something to think about, so accept my
As for this thread, well I gave up driving a car as I just cannot afford it!
But there is one factor in transport that somehow puts any Country in a dilemma: an enormous proportion of tax comes in through the sale of petrol, and adding to this the enormous sums of money on road tax. Then there is the massive amount of paper (money) flowing into insurances, and all realms of industry that manufacture, sell and repair cars.
If the State were to actively promote public transport with the result of convincing millions of people to leave the car in the garage - or at the road edge - this would seriously affect the State's finances and the budget.
However I am in favour of people using the car less, and public transport more. Personally I would like to ride a bike, but the traffic makes this far too dangerous.
17 December 2010
22:4185248Talking about bikes they should be taxed at £35.00 year and have Ins, they are on a public road weaving in and out of traffic not stopping at traffic lights,coming to close to a car and scratching it,and if they cause an accident and damage you car you can not claim from them,We have to have Tax Ins and Lights and they don't. I would leave my car at home if bus fares and train fares were cheaper yes I do have a free bus pass and use it to go to town but i would love to travail further to visit places but train fares are out of my reach.If the Rail Comp were to let people of a certain age travail at half price with no time limit I am sure more of us would use the trains.
Guest 696- Registered: 31 Mar 2010
- Posts: 8,115
17 December 2010
22:4685249Alan, can't agree with you there! Car-traffic has just about anhiliated the bycicle, and that is not fair!
If a bike
has a collision with a car, it's the bike that gets the worse of it, not the flaming car
.
Guest 658- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 660
17 December 2010
22:5785250Alexander some bike riders seem to think they are invulnerable and should be removed from the road, they seem to think I'm green you gotta love me well I'm sorry they need to get some road sense.
beer the food of the gods
18 December 2010
00:4985253Bikes are not traffic. They are pedestrians with wheels, and therefore should not be subjected to the same rules and taxes as cars. After all, zero pollution, zero road damage, and if a car and bike collide, its more often than not, the fault of the car driver. If there were more cycle lanes in Dover, more people might take up cycling, but at the moment its just too dangerous. We are not allowed to cycle in the town centre, but have to take our chances with the Townwall Street and York Street lorries.
Have you seen Dover's contribution to cycle lanes on Castle Hill? They only exist where the road is too narrow for a car and a bicycle, namely beside the traffic islands. And I can only imagine that they exist there to make the insurance claim easier for a dead cyclists next-of-kin to sue a car or lorry driver - otherwise, they are totally pointless.
The DDC pay lip service to the idea of cycle lanes but in reality, it's a farce
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
18 December 2010
09:0085265Cycle lanes may be a farce Lesley, but my experience of cyclists is one of total disregard for any kind of Highway Code or common sense.
They ride through pedestrian precincts, cycle the wrongway up one-way streets, cycle through red lights, ride on the pavements etc. etc.
They do cycle too close to cars in traffic, weaving through cars and knocking the body-work and wing-mirrors. As someone mentioned, they don't have any kind of tax or insurance and seem to think that any regulations don't apply to them.
On the other hand they are environmentally friendly.
Roger
howard mcsweeney1- Location: Dover
- Registered: 12 Mar 2008
- Posts: 62,352
18 December 2010
10:3385272couldn't agree more roger, the majority of cyclists locally abuse traffic regulations and cycle in prohibited areas with impunity.
Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
18 December 2010
19:2185337I agree with Roger but would say it is a minority of cyclists, more likely the same ones who never seem to get caught and don't care if they are.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Guest 653- Registered: 13 Mar 2008
- Posts: 10,540
19 December 2010
08:1785396Thanks Jan. If more enforcement of their infringements were done, less cycling where they shouldn't, would surely result.
The trouble is that even the Police don't stop them cycling up Cannon Street/Biggin Street - come to that, they don't even warn/caution/fine car-drivers who drive up there either, so they won't bother with cyclists will they ?
Roger
Guest 660- Registered: 14 Mar 2008
- Posts: 3,205
19 December 2010
13:0185450I spoke to Ashley(the P.C) about this as I had lots of complaints and when I found him he was ticking off a pensioner for riding his bike at the Cannon st end,as I walked up through the town I saw he same pensioner riding his bike through the Biggin Street end!
I ride a bike and do not ride on the pavement or precinct but I have been cut up so many times by traffic on Barton Road and London Road,and the most annoying thing is how many people find it funny if they scream or throw things at cyclists,I have had many thing thrown by passing cars,eggs,bottles etc.
If you knew what I know,we would both be in trouble!
Jan Higgins- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,895
19 December 2010
14:2385478I have seen an elderly man riding past Morrisons towards Charlton Green traffic lights, wonder if it is the same one. Hope he gets nicked next time, just because he is getting on does not make him immune from the law
.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
