🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <21132@acorn.co.uk>, steve@acorn.co.uk (Steve "daffy" Hunt) writes:
|> I would very happily use public transport for more of my travel needs
|> if it had the following properties:-
|> 
|> 1) Operates as near to "door-to-door" as practicable.
|> 2) Operates frequently enough that I don't have to plan my life
|>    around the timetable.
|> 3) Operates 24 hours a day without degradation of service at night.
|> 
|> Until they can claim these three properties, the public transport
|> lobby are not even *trying* to compete with the private vehicle.

The argument that people will use public transport if it is comfortable
enough / cheap enough / convenient enough is a fallacy. Even under these
ideal conditions people will still want to take the car.

I live on the South side of Glasgow around four miles from the city centre.
The nearest train station is about 200 yards away, with trains to the centre
every 10-15 mins during the rush hour. There is a bus stop about 50 yards
away with buses around every 5 minutes during the rush hour. There is a 
regular night bus service. 

In other words the three conditions you describe are satisfied. But that
doesn't stop people driving to work - by 9 am my street is empty of cars.

The only way to encourage people to use public transport is to make it
worth their while. Voluntary schemes aren't going to work. Government has
to get involved either with legislation, or, better in partnership with
big employers.

If big companies were to get together with local authorities and provide
"travel everywhere" - type travel cards to all their employees this would
be more likely to have an impact. The cost of this would be minimal in
comparison to the cost of other "perks" like company cars, discount
schemes etc. The increased revenue to the local authorities could then
be used to improve bus and train services.

The money people save on wearing their cars out travelling three miles
across town with a cold engine over potholed roads could then be put to 
better use ?


Alan

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Alan Matthews, BT, Software Development Division, | Phone : +44 41 220 2471
West TEC, 24 Highburgh Road, Glasgow G12 9ND      | amatthews@gssec.bt.co.uk
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My opinions, not BT's