Are you driving less?

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

i long ago abandoned driving to London; speed traps, traffic congestion, congestion charge and most of all parking ... but living in a small country town a car is essential, including fully laden trips to sprog's university etc

it is now a very expensive proposition; when i lived in London [up to '80] did not have a car as cabs and tubes and buses did the job, [except for a few years of a motor scooter] ... now i think i need one of them little trike things for the aged arthritic person .... we could not get far without our senior railcards and bus passes .... partner is a regular bus user mainly for the company and gossip ..when working i use the car except for London ... nothing beats it for flexibility of travel ... and carrying stuff ..

[teamsaint]

When you say "flying pig timetables" you must be referring to the inability of express trains to leapfrog the slower all-stations stopping services on our still mostly one-up, one-down double track main lines.

The solution isn't of course possible on existing lines; it would require reopening old branch lines combined with building additional fast lines on the trunk routes.

If you say so..I am no expert.
The Flying pig timetables was a reference to non existent connections with bus services.

All I would really say on investment in trasport is that thinking small, local, and good value is a place to start.
There are simple schemes that could make a huge difference, EG the never ending saga of the gosport/fareham tram, which is just a very badly needed scheme.
HS2, IMHO, is an example of politicians wanting to look good, and big contact(or)s winning the day..but I would be happy to be proved wrong.
Its not only rural services that are poor. Many of our cities have desperate public transport.

[Flosshilde]

The solution isn't of course possible on existing lines; it would require reopening old branch lines combined

It's happening in Scotland - several lines have been re-opened (mainly in the Central Belt) in the past few years.

[Flosshilde]

Since retiring, I mostly use the car several times a week to visit the local supermarket.

Wouldn't it be better to make just one trip a week? (or are you very forgetfull?)

[umslopogaas]

...(or are you very forgetful)?

Probably, its hard to remember ....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

...(or are you very forgetful)?

Probably, its hard to remember ....

er i think i am with you er whoever you are ... i have to drive to Tesco because most days i can no longer walk that far [without major discomfort] and then when there can not remember what i went for ...Tesco does that to one eh ... makes you wonder why you are there .... again

[Vile Consort]

I am driving very little these days.

For a start, I don't do the joy-riding I used to when younger. At one time, I would think nothing of using most of a tank of petrol in a day's driving through the Dales and Lakes. Of course, the summer days were long, hot and sunny when I wor a lad!

Moreover, I have been working at home a lot recently, which saves me a 40-mile round trip each day, which I couldn't reasonably do by public transport, as it would take nearly two hours in each direction, as opposed to half an hour by car. The people I need to communicate with are scattered across various offices (and homes) around Europe, so I can stay in touch with them by Skype and email just as easily from home as I can from my desk.

There was a brief period when I had a job that not only provided me with a car but also with all the petrol I could use, including private mileage. I rove the arse out of that, I can tell you!

[Resurrection Man]

I have never driven or owned a car in my life - never had the need or inclination. Friends used to think I was barmy - they don't anymore, as they have to keep spending anything up to £100 just to fill up the tank !

So how do you manage to get around? Living in a rural area, we'd be forever cadging lifts off others if we didn't drive.

Improved local bus services wouldn't help one jot. We'd still have a 3/4 mile hike down the track to the very tiny road and uphill again with all the shopping? I don't think so.

And how would all the primary school children get to school if their mummies didn't drive?

But to answer the OP, much much less than when I was 'properly' employed.