Sarah Peper 🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇦Feb 20, 2023

Public transport isn't supposed to make money. It's not even supposed to break even. It's supposed to lose money and to be financed and extended from general taxes because it gives back way more than mere money.

And all the politicians know this because they keep building and maintaining streets for free

Show threadPaul van den BergenFeb 21, 2023
@jay_peper Imagine the furor if businesses who use the roads had to pay to use them...
Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧Feb 27, 2023
@bulwynkl @jay_peper Actually, businesses do fund road usage out of taxation, as do all of us. I think too, once we end up all-electric, along will come road pricing, to replace fuel duty, which is high in some countries.
Show threadPaul van den BergenMay 8, 2023
@eyebee @jay_peper Zackery! so why are we paying for public transport twice?
Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧May 10, 2023
@bulwynkl @jay_peper Make public transport free. That will encourage some extra use, but some people simply need to use a car.
Show threadSarah Peper 🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇦May 10, 2023
@eyebee @bulwynkl some do, but way less than most people think
Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧May 11, 2023
@jay_peper @bulwynkl Thing is, when you have a car, you tend to use it, even for trips that you really don’t need to!
Show threadSarah Peper 🏳️‍⚧️🇺🇦May 11, 2023
@eyebee @bulwynkl and that is (a large) part of the problem
Show threadPaul van den BergenMay 11, 2023
@jay_peper @eyebee
what is (context) and why?
Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧
@bulwynkl @jay_peper If I had a car sitting on my drive, I would surely use it for trips that I currently work or take public transport for right now.
May 14, 2023 at 4:00amWeb
Show threadPaul van den BergenMay 15, 2023
@eyebee @jay_peper
That's a circular argument though - the only reason you need a car is because PT is inadequate. You can easily demonstrate that hiring a car or taxi can be cheaper - or at least as inexpensive - as buying and running a car. And anyone who's tried to get into the city during rush hour knows that PT is by far the quickest way (all things being equal). In that world, the car use is just for pleasure or work where you are transporting goods or visiting clients - and a taxi would suit for work purposes most of the time - cause we already do exactly that.
Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧May 15, 2023

@bulwynkl @jay_peper I had best at this point state that I am not defending car ownership. In fact, I haven’t had a car myself since returning to the UK in 2010. I truly think that having a car in the UK is a mugs game if you don’t need one, as you’re everyone’s cash cow.

However, I do recognise that not everyone is in the position that I am - i.e not needing a car.

Show threadPaul van den BergenMay 16, 2023

@eyebee @jay_peper While I own a car and prefer not to use it if PT will do the job.

The problem isn't what we do, it's absolutism. Neither of us are calling for either mandatory PT or car use, nor even an imposition on either. At least, my position is that improved (inclusdding free) PT is both good for society (helps the poor), reduces road congestion, save the country money (less road maintenance, less pollution & medical consequences) less accidents, less stress, shorter delivery times, shorter commutes, more tourism) and reduces fossil fuel use.

I've probably missed a few bonuses there...

Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧May 16, 2023

@bulwynkl @jay_peper 1. I’m certainly not calling on mandatory public transport use or banning cars, but for people to sometimes consider the options.

As an example, one of my brothers lived a few miles from my wife and I. From time to time we would meet up for a social evening; a meal and a chat. We would take the bus to our meeting point. My brother would always drive, and then complain when we met up that he had had a hard time finding a parking place nearby.

Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧May 16, 2023
@bulwynkl @jay_peper 2. Then he had an issue with his car. I pointed out that he could take a short walk to the bus stop and the bus would drop him a couple of hundred yards from our meeting point. The bus fare was only £1.50 each way, and both him and his partner could have a drink instead of arguing about designated drivers. He always came on the bus after that, and conceded that it was easier. Of course, shopping would perhaps have been less convenient on the bus.
Show threadEyebee 🇬🇧May 16, 2023
@bulwynkl @jay_peper 3. So it does depend on the purpose of the journey and if the PT has a convenient route for the journey being undertaken.