Originally posted by dang65
Not really, but I do think that private cars are a massive luxury which everyone treats themselves to without a second thought. Look at it this way:
If you want to go swimming then you have a few options. You could build a private swimming pool in your back garden; you could take out membership of the local private health club; you could go to the local community leisure centre; or you could go and swim in the nearest river.
Walking or cycling is the equivalent of swimming in the nearest river; getting a bus or the train is like the leisure centre; using a taxi or first class on the train is like the private health club.
Running your own private car, or more than one, is like having a private swimming pool in your back garden.
I'm sure I read that there are more families in the UK with two cars than families with no car at all. People see car ownership as a normal fact of life, like having running water and electricity, and they throw a hissy fit if anyone makes any attempt to reduce the damage being done.
It made me laugh recently when there was a letter in our local paper complaining about the state of the car park at an NHS doctor's surgery in town. The people that complained must have only ever parked in the Tesco's car park or the council car park, which are both well maintained. If they'd ever cycled or walked around town they would be aware that every road is a churned up death trap of pot-holes and worn surfaces. They don't ever see that because they never get out of their cars, and they're so used to speed humps and bumping up on the kerb to park that they don't even register the state of the roads as they drive along.
I'm not allowed to use rude words on this forum, but think of a really bad one and that's what most car commuters are.
If you want to go swimming then you have a few options. You could build a private swimming pool in your back garden; you could take out membership of the local private health club; you could go to the local community leisure centre; or you could go and swim in the nearest river.
Walking or cycling is the equivalent of swimming in the nearest river; getting a bus or the train is like the leisure centre; using a taxi or first class on the train is like the private health club.
Running your own private car, or more than one, is like having a private swimming pool in your back garden.
I'm sure I read that there are more families in the UK with two cars than families with no car at all. People see car ownership as a normal fact of life, like having running water and electricity, and they throw a hissy fit if anyone makes any attempt to reduce the damage being done.
It made me laugh recently when there was a letter in our local paper complaining about the state of the car park at an NHS doctor's surgery in town. The people that complained must have only ever parked in the Tesco's car park or the council car park, which are both well maintained. If they'd ever cycled or walked around town they would be aware that every road is a churned up death trap of pot-holes and worn surfaces. They don't ever see that because they never get out of their cars, and they're so used to speed humps and bumping up on the kerb to park that they don't even register the state of the roads as they drive along.
I'm not allowed to use rude words on this forum, but think of a really bad one and that's what most car commuters are.
Comment