Carbusters #38
Letters
Readers share their opinions. (Send a letter to the editor: editors@carbusters.org)
Dear
Carbusters,
I would love to get the bus to work. I live
only 15 miles from my office, but because it is a small village the bus is not
practical when time is important. As there is no direct service, getting the
bus to work means a 15-minute walk to the bus stop, 1 hour and 20 minutes trip
to the nearest big town (22 miles), another 30 minutes to the office and then a
20 minute walk a total of 2 hours 25 minutes, and that is if the two buses
synchronise. This means a journey of 5 hours or more which costs me £7.00
per day.
The car takes me 25 minutes from the front door to my desk and costs me
£4.59 per day taking into account fuel (diesel), road tax, insurance, the
cost of buying the car, depreciation and repairs.
The bus is the only form of public transport
available to me, it is slower, dirtier and relatively more expensive than it
was when I was a child. However, at the weekend I use the local busses for
almost everything as I have my bus pass and I have plenty of time to get
wherever I want to go to.
It makes me so cross when people say to use public transport to get to work as
not all of us have the choice. Try to think of those of us who cannot easily
get to work without our cars.
Jean McDougall
Dear Carbusters,
I am so relieved to know that someone on this
planet thinks like I do. I live in the suburbs of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Most people here either drive a car or want to. If they don’t drive it’s
because they can’t afford to or they are too young. It is very irresponsible
for society and especially parents to encourage children to pollute the planet.
I agree with all the anti-smoking laws but find it hypocritical that there are
no anti-driving laws. I was elated to hear the recent news about the Formula1
race being cancelled in Montreal this year but the mayor is trying to get it
back...shame on him! Thank you for all that you do.
Tom Pratt
WCN INFOSHOP
Also in this issue:
End of the Road?
Is there a future for the auto industry? Has the car culture reached the end of the road? Simply, is this the end? Indeed, these questions are on the lips of many people.... (more)Groningen. The World's Cycling City
In Groningen, the Netherlands' sixth largest city, the main form of transport is the bicycle. ... (more)Bicycling Empowerment Network. Cycling in Cape Town
Cape Town, and indeed South Africa, has first and third world communities living alongside one another. ... (more)Tackling Urban Sprawl: New Urbanism and Eco-Towns
Can eco-towns stop the sprawling suburbs? Urban sprawl is a modern phenomenon most prominent in the United States and spreading into parts of Europe, it has many consequences which include the rising carbon emissions from modern consuming habits such private car use. ... (more)Fighting the Current. Carfree Activities in Low-Income Cities
What do the cities of Lusaka (Zambia), Manila (Philippines), Hanoi (Vietnam), Dhaka (Bangladesh), Kathmandu (Nepal), and Bangalore (India) have in common? ... (more)From our archive:
Ciclovia! (Carbusters #37)
O-ba-MA! O-ba-MA!; Bicicletada Curitiba; Vancouver: A Two-Wheeled Tour
World Carfree Day 2008 (Carbusters #36)
Bike Sharing; B:C:Clettes; Interview: Professor Knoflacher
Make Love Not Car (Carbusters #35)
World Naked Bike Ride; Towards Carfree Cities Conference VIII; Interview: J.Harry Wray


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