Comments on: Do humans dream of electric cars – a review http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2009/06/do-humans-dream-of-electric-cars-a-review/ Still under development Thu, 08 Sep 2011 20:23:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ford KA Parts http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2009/06/do-humans-dream-of-electric-cars-a-review/comment-page-1/#comment-38699 Ford KA Parts Mon, 17 May 2010 15:03:23 +0000 http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/?p=444#comment-38699 These aren’t areas where individuals can make a real difference on their own, they require change at levels of governance and decision making which equally require the ability to see past balance sheets and appreciate the social capital that can be built up over time. These aren’t areas where individuals can make a real difference on their own, they require change at levels of governance and decision making which equally require the ability to see past balance sheets and appreciate the social capital that can be built up over time.

]]> By: stymaster http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/2009/06/do-humans-dream-of-electric-cars-a-review/comment-page-1/#comment-25777 stymaster Tue, 30 Jun 2009 21:03:50 +0000 http://www.politicalpenguin.org.uk/?p=444#comment-25777 I have to disagree that <blockquote> We’re blessed with a rather good public transport network in the West Midlands.</blockquote>. It's far, far better than many places, but it's still not good enough. Far behind London's, for example, and Londoners complain about that. Personally, I *have* to commute by car, and I hate it. It's helped by the fact that my wife and I travel together, so 1 car rather than 2. My commute takes around 50 minutes on average: to do it by bus/train would take (assuming all connections meet, with no waiting, which isn't likely) over 2 hours. I hate the school run too- and as you suggest, this is a product of parents choosing schools that aren't local, plus a degree of laziness (people not walking for a 1 mile trip, for example), plus the fact that many parents have to drop kids and then continue to work. Without a good, reliable, fast, regular public transport system it becomes impossible to achieve. I do try to minmise my car use- driving around here is not a pleasureable experience. When time allows I walk or use public transport. Regarding dumb planning: how about the deliberate building of out-of-town retail parks that can only easily be reached by car? I have to disagree that

We’re blessed with a rather good public transport network in the West Midlands.

.

It’s far, far better than many places, but it’s still not good enough. Far behind London’s, for example, and Londoners complain about that.

Personally, I *have* to commute by car, and I hate it. It’s helped by the fact that my wife and I travel together, so 1 car rather than 2. My commute takes around 50 minutes on average: to do it by bus/train would take (assuming all connections meet, with no waiting, which isn’t likely) over 2 hours.

I hate the school run too- and as you suggest, this is a product of parents choosing schools that aren’t local, plus a degree of laziness (people not walking for a 1 mile trip, for example), plus the fact that many parents have to drop kids and then continue to work. Without a good, reliable, fast, regular public transport system it becomes impossible to achieve.

I do try to minmise my car use- driving around here is not a pleasureable experience. When time allows I walk or use public transport.

Regarding dumb planning: how about the deliberate building of out-of-town retail parks that can only easily be reached by car?

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