Forum Topic

Falling out of love with the car

I enjoyed reading this old article about the US.  It's interesting what is happening in other parts of the world.  We can expect more changes.  Let's hope they are for the better.https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2016/07/12/commentary/world-commentary/end-americas-love-affair-cars/#.XsO9ceR4XYU

Philippa Bond ● 2360d11 Comments

Doesn't seem to have happened in the UShttps://www.valuepenguin.com/auto-insurance/car-ownership-statisticsLooks like it's happened to some extent in Hounslow:https://data.london.gov.uk/dataset/licensed-vehicles-type-0Car ownership2004 974812009 915442010 912962011 913232012 912962013 924892014 941462015 957082016 968982017 970952018 97111 So ownership has gradually increased since 2009 but not reached where it was in 2004. And there are significantly more households (I don't have the numbers handy) so cars per household has decreased.

Guy Lambert ● 2360d

Their distances to get anywhere in the US are so much greater than here and everything seems to have been designed and built with car use in mind.  Nobody seemed to walk anywhere at all when we visited - they got in the car to go just down the road.Looks like we are going in the right direction then!

Philippa Bond ● 2360d

Everyone is falling out of love with the car because of this wonderful weather. Wait until it gets cold and dark and is raining for a true picture ...

Chris Blackwell ● 2360d

The US has improved its public transport, even in Los Angeles, in recent years but it has a long way to go before it starts shunning the automobile. In much of London during weekdays it is far quicker, and often cheaper if you factor in parking costs, to use public transport (pre-pandemic).

Richard Greenhough ● 2360d

"In much of London during weekdays it is far quicker, and often cheaper if you factor in parking costs, to use public transport (pre-pandemic)."Quicker still to cycle.  The last 4 offices I have worked in have all been quicker to get to by bike than by public transport.It's more pleasant on a bike as well, compared with being crammed in like a sardine on the District or Piccadilly line.

Al Webber ● 2360d

Personally I was never in love with my car. It is a useful tool.I suspect many who extol the virtues of cycling use a car for longer journeys.No matter, please use your bike if you enjoy it and it is more convenient. It may make my car journey more pleasant.Thanks

Jeffrey Cope ● 2360d

It could well be that we are also falling out love with the office. Two months of working from home and more and more people are seeing that as a sustainable way of working, long-term.

Ken Munn ● 2360d

I completely agree with that - it avoids the stress and waste of time of the journey.  After all many people look at their work emails at home as well as at work.

Philippa Bond ● 2360d

Have worked from home for nearly 20 years and enjoyed the many benefits.  However, as this virus is likely to be with us for a long time, I don't want to be restricted to walking with the dogs for a mile or two radius and although I hate the pollution that cars bring, now thinking seriously of how I can buy a car while keeping 'social distancing' - any ideas?

Claire Moran ● 2360d

ClaireTry this...https://www.carbuyer.co.uk/tips-and-advice/172470/coronavirus-can-i-still-buy-a-car-during-lockdown?amp

Loraine Pemberton ● 2360d

Indeed Kenn.https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/working-from-home-after-coronavirus-right/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2020-05-19/business/city-workers-reluctant-to-return-to-the-office-after-joys-of-wfh-t92g2m6c3https://www.thetimes.co.uk/past-six-days/2020-05-19/business/the-fallen-towers-why-life-in-theoffice-will-never-be-the-same-again-sb7cwcvbm

Hans Lund-Sorensen ● 2359d