Moving back anyone?

Short distances using the local buses are cheaper.  Longer distances requiring trains, if there is more than one person, tend to be way more expensive. 

Short distances using the local buses are cheaper.  Longer distances requiring trains, if there is more than one person, tend to be way more expensive. 

Husband and I took the bus into Belfast and then beyond into Carrickfergus on our last holiday in NI.  About 40 quid there and back. 

It would have been 25 bucks in gas in the US to have traveled that same distance.   Not to mention one of us would have had to felt like doing the driving. 

I honestly can't see how it's cheaper to drive in the US than take public transport in the UK.  Not when I consider the price of the car in the first place; the cost of keeping it up; the cost of insuring it. 

Maybe it is where you are then.  Things are cheaper in NI then here in SE England.

We took a train to a city that would be about 35 miles. 

It cost 60.00 for the two of us (well 29.50 per person).   

That is leaving out the bus from our house to the station, 6.00 for the two of us.

The taxi to get to where we were going because no one was able to tell us how to get there on the bus 14.00. 

Finally figuring out the bus to get back 5.00. 

So all together what would be about one hour round trip 85.00 pounds.  There is no way a 70 mile trip would cost more than 85.00 in a car. 

Maybe it is where you are then.  Things are cheaper in NI then here in SE England.

We took a train to a city that would be about 35 miles.  

It cost 60.00 for the two of us (well 29.50 per person).  

That is leaving out the bus from our house to the station, 6.00 for the two of us.

The taxi to get to where we were going because no one was able to tell us how to get there on the bus 14.00.  

Finally figuring out the bus to get back 5.00.  

So all together what would be about one hour round trip 85.00 pounds.  There is no way a 70 mile trip would cost more than 85.00 in a car.  

Well, our trip was totally by bus....no taxi or train.

Could you have taken the bus for your journey and if so would it have been cheaper?

PS - edited to add that I'm not looking for an argument here or trying to 'make a point'.  But I'm an American who has wrestled car ownership for decades.  I'm a little worn out on it, that's all.

There is also the intangible value that people place on having a car.  We used to rent a car to go to North London when we lived in the East End...we tried doing it by bus (which probably cost us 6 quid at the most) and it was horrendous.  Had to change twice and it took well over an hour to only go about 5 miles.  Plus taking the bus late at night is not something I liked doing much if I could avoid it.  Then after we signed up for the car sharing plan, it only cost about 20 quid but was a much more enjoyable trip.  

I sure wouldn't want to take a bus 35 miles away...I'd much rather do that sort of journey by train.   Of course it would be cheaper to take the bus but there's a good reason why!

There wasn't a bus that would have worked on the weekend anyway, which is why we took the train.  It would have gotten us there about an hour before we had to get the last bus back.

I'm just outside galston.  No buses within a reasonable walking distance.  Wifey drives to her parents everyday and it's only 6 miles but because it's an automatic (wife's idea) it does 26mpg with very little stop and go.  It must be the short trips...  Gets 40mpg on the motorway though, go figure.  Never liked autos, just so inefficient.  Now in the states sure the cars have bigger engines but fuel is cheaper.  Safety inspections are so much less hassle, except for emissions.  Secret to passing emissions is put in some good fuel additive designed for emissions testing and you will pass most of the time.  Never failed me yet.  Sheet if only i could find a job before i move..

Does anyone know this reporter, Justin Webb?

Interesting read.

He moved back to the UK. He loves America.

He bought a big American car now that he has returned to the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/

Does anyone know this reporter, Justin Webb?

Interesting read.

He moved back to the UK. He loves America.

He bought a big American car now that he has returned to the UK.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/

he'll move back, they always do...

he'll move back, they always do...

Who are 'they'?

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