Why do some people prefer to use thier cars to reach a destination than public transport?

Question

ASAP please

Answer 1

Buses are cheaper now in London than they have been for about 5 years. I always use the bus... I am very very conscious of my carbon footprint.. I sold my car 2 years ago and do not miss it at all. I am so much healthier. If I want shopping now I take the 15 minute walk to the store, and get the bus back home. I know I am doing my little bit to help so it makes me feel good. I use the tubes/trains to get to work, going out, socialising, seeing friends etc. And they are fine. I find them great value for money. I love the congestion charge too... gets people out of the cars onto the trains/tubes. We all have a part to play in saving the world from climate change!!!!

EDIT... people are generally saying it is more comfortable/quicker to use your car. This is NOT ALWAYS the case. I often travel to Yorkshire, in a car it would take at least three hours. Sitting all that time bored out of my brain. However I take the train, which takes under two hours. I can sit, relax, someone nice host's will bring me wine, food. I can surf the web with wireless internet on my laptop and do not have to stress or worry... and of course I am once again not worrying about damaging the environment. Altogether a much more pleasant experience. Even at home... If I want to go into town my local station is just a nice 5 minute walk away. From there I have the choice of two underground lines, and a overground line. The combined frequency into central London is something like a train every 2 minutes!! pretty dam good I say. No traffic, no parking, no congestion charge, and NO carbon footprint!!! Also I don't have to worry if I meet friends for lunch/drinks etc about getting home after a drink. Even if I miss the last tube from London (about 00:40hrs) or the last overground (about 0230hrs) I can enjoy the lovely environmentally friendly night bus. Which goes from the heart of the west end almost to my front door and has a good 10 minute frequency most nights. Why the hell would I want a car???

Answer 2

because it is quicker, Public transport doesn't always go direct from the start place to the finish, you may have to go a long way round, and change trains or buses. Public transport doesn't cover all the villages and areas of the UK, the list is almost endless, but if you are living in a town, and travelling within that town, then public transport is better, also long distances, travelling by car is very tiring for the driver, so public transport would be better.

Answer 3

I have to use public transport on many occasions, because i cannot afford to park in London and pay the congestion charge.

If I can, i much prefer to use my car because of:

1) safety (I work in/around London... nuff said)
2) Cleanliness (!!!!)
3) ease of use (my nearest bus stop is ~1/4 mile away. The nearest tube station is ~4 miles away)
4) Working hours (I sometimes work out of hours, also some london venues (concerts/ theatre) close late, meaning that I would miss the last bus from the station to my home.)
5) The satisfaction of not having to sit next to smelly, unclean, loud, obnoxious people

{edit} I see some people have got a 'thumbs down' for simply answering a question about their preference

I USE public transport. I am not an anti environment vandal.
However, because I USE public transport, i see the problems with public transport.
It is more smelly, dangerous, etc, etc
that is a fact.
it does not warrent a thumbs down

Answer 4

Hi
I saw your question and, as i work in london, and live in the suburbs, i think I am well qualified to answer your question
I use public transport but if it was possible i would prefer to use my car.
Let me tell you a few facts
1) on average i sit next to someone with a real BO problem about twice a week
2) on average I have to avoid sitting on a seat because of gum/ wet patches/ dirt about 3 times per fortnight.
3) I spend between 15 mins and 30 minutes waiting for public transport per day, although this has occasionally been as high as
2 hours. thats 2 hours on top of my journey time
4) 3 or 4 times over the last year i have had serious fears for my safety because of the threatening attitude of other passengers.
steaming and muggings are a fact of life on the tube
5) If I travel a long distance It is much cheaper to drive. I have a 1 litre car, and the cost of train travel is ridiculous.
it is also much quicker as I would have to travel into london, get a tube to the mainline station only to travel out of london again.

like I say, I have to use Public transport. I will be using it in about 1/2 hour.
but if you asked me which I really prefer it would be car every time

Answer 5

That is the only way of showing one has a car!
Joke apart , thegenuine reason is one can reach the place a little earlier than travelling in a public transport.

Answer 6

It is more comfortable.
It may be possible to drive from door-to-door, but much more complicated by public transport (you might have a bus to the station, then a train journey with a change or two, then a bus from the final station to the destination).
There may not be a feasible public transport option for that particular destination, or at that particular time of day.
Public transport may take too long.
Public transport may cost more (train tickets in the UK are not cheap).
They may have to take a large/heavy/awkward amount of goods/baggage with them, which would be difficult on public transport.

Answer 7

Public transport is overpriced, unreliable and dirty. For example, i work about 2.5 miles from my home. I usually ride a motorbike to work but last week it was in for repairs. I had to get the bus, it costs nealy 5 pounds for a return ticket (i spend a fiver a week on petrol for the bike). My minimum wait for a bus was 45 mins and the longest i waited was 1 hour 30 mins! When i complained to the bus driver he got really aggressive with me, I left work at 17:30 and got home at 20:00. I can honestly say it ruined my week. I was late for work most days and my evenings were spoilt because i couldn't make plans. Public transport in the UK is a joke. I will NEVER, EVER USE IT AGAIN!!! Rant over, sorry, it just makes me so angry.

Answer 8

With your own car you can time and plan your journey with more accuracy than on a bus for example. With a car there are no 'last journey times'!
Most cars provide more comfort with seating and a controlled atmosphere.
A critical factor of threatened safety both on, and awaiting public transport, is a reason that most travellers prefer cars.
Luggage capacity is greater with the car.
With private transport you can choose, either your own company, or other peoples.

Answer 9

Because, generally speaking their cars are:

a) more reliable (though I've seen a few on the road for which this would not be the case at all!)

b) more pleasant and relaxing to travel in

c) easier to fit around your lifestyle - you don't need a timetable for your car

d) cheaper - I know petrol prices are extortionate but getting the train is no better - £110 to go to London is ridiculous!

e) cars go anywhere, buses and trains only drop off at designated stops - no good if you are going somewhere rural!

f) cars run at all times, buses and trains do not

g) we spend good money to look after our cars, the government, it seems, spend little or nothing preserving the state of the buses

Surely that's enough reasons to keep you going :)

Answer 10

Because:
- They can park close to wherever they're going.
- If they have a lot of shopping, they can chuck it in the boot and not have to lug it to a bus stop then try and stop it rolling down the aisle
- Public transport is, on the whole, dirty and expensive
- You don't have to sit next to some anti-social yob picking his nose and wiping it on the seat in your own car (unless you choose to!)
- If you have children, you know that you can get your buggy into the car, and that your children will be safely strapped in.
- You know that your car isn't going to either turn up late, or not at all
- You are guaranteed a seat in your car.