Public transport, is it really possible to live without a car?

[ericmark]

I completed my wife's application for a bus pass today. Main reason is there is a circular bus around local town Welshpool, so she can part in a free car park and use the bus to get into town.

But it prompted me to look at going further, like to visit son or daughter in north wales, travel time fastest was 6 hr, 13 min, and got to get to Welshpool first, so looked up projected times on push-bike 4 hr, 20 min.

Also, impossible to do a return in one day, would need to stop overnight. And the bus pass will not work, as need three buses, and one starts and ends in another country i.e. England. What is the point of a bus pass?

 

[Alec_t]

What is the point of a bus pass?

Your wife's pass will obviously be useful.

 

[wv62]

I got my Welsh bus pass 4 years ago and so far the only time I've used it is to get oap discount into an aquarium.
My wife will be 60 in December. Not sure if it's worth applying.

 

[Alec_t]

And the bus pass will not work, as need three buses, and one starts and ends in another country i.e. England.

Isn't the Welsh pass also usable in England?

 

[wv62]

Nope.

 

[Koolpc]

I got my Welsh bus pass. Used it a few times. Even if you have to pay a bit for English (spit) bus service, it's still a great saving...

 

[wv62]

So, you're a Welsh Corgi?

 

[ericmark]

It seems if travel starts or finishes in Wales you can use the pass, so I could go Mold to Ellesmere Port OK. And the return no one could stop me getting off at Outlet Village, although I should have paid, then Outlet Village later back to Mold, but could not do the trip in reverse.

It seems same for the English, so years ago there was a service Chester to Barmouth, but now it stops at Wrexham you have to get off the Bus, then it moves to next stand, and you get back on the same bus, but not considered same journey, so English have to pay.

So I can use my Welsh card to show eligible for discount travel in England but not free travel.

 

[Murdochcat]

All the activities I have planned for this week mean using a car every time. Public transport wouldn’t get me to some of them at all

 

[norseman]

If you work out the annual cost of owning a fully road legal (VED/insurance/MOT/servicing/consumables) car you could hire a self-drive car for the occasional long trip, avoid the overnight accommodation costs & be better off financially at the end of the year.

Caveat : Don't know your age group but in my experience SD hire companies will not accept drivers when they reach 75 years.

 

[flameport]

Totally possible to live without a car and rely on public transport.

Provided you live in London and don't go to far away places such as anywhere outside the M25,

 

[Koolpc]

So, you're a Welsh Corgi?

Of course!!!! Woof!

 

[ericmark]

Caveat : Don't know your age group but in my experience SD hire companies will not accept drivers when they reach 75 years.

That's me out then.

 

[mattylad]

Whilst not having your own transport and relying on public transport "is" possible, it is not going to be much good for you for a great many careers, daily shopping trips etc.
The UK public transport network is so $hite that your pi$$ing in the wind if you think your going to get somewhere quickly.

 

[norseman]

Whilst not having your own transport and relying on public transport "is" possible, it is not going to be much good for you for a great many careers, daily shopping trips etc.
The UK public transport network is so $hite that your pi$$ing in the wind if you think your going to get somewhere quickly.

I think it depends on your location. We live in a dead end rural lane & have a 16 seater bus service 3 times a day to the town & a major hospital, though it only operates Mon-Fri.

A half mile walk, for those sufficiently ambulant, takes us to the main road & a (20min interval) service 7 days a week connecting with the town one way, the surgery/pharmacy & 2 major retail centres in the opposite direction.