Ebbie,

Regarding: "in the UK and wherever else there is easy, convenient rail and bus service"

If you're implying that the UK has an easy convenient rail and bus services then you've obviously got us mixed up with some other country! Outside of London, you're very lucky if you can find reliable affordable public transport for the journeys you need to make. Most train prices are so astronomical that it's usually cheaper (even with our expensive petrol) to take the car even with just one occupant. Also, services are so unreliable that I wouldn't dare risk taking one if I had to be somewhere at a certain time.

I'm not exactly poor, but I see a train journeys in the UK as an expensive luxury. Mind you, if I take the car, I also think of buying a cup of tea at motorway service stations as a luxury too; I go thirsty at those places where it's now £1.95 a cup!

Julie B