Yep - a 20 mile cycle from where I lived into the City - not only too far but too dangerous. In this sort of heat or in heavy rain or snow also very uncomfortable. The only way that most of those commuting in can do it is by train and so you are at the mercy of the train companies. I paid two thousand pounds a year for my season ticket for a journey of just under the hour on a dirty, overcrowded train with no toilet facilities.

I used to work locally to where I lived but then my firm decided to move into the City and, since there was no alternative work I could get in my industry, I didn't really have any alternative than to move in. House prices anywhere closer than Hertford were out of my price range.

This is the situation most commuters find themselves in and the train companies have a monopoly on their particular stretch of line so why bother making it better for a captive audience?