Living in London you get to see everyone's point of view. Most people who live or work in London don't live near where they work. I live at least 9 miles from where I work and that's not considered far.

A bus journey to work takes at least an hour and a half on a good day, so to make sure I got to work on time I'd have to leave at least two hours before I 'd have to be at work. It couldn't possibly be much quicker if I went by car and then I couldn't afford the parking costs ( and that would be in a subsidised car park! )

Tube journey takes 40 minutes when all is in order, but usually more like an hour and I'll leave another 15 - 20 minutes earlier just to make sure.

The fastest and most reliable way I have of getting around is a combination of folding bike ( 'cos I'm not that fit and I've had flat or two in my time ) and , shock horror, British rail! On a bad day it takes me an hour, if the trains are really up the creek in the evening I just cycle (slowly) all the way home. If I get a flat or I'm just too knackered, I fold up and jump on the nearest bus/train/tube.

The lack of a reliable public transport system does leave people with few choices, but that choice doesn't have to be a car.

It does make a huge difference in the school holidays when people aren't dropping off their little darlings. Yes, there is a certain amount of difficulty when you can't get your child into the nearest school ( that's whole other argument ) but I've noticed that a lot of the parents near us use their cars but live not that far ( less than half a mile ) from the schools their children attend. The arguments I've heard for their children not to walk to school can be laughably worrying. "They have to cross a busy road" So did I when I was child, so what? " You don't know how dangerous it is out there nowadays " I do, it's no more dangerous than it was thirty years ago. And one of my work mates ( who is persistantly late because of this ) "I can't trust him to go by himself" Her son is fourteen and we've been hearing this since he was nine!

Enough of the rant.

I cannot comment on more rural areas, but I have lived in London all my life. I cannot drive and even if I could I wouldn't buy a car. I simply wouldn't use it enought to justify having it. I take a rucksack (small) when I go shopping or my trolley, or leave the item till my monthly shop when I get a cab home. I use London transport or my bike or my feet or a cab depending on what's necessary or desirable.

I have great sympathy for those who have to travel long distances each day to get to work especially on public transport, but in London most of the cars on the road are from London. Not outside.

I think people have to decide what their priorities are.

TTFN M'Lady P.