Why People Avoid Public Transport
Whether you want to save money or save the planet, public transport is an option to consider. However, it's not an option everyone is comfortable with. Here are just a few reasons why people avoid using public transport.
Other people use it!
Okay, this may sound like stating the obvious, but the problem with public transport is, the general public use it, and you may end up sitting or standing next to somebody you would prefer to keep your distance from. There's the chap who thinks the shower is just for Christmas and birthdays, or the lady who will insist on telling you all the details of her operation, or else regale you with the life histories of all 26 grandchildren, along with photos of the same.
Then there's the Jamie Oliver wannabe who overloaded last night's dinner with garlic to such an extent that it's seeping out of every pore in his body, not to mention the chap with the streaming cold who forgot to bring the tissues with him and is spraying germs over everyone within sneezing distance. Enough said!
The fares are confusing
In order to tempt people to make use of their services, transport companies have come up with such an array of special offers and discounts it can be virtually impossible to work out the cheapest way to travel. There could be 10 people making the same train journey, all paying different fares, and if you find out someone has paid half the price you have, your day is spoiled before it's begun.
At least if you take your own car, you know how many miles it will do to the gallon, so you can calculate the cost of your trip.
The timing may not suit you
When you take the car, you can time the journey just right to avoid hanging around for your appointment. With public transport, you may have to arrive half an hour early, or risk being late. Even if the time is right, buses and trains get held up or cancelled. If timing is all-important, public transport may not be as reliable as you need it to be.
It's too expensive
Peak time travel on public transport can be more expensive than travelling in your own car, even when you take running expenses into account. Unless you can travel off peak, public transport may be too expensive for you.
It's too limited
If you live out in the country, the public transport network may not offer a regular, reliable service. Transport companies have to make a profit to survive, and if a service is not profitable, they won't operate it. If there's only one bus a week into the nearest large town, and the return journey is only two hours later, the sensible traveller will avoid public transport in favour of the convenience of the car.
Public transport has many advantages, but these could well be cancelled out by even more disadvantages, which is why some people choose to avoid public transport if at all possible.
