Let’s Save the Planet (and shrink the queues) (From Bournemouth Echo)

Let’s Save the Planet (and shrink the queues)

3:56pm Monday 23rd November 2009 in

By David Brown »

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According to the latest television campaign if we each drive 5 miles less per week we can save the planet. This must be a good thing, but how many of us are prepared to get out of our cars and actually do this?

I'm sure that most cars probably spend 90% of their time just sat on driveways or in car parks not moving and most car journeys seem to be just one person. Take a look around next time you are out and most vehicles you see will only have one person in them.

So am I about to launch into some eco warrior rant about how good I am and how bad all motorists are?

No, I'm not a raving tree hugger, but I do like to try and do "my bit". The question I give to myself is can I drive 5 miles less per week? The answer is no, I don't think I can.

I am part of a two car family, most days only one car - the smallest one - is used, this is almost never single occupancy and on the rare occasions I do travel to work by car it's pretty much always with someone else. I did use my car over the weekend but that was because I needed to carry a load to the tip and do some running around. 99 per cent of the time there is one car sat on my driveway not being used.

We could give up a car and become a one car family, but I don't want to, it would be inconvenient to do this. I am quite happy to pay for insurance, road tax, servicing etc on two cars when most of the time only one is used and this is just to make my life easier and more convenient.

My wife's car has been in and out of the garage recently with an intermittent fault and this has meant the we have been managing with only one car and it's not too difficult, it just requires a bit of planning and the occasional bit of inconvenience, but unfortunately most of us are not prepared to do this.

I have given this some thought and whilst it would cause us to plan things a little better we could manage with just one car, in fact I think if I really went to the extreme we could probably get rid of both cars, but it's our choice and we don't want to.

So, given our car usage and the fact that most days I cycle instead of driving, no, I can't drive 5 miles less per week! Now, I'm wracked with guilt over my inability to reduce my weekly mileage, or should I be smug that I am already doing what I can?

As you can probably tell, I have been thinking about this and should try and get out more, but I also can't help thinking that the bad weather caused by climate change is only going to encourage more people into their cars!

After all who wants to cycle, walk or wait for a bus when it's windy and raining! It's a vicious cycle and we're all doomed!

Comments(7)

GB916 says...
12:38pm Tue 24 Nov 09

I gave up my car 18months ago,as it was sat in the car park most days,there is a place for the car,we can get things like shopping delivered,but like you say,things like going to the tip you do need a car,the home recycling system is Christchurch for people who live in flats or dont have a car is not good,if you have large items,it costs £60 to remove them,so not an option for many,i do cycle,and it is quite pleasent cycling past all the queing traffic on the roads in the cycle lane,you just have to have your wits about you,and a valid point as the climate changes it will force more people into the car,i do cycle in the wind and rain,it takes longer,and i dont enjoy that bit,the 5mile idea is good,but for some people it just cant work,i think a better and cheaper Public transport system is the way to go,but in light of the train companies inflating there rails fares to the extreme each year,it is not surprising many are forced to use there cars,and with buses caught in the queues,at least in a car you can try and find an alternative route.So who knows what is the best thing to do.