General News Discussion

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I dont know how many of you rely on public transport but I do. I use the West Coast mainline a lot and Virgin have just lost the contract to the First Group, who age a billion more for it. I always thought the service was great and good value for money but fuck knows what is going to happen now.

[kaosmark2]

I dont know how many of you rely on public transport but I do. I use the West Coast mainline a lot and Virgin have just lost the contract to the First Group, who age a billion more for it. I always thought the service was great and good value for money but fuck knows what is going to happen now.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

Rely would be pushing it, as I don't commute, but I don't have a car atm.

With the cost of public transport rising, and the reliability decreasing, combined with the fact I don't live near train or coach stations, getting a car is looking increasingly desirable. Halve travel times and fuel costs being about 2/3rds of a train ticket....

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I dont own a car and I looked in to getting one however as a first time driver the insurance is just stupid. I do a lot of long distance journeys and from Manchester it is cheaper and easier by train. I in to stevenage about 200 miles away by car and can do the journey in 3 and a quarter hours for less than 60 quid off peak return. I dont think you could drive for that. If I had a car I certainly would not use it to get to work. A week bus pass is 11 quid a week and that covers a great deal of Greater Manchester. I have no problem getting to work for 6am. I am looking at a motorbike to expand my work placements. The only reason I would look at getting a car would be if I was still doing a lot of work at festivals. At least then you could take more of your own beer and home comforts. Mind you one year 3 of us chipped in and bought a Landrover County and insured the driver with a pay monthly policy. As we moved from festival we could take up to 6 passengers and essentially they paid for the diesel. At the end of summer we sold it for a little more than we paid and we had money left from the fuel kitty which covered what we had paid in insurance. That was a pretty good summer :-)

[Rufus Gwertigan]

£11 for a weeks bus pass in Manchester! Wow. I had to put my car in to get a new clutch fitted yesterday. This involved me having to get a day ticket for the bus. This cost me £3.85 just for the day! This is in Birmingham by the way. Bastards saw me coming!

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I think the day passes are 3.70 here. I dont know how they calculate everything. I think the most expensive single fare is about 2.60. Off peak I can get into Manchester and back on the train for just over a quid, about 3 and a half miles away. Its pretty good here :-)

[rachbon]

Buses must be cheaper if you're just travelling within one city.

I live about 20 minutes away from Glasgow and it costs me £17 for a weekly ticket to the city centre. It's £5.50 for an all day ticket.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I remember our local bus company reducing all fares to 2p way back in the past (possibly the early 80's). I went on the No 11 bus in Birmingham ( Europe's longest urban bus route) and did the full circle of the city for 2p. It took me hours and wasn't that exciting. But it's the kind of thing you did when you were bored in those days.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I remember our local bus company reducing all fares to 2p way back in the past (possibly the early 80's). I went on the No 11 bus in Birmingham ( Europe's longest urban bus route) and did the full circle of the city for 2p. It took me hours and wasn't that exciting. But it's the kind of thing you did when you were bored in those days.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

It was weird when we first moved to Manchester. After our first night (in 2000) we were sat having breakfast and we all talked about how we could hear buses after midnight and up to 3am. We had just moved from Hull and all the last busess left the bus station at 11. The idea of buses running through the night was amazing. Until you had to use one then it was shit.

[windy_miller]

I get the train every day to work. It is currently £45 for a weekly ticket. If I was driving it would be a 50 mile round trip every day, which equates to about a tank of petrol per week, so the train is still currently cheaper than a car for my journey. Plus I don't have to sit for hours in a traffic jam (the traffic getting into Cambridge in the mornings is awful) and am free to read a book or have a nap.

I do however object to the way they keep increasing fares much higher than inflation year on year, and yet I see no difference in the quality of service. Some of the rolling stock I use is ancient.

[TalkShow Bob]

Buses must be cheaper if you're just travelling within one city.

I live about 20 minutes away from Glasgow and it costs me £17 for a weekly ticket to the city centre. It's £5.50 for an all day ticket.

[TheGayTent]

My monthly train ticket is £263.90. Or would be if I paid for it. Always get a seat, though reliability can be an issue.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I work from home so don't have to commute every day (thank the Lord!). I do have to use my car to get about the city on work related issues though. They pay me 47p a mile for this.

[kaosmark2]

I dont own a car and I looked in to getting one however as a first time driver the insurance is just stupid. I do a lot of long distance journeys and from Manchester it is cheaper and easier by train. I in to stevenage about 200 miles away by car and can do the journey in 3 and a quarter hours for less than 60 quid off peak return. I dont think you could drive for that. If I had a car I certainly would not use it to get to work. A week bus pass is 11 quid a week and that covers a great deal of Greater Manchester. I have no problem getting to work for 6am. I am looking at a motorbike to expand my work placements. The only reason I would look at getting a car would be if I was still doing a lot of work at festivals. At least then you could take more of your own beer and home comforts. Mind you one year 3 of us chipped in and bought a Landrover County and insured the driver with a pay monthly policy. As we moved from festival we could take up to 6 passengers and essentially they paid for the diesel. At the end of summer we sold it for a little more than we paid and we had money left from the fuel kitty which covered what we had paid in insurance. That was a pretty good summer :-)

[Rufus Gwertigan]

I used to think public transport was alright until I started driving... Haven't looked back since... Although it comes in handy when I am drunk still

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

lol... Would never drink and drive...

[jump]

For anyone following the story Pussy Riot they have been found guilty.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/9482594/Pussy-Riot-punk-trio-found-guilty-of-hooliganism-by-Russian-court.html

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

For anyone following the story Pussy Riot they have been found guilty.

http://www.telegraph...sian-court.html

[philipsteak]

One of the great headlines

GHSU Lab Technician Found Drunk, Partially Nude In Locker Room While 2 Monkeys Loose In Lab

http://www2.wjbf.com/news/2012/aug/17/ghsu-lab-technician-found-drunk-partially-nude-loc-ar-4360181/

[metallimuse]

Surprised no one has commented on the Todd Akin comments out in the States yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-19319240

How someone like that is in such a position of power is scary and how Americans keep voting in people like him is beyond me.

[The Nal]

Surprised no one has commented on the Todd Akin comments out in the States yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...canada-19319240

How someone like that is in such a position of power is scary and how Americans keep voting in people like him is beyond me.

[pink_triangle]

Surprised no one has commented on the Todd Akin comments out in the States yesterday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk...canada-19319240

How someone like that is in such a position of power is scary and how Americans keep voting in people like him is beyond me.

[metallimuse]

Scares the hell out of me.Can we all get together and sign a petition to give Obama full control dictatorship stye lol?

[metallimuse]

So Akin has changed his story now http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/08/20/akin-apologizes-for-rape-comment/?on.cnn=1.

I don't like this "forced rape" reference though. Rape by definition is forced isn't it?Whether physical or coerced