Reliability
I’ve been thinking about how people make decisions about their daily journey options lately. My commute by bicycle is about 7 miles each way, and at a very gentle, non-sweat-inducing pace takes about 50 minutes, door to door. The corresponding journey by foot and then train takes about 25-30 minutes door to door — on a good day. And that’s the problem; the train system is so unreliable that on about 4 of 10 journeys each week, you can expect the trip to take up to 50 minutes. That’s still a shorter total journey time over a week, but the problem is that you can’t plan properly if you go on the train. If you have to be somewhere at a certain time, you really have to aim to get the train before the one that would get you to your destination on time. Because on a non-significant number of occasions, your train will be late and so will you. That means that you end up losing about 50 minutes each way anyway, because of allowing extra time.
The cycle journey make take longer, but (barring rare punctures or mechanical failures) I know how long it will take to within a couple of minutes, and I know that if I leave on time, I’ll arrive on time. This was brought home to me on Wednesday, when I had to get the train in after a couple of days of cycling. The train was (of course) delayed, and I stood fuming on the platform, worrying about being late for a meeting and wishing that I could be pottering steadily along on my bike. None of this will be news to those of you who suffer the slings and arrows of our outrageous public transport system.
There was, however, a gorgeous sunrise, so I could at least amuse myself by taking some photos while I was waiting.
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My last train journey was steam powered......... OK, so it was at Boness in Scotland 15 years ago, and a trip to show my young daughter what a real train was like.
My last experience of modern train travel was by proxy; our salesperson booked an 8AM start from Euston for an 11:30AM meeting in Manchester, so, an hour and a half for contingencies. At 11:30AM he had got as far as Tring in Hertfordshire, about 30 miles. So I go by car, set of when I want, arrive on time, no angst, cool calm and collected; and at modern prices CHEAPER.
by Jonathan Briggs @ 02/02/2007 9:02 pm • Permalink •
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I drive most places; central London is the one place that's been made inconvenient enough to drive to that I'll take the train.
It's mostly cheaper for me to drive around in a Range Rover than it is to take public transport.
by Andy Cunningham @ 03/02/2007 9:55 am • Permalink •
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I used to commute into London and for me that was hell on earth. Everyone ignoring each other and crammed into these tin tubes. Trains often late and everyone rushing past each other to get a seat. Never again.
Now I have a new job and I've been cycling to work for the last 12 months. I have to say it is the best thing I have ever done. It makes me more energetic and I get to see lots of interesting sights along the way.
I've been getting up earlier and taking photos too. You miss so much by driving or getting the train. Those are some great photos.
by Chris Gaunt @ 03/02/2007 11:32 am • Permalink •
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Here in Southern California you pretty much either live close enough to walk or bike (but there are no bike paths that sound like the super-convenient one you ride on), or you drive. There are a few commuter train routes in the area, but they don't go where most people want to go.
I'd love to have something like your public transportation system here. Want to trade?
by Radagast @ 03/02/2007 8:09 pm • Permalink •
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I live away from the town, either walk to the village or drive to town. Your issue on reliability is also my bugbear, I get a train to Peterborough to get to London occasionally and the troubles with connections are a nightmare, but, I persevere. There is something about reliability AND cost encouraging people to use trains. On a few trips to Japan last year everyone I work with goes by train, most don't have cars at all. You always know when the train will arrive and it will be clean and (sort of) user friendly. I get so frustrated/ embarrassed when I get back to the UK and enjoy the tube/GNER/ Central Trains trip home
by Julian @ 04/02/2007 2:39 pm • Permalink •
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Jonathan Briggs: You arrive on time by car? You must have a secret, traffic-free route then
The people I know who commute by car complain about the same reliability problems: some of the time, a journey takes you an hour and half, then on all-too-frequent occasions, it takes over four hours because of roadworks, accidents etc. And I wonder if travelling by car is really cheaper, when you take capital costs, depreciation, maintenance, fuel, insurance etc? I used an online calculator to work out the real cost of having my car, and even with very modest yearly mileage, it was an enormous amount per year. That saving would buy me an unlimited yearly season ticket for buses, trains and metro over a huge area of the West Midlands, with plenty left over for taxis and occasional car hire.
Andy Cunningham: See above. And the smug, Eco-conscious part of me wants to add, cheaper for you personally, but not for the environment. Sorry
Chris Gaunt: Yes, it's not possible for everyone, but it really is terrific cycling to work.
Radagast: Careful, I might take you up on that trade
. Seriously, lack of public transport (or even reasonable pedestrian paths) always irritates me when I go to the States. It feels very odd, and I feel hemmed in when I can't easily wander from one place to another.
Julian: Yes, cost is another issue, along with the ridiculous, byzantine mess that is the ticketing system for our rail system. I'm with you on the Japanese rail system. I've travelled on it too, and thought it was heaven. Vienna also has a wonderful, integrated public transport system, with buses, metro, trains and trams all operating on a single ticket: fast, clean and very frequent, so you can just turn up and expect some form of transport to arrive within a few minutes.
by bsag @ 04/02/2007 6:41 pm • Permalink •
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Cost? Buy a second hand car, and keep it a long time; on average I keep cars 8 years.
Jams? I know my England, and am very flexible and can read traffic patterns. I and am possessed of an uncanny sense of direction, which has only let me down a couple of times in 45 years, this allows me to vary my route at a moments notice without worrying about getting lost; after all, I have a map in the car, and as long as I have a good idea where north is, I'm OK. As I occasionally have to go a couple of hundred miles or more at a days notice, the cost of trains is out of the question. I once had to go from London to Stirling and back three times in a week, nowadays that would cost me about £800 or £900 by train!
Anyway, I love driving, in general I find it relaxing; a summer afternoon, Test match Special on the radio, the prospect of bobbing around on the North Sea on a Saturday, the sails set, a book of verse, a glass of wine...... You fill in the blanks.
by Jonathan Briggs @ 04/02/2007 10:59 pm • Permalink •
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Ticketing systems? Don't start me again............ It'll soon be Summer and I can get the motorbike out again.
by Julian @ 05/02/2007 8:15 am • Permalink •
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Should have kept my mouth shut! I arrived in Hatfield this morning to find some silly bu**er in the traffic department thought it would be a good idea to play with the timings on the traffic lights.........
by Jonathan Briggs @ 05/02/2007 11:13 am • Permalink •
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I feel incredibly lucky with my commute, which is two floors down to the basement.
As for the Toronto transit system...I do find myself leaving extra early when I need to get somewhere on time. It seems that 50% of the time I ride the subway/bus there is a delay. Twice in the past year, there have also been times when a train track has stopped working or a train has had to stop for an extended period of time, and people have been shuttled in very crowded buses instead.
I walk whenever I can, even if it means leaving much earlier. As you say, there's a comfort in plodding along slowly but at least steadily.
by Debbie Ridpath Ohi @ 05/02/2007 7:54 pm • Permalink •
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I have to agree with you comments about reliability. Since the new year, I walk to work, which takes me half an hour each way. I previously drove to work.
In the odd occasion this year where I have driven to work I have found it more hassle than walking and in the long run, even though my journey takes longer, I find it comforting to know that if I leave home at 8:30 I can reliably predict that I will arrive at work by 9:00. I also find walking to work very liberating, it gives me time to collect my thoughts for the day and listen to my iPod. I also enjoy watching the traffic queued in the rush hour on my way home as I walk on by!
by Dean @ 09/02/2007 7:37 pm • Permalink •
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50 minutes to cycle 7 miles? I reckon you could reduce that time. I do 6 miles in 25 / 35 minutes (late for work, relaxed ride home!).
by Simon @ 21/02/2007 3:29 pm • Permalink •
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Simon: Sure, I could do it faster (by the way, the 50 minutes was literally door-to-door, so included faffing about either end locking/unlocking and loading/unloading the bike). But that's not the point
. When you're doing something unpleasant like commuting by train, more time is worse, but when you're doing something you like, more is better. Plus, my aim is to simplify the whole process. If I race in, I get very hot and sweaty, so I have to wear special bike clothes in, carry my work clothes, change when I get to work and try to find a shower, etc. This way, I breeze along comfortably, enjoying the view, the dawn chorus and the smell of the river. I get off my bike at work, lock it up and start work. That's it. Easy. Basically, I'm trying to be a flaneur rather than a commuter.
by bsag @ 22/02/2007 8:49 pm • Permalink •
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