We would use buses if we could afford them

Last updated 13:15, Tuesday, 06 May 2008

As a car driver, I must bear some of the responsibility for the declining rural bus services of which we hear so much.

Buses could be the answer to congestion in the Lakes – but only if car drivers can be persuaded to use them

So, I decided to make a determined effort to leave my car at home and use public transport.

First up; take the children to the pictures in Keswick from my village. Then I discovered it would cost £19.80 to get there and back, so we wouldn’t be able to afford to watch a film after that. Cost in a car; £5 or so.

Second up; enjoy a night at the theatre with my mother in Keswick. Sorry, no can do. Last bus back to Castle Inn from where we could drive is 9pm so I’m afraid we’d miss it. At least it would be free for her.

It’s the same with Wigton. Before that bus is cancelled later this year, I could get into town with my children for £4 – or £6 if it was family outing – a hefty £5 more than if I were to drive.

It’s worse if we drive to Keswick to catch a bus to go further afield, for then we must add on the price of parking in a car park all day – say a fiver – to the cost of the ticket. So catching the 555 from Keswick to Kendal comes in at £19.50 (but don’t forget the £5 parking), as against around £14 to drive there and park up.

We need incentives to get folk out of their cars.

How about making parking for those catching a bus free? It might make a trip more affordable.

I in no way begrudge pensioners and the disabled their subsidised transport, but many elderly people have a larger disposable income than families, once you have taken feeding and shoeing two growing children into account.

I would love to be able to say, “hang the expense, I’m going by bus”, but I can’t and, as I followed the empty Stagecoach 555 heading south along the A591 to Kendal, with nose-to-tail traffic coming in the opposite direction (and a regular raft of equally-empty buses) I realised that neither can most of the millions of the visitors to our fumed-choked national park.

L Green
Ireby