With fuel prices rising, road tax on the increase and the astronomical cost of living continually emptying the nation’s transport funds – why aren’t people using public transport more? Convenience, cost and efficiency are just three of the reasons that so many people opt to stay in their cars, when they should be the reasons to jump on the train or bus.
For the most convenient form of transport, most people will say that driving alone in your own car cannot be beaten. However, there will be times when this is not the case and public transport will be more suitable. Living in London means that the tube can often be the best way to get from A to B and in the quickest possible time.
For those living outside of the big cities and even larger towns the case is more often than not that public transport isn’t frequent enough and costs too much. Depending entirely on where you live and where you need to go to, it can rarely be argued that public transport is the better option. A forty minute drive to work for me costs twice as much and takes three times as long on the train. So why would I ever consider not driving for this journey?
Convenience is regularly the first thing that commuters will look for when deciding which mode of transport to use. With this in mind, it would seem that there needs to be a major shake-up before people in more rural areas opt to jump on a bus or train rather than drive themselves to work and back.
The cost of petrol (and diesel), road tax and car maintenance continues to rise as the credit crunch is felt across the country. As the nation begins tightening its belts a little further, cost of commuting to work will play an even more important role in choice of transport method.
Driving into London can be expensive, with congestion charges and road tax added to the already hefty fuel costs and car insurance. Commuting to London by train seems to be the sensible option with the tube offering a pretty good service for getting around central London quickly and easily. But this cannot be said for so many other towns around the UK where bus and services are often infrequent and require multiple changes.
So, for those of us that don’t work in London and will not consider car insurance as part of the cost of getting from A to B, is the cost of driving really as expensive as we are told? Fuel prices have shot up dramatically in the last year, rising by about 30 per cent all over the country. Even then, I am still saving a substantial amount of money every week by driving to work despite the protestations of the government who keep trying to persuade us to opt for public transport.
I drive alternate weeks with a work colleague and we halve our fuel consumption as well as sneaking forty winks when it’s own turn to be the passenger. Car share schemes seem to be popular amongst drivers for these reasons, as they still offer convenience, value and for those green-thinkers among us is a little better for the environment.
If you drive to work then this is a fantastic option for driving down fuel costs, while doing a little bit for the environment. Another choice for drivers is to avoid busy town centre traffic and the problems of parking by jumping on the park-and-ride service that is sometimes provided. By parking just outside of the town centre, you can pay a small fee and park for the whole day with only the small inconvenience of a short bus ride. A fantastic choice if a parking space is both costly and a rare commodity.
As a regular driver I find travelling by train or bus to be both inconvenient and a little too expensive to tempt me to hang up my keys. But with the cost of fuel rising every week I have been tempted to at least consider the possibility of not driving so often, as well as driving with more efficient fuel consumption in mind.
If fuel prices continue to rise as expected, public transport may become a more viable option as cost plays a bigger role than convenience or efficiency. So, if the nation decides to ‘go public’, will the public transport system be ready for the increase in popularity? Judging by the numbers of standing passengers commuting to London, it would appear to be very doubtful at best.

Many would-be backpackers dream about climbing the Eifel tower or eating at a romantic restaurant in Venice but are not prepared to part with large amounts of money to make these dreams a reality. However, back packing in Europe can be done on the cheap without hitchhiking and getting in lorries with dodgy Europeans! Buses provide a good halfway house offering transport in comfortable surroundings and speedy journey times, and often at a faction of the cost of a plane or train.

All cities and most towns in Europe have bus offices where tickets can be picked up to other European cities for often as little as £10. Packaged bus tours typically offer the best value per day, as the operators can often negotiate a group discount on the various activities and accommodation provided. Another major advantage of such a tour is that as a backpacker, you have to do very little! Just sit on the bus and be taken to your next destination; so simple and hassle free!

To get the most out of European bus tours, ignore the following bits of advice at your peril!

Tips to enjoy a transport on a European bus tour:

• Keep an Open Mind: Backpacking through Europe provides a unique experience to enrich your mind and soul. Talking with passengers to discover similar interests, and learn about local cultures and traditions is a creating way of getting all you can from a trip. Some of the friendships started in this way can last for life.
• Dress Sensibly: You will large chunks of time sightseeing or travelling on a bus. Wear sensible clothes that you can wear while walking around in public areas, and that also fit well while sitting down. Buses often get very hot in the day and cold in the evening, so make sure you are prepared for both
• Eat Wisely: Carry snacks to ward off hunger attacks on the bus, and take advantage of any breakfast inclusions available at the hotel. Try to avoid purchasing food at the major sightseeing places as it is here the prices will be highest.
• Entertainment Yourself: You will have downtime in between attractions and tours. Pack an MP4 player or a book and magazine to keep occupied while en route to the next exciting destination. Tour guides will often provided you with literature about the next stop so you can get up to speed and understand it in context.
• Be Ready with the Camera: Pack extra batteries for the camera. Packaged bus tours feature lots attractions and can even visit multiple countries. However, once the tour leaves for the next attraction, there is usually no turning back. Make sure you have plenty of memory and battery power so you don’t miss a shot.