Public Transport or private car

Economics wise an excellent and balanced public transportation system is great. There's less money being spent on car payments, repairs, maintenance, gasoline, oil. If done right the transportation can get you to places in relatively good time. Unfortunately in several parts of the world its not like this. Even in places where its "good", there are still issues of crowding (during rush/peak times, delays, in some cases cost). Where I'm at public transportation is scarce. Not even near what's found in other countries. The car is placed as the highest priority. So much is invested in the car, that current housing, development and transportation revolves around it. The result is longer distances in travel and more money spent on the car (gasoline). The private car has its freedom, but with freedom comes responsibility. There is also added cost to having the car (again payments, repairs, et al). I have to admit many driving situations are quite a nuisance. Other drivers are hellbent on breaking the law or otherwise being stupid: driving 10-20 MPH over the limit, driving under influence, driving with a cellphone attached to head, and general "me-me-me" attitudes toward driving instead of defense and safety. As I've said, town and place development is based around the car. This has lead to building further out from the city, and building needed locations further apart from each other. There is also a general movement away from cities at an almost 5-10 year interval (depends on the city). The older places are left behind, commercial districts have vast seas of concrete where customers use to park, and the distances between remaining locales is increased even more.

Hello there Michael and welcome to myLot I see you have not earned your star here yet. Well Michael, I do like to get the bus, as you know I live in a very big city and for me to get to one of my places of work it can take over an hour easily to get there and I love nothing more than sitting there taking some time out reading my book. I am figuring that you want to know peoples opinion so you can put them to good use so I might as well write a super response and tell you what I really think. I have a bus stop that drops me off right outside my house. As I was trying to explain to my friends late last night when we were in the city centre, I am just as well getting the bus as it means I don't need to stand in the taxi queue alone waiting, the bus would be faster to catch and it would drop me off at the exact same place the taxi would and it would be about an eighth of the price. The only thing though about my buses is that even although I live in a nice area maybe 2 miles or so from the city centre, my buses go on to the poorer areas of Glasgow, on the outskirts so they choose to put the crap buses on my route. You know the ones that smell a bit, engine makes too much noise and the heating not working. That and the fact there is always a few drunks on it or someone wanting to give the driver abuse means that my journey is as nice as going some other routes. This is obviously very disappointing sometimes but I can understand that First bus company doesn't want to put on the nice ones cos they know someone will probably pee or puke on the bus and it may get graffitied or a window smashed or something. The bus is so cheap but is starting to get a bit on the dear side. The bus from town to my house is £1.40 and I am actually thinking that is starting to verge on the steep side especially when it is rush hour and you can't get a seat. They should maybe in rush hour reduce the fare slightly, either that or not allow so many people standing as it really does make it impossible getting off sometimes. First bus though are the gurus of bus travel. A wee bus called The Sprinter can get me on my journey for £1.10 but these things are like transit buses with a few seats thrown in and the driver always plays his crap music far too loud.

I would say that we belong in the middle class or low middle class in life. Unfortunately, we do not have our own car so we do rely on public transport like taxicabs, jeepneys, buses, and trains. I'm in my early 30's already and I've been living with this kind of transport ever since I was born. But one of my dreams is having our own mode of transportation. I would prefer a mini van in going to the office even if only two or three of us are inside the van. I'd like to participate in carpooling where we would let other "trustworthy" people to hitch in the van. Here in this part of the world, it is so hard to wait for a ride even if there are many public vehicles. Then, for the entire family (mom, dad, and siblings) I would want a coaster so that our extended families would still be with us on trips especially when going to scenic destinations during the holidays and summer getaways.

I prefer my own private car. I love to drive. I also don't like to plan my schedule around when the bus would be coming by. It's basicly convience. My car is in my garage and I can just open the door and step in. If I have to take the bus, I have to walk to the bus stop, which is about 1/2 mile away. I would then have to know the bus schedule. When I was in junior high/high school I would ride the bus home. It was nice because I could do my homework, read or sleep. But now I prefer to drive myself. Plus it's easier with a family.

Public transport where I live is rubbish, I think we are still stuck in the dark ages here. The bus service into the main towns runs once every 30 to 40 minutes and it takes about 40 minutes to get there and you cannot just get a bus to anywhere where I live. My hubby drives, I do not, so I rely on him if I want to go anywhere. If the public transport was more accessible I would travel everywhere on it.

I don't have a car and hardly ever travel by bus. I use trains and ferries more often to get me to places I want to go. I prefer walking and if I am going anywhere less than 3 miles from home I always walk.

I live in a rural area so there isn't public transportation out here. There are buses that run just to pick up elderly and/or disabled people to take them into town for their shopping and appointments but that's not open to the general public. The other town does have a taxi service for getting around town and they'd probably drive out here for a big fee but that's hardly practical...an hour drive in a taxi can't be cheap! And just down the road there is a Sharaton bus station...but that's charter not public and makes the long runs to New York City, Atlantic City, Philadelphia and such.

Public transport is very much accessible here. MRT or LRT can take me to the place I want to reach in a short time coz there is no traffic, but it's a little crowded at busy hour. There are many buses, jeepneys here too. There are taxis but its more expensive than riding in bus or jeepney but you feel comfortable in taxi. We have a car but I usually ride in public transport when going to work or other places coz its cheaper to commute.

I would have to say 100% I prefer my car to public transportation. My car is much faster than having to stop at each train stop on the way to work. I can drive to work in bout 15 mins with good traffic, but the train would take me about 30 min plus I would have to walk about 7 blocks. Recently though my partner was in a car accident, and it looks like the car may be totaled by the insurance company, and we owe more than the car is worth so I may have to start depending on the train pretty soon. LOL

I prefer motorbike. In my country, it is the most suitable transport we should use. Public transport don't give good service. Most road here is narrow and winding. It's not comfortable to use car. I don't have my own car anyway lol.

I don't particularly like either. Given the choice, it depends on the situation. In America, I drove everywhere and I got fat and lazy. There were no buses in my area so I had to. But now that I have been in China for two years, I find that I don't want to drive. I would either take a bus or a taxi most of the time, but now I have an electric bike that I ride. It gets me where I need to go faster than walking and it is cheaper than taking a taxi even though the school says they will reimburse me for the fare. I don't like the buses in this townand I don't like being on the roads because people here drive like maniacs (sorry people of China but that's the way I see it).