Electric Vehicles

Bournemouth is closer to you than Brockenhurst , I have used Brockenhurst in the past to catch a Cross Country service up to Birmingham because the parking was easy and at the time I travelled about 7 in the morning no traffic jam around Lyndhurst.

You are just a bit too far from Fordingbridge to use the buses from there easily , the X3 service between Salisbury and Bournemouth is actually quite good every 30 mins up til about 19.00 and then hourly till late with clean modern vehicles that are a world away from the wheezing objects of the past. We fortunately can leave the car in Fordingbridge for free so it pays to get the bus to Salisbury to catch a train to London which is one place I won’t drive to. Saves the cost of parking in Salisbury. for a day or more.

Bournemouth is closer to you than Brockenhurst , I have used Brockenhurst in the past to catch a Cross Country service up to Birmingham because the parking was easy and at the time I travelled about 7 in the morning no traffic jam around Lyndhurst. But Cross country don’t stop there anymore so for those journeys I just head for Southampton Airport Parkway ,via Ringwood its only just over half an hour.

You are just a bit too far from Fordingbridge to use the buses from there easily , the X3 service between Salisbury and Bournemouth is actually quite good every 30 mins up til about 19.00 and then hourly till late with clean modern vehicles that are a world away from the wheezing objects of the past. We fortunately can leave the car in Fordingbridge for free so it pays to get the bus to Salisbury to catch a train to London which is one place I won’t drive to. Saves the cost of parking in Salisbury. for a day or more or a Taxi. last bus back is 21.45 except on Friday and Saturday Nights when it leaves at 10 past midnight.

GH

Just to clarify You have snipped the URL I gave to J Gaines which may give the impression I meant on all buses.

The URL linked to a local “charity” run transport service of which there are quite few around the country. Rules are not standardised over them all but many of the services operated are not stage carriage and require the passenger to be pre registered with the provider and book in advance. Some accept the ENBP ,some don’t ,others accept the pass but still charge a small fare. The one that serves the village J Gaines lives in at present accepts the ENBP but has indicated that because some subsidies from the County Councils have been reduced they will start to make a charge to ENBP Holders soon, that charge will still be less than the fare for non pass holders. Quite a number would have no choice but to pay it if they want to get out of their village for a weekly shopping trip. Though a trio of old boys now down to two went out to the various destinations and spent most of the time before the return journey in a Wetherspoons.

I’ve no doubt the ENBP could be under threat at some time but at the moment I don’t think there is any plan to charge holders of it on the normal stage carriage services. AFAIK that needs a change in law, Hampshire CC were making noises that they would like to have their passholders pay a small charge like a £1.00 to ease their finances but cannot as the law stands at the moment.

GH

That depends. If you're going into a city with dedicated bus lanes it can be pretty quick. Also you've got to find a parking space, which could be a challenge at busy times. Add to that the cost of parking (and a small amount for fuel), and if you've a free bus pass the difference can buy at least a couple of coffees.

It's two buses (which inconveniently arrive at, and depart from separate bus stations) to get to the railway station.

I could take a taxi (which can use the same bus lanes) to the main railway station, then I don't need to pay to park.

I can drive to a smaller railway station, parking is cheap enough and not over crowded, and it only adds a quid or so to the main rail fare, but then not every train on the return journey stops where my car now is, so use the bus on the return, and have to get a taxi to collect car in the morning.

I've got 7 years to wait for my bus pass

There's someone's leaving-do next month, I was expecting it to be in Nottingham, which isn't too bad from Leicester, had several good nights out that way, except it's now going to be in Mansfield, which due to poorly fitting timetables would mean 5 hours of buses and trains for 2 hours of drinking, the irony is the chap's new job is at a railway company.

Rail travel from here (East Kent) into the City of London (which I do for meetings sometimes) is both quicker and cheaper (when parking is taken into account) than driving. And more relaxing!

Even cheaper as the meetings are in the afternoon, so I can use my wrinkly card.

my two grandsons are geting to Woking by train from Bournemouth this afternoon ;-)

The Guildford P&R services charge Bus Pass holders a reduced fare.

I used to live in The Riding in Woking!

New Dacia Spring (£17k top spec) v year old Fiat 500e (£17k):

But if financial or medical reasons prevent you from driving and you live alone or your partner doesn't drive, then you are totally stuffed if (many years earlier when fit and capable with

Nothing. For 30+ years I spent anything from 3 hours to 4.5 hours every day commuting from Sussex up to Croydon or the City of London or KingsX or Hammersmith.

Round here you use taxis or stay at home enjoying the dream home

Most of what you need can be bought online anyway.

I think the point is that below a certain density public transport is f****ng useless. When I were a lad the bus at the bottom of the road that took an hour to do 8 miles into town, ran every hour. The train that took ten minutes, was every half an hour but was 15 minutes walk away.

As a teenager I could cycle faster than the bus, later a car took about

Living in London, i ended up *walking* everywhere as it was more pleasant and scarcely slower than the underground.

This village has a very good charitable service to provide lifts for those who are "stuffed". I'm still one of their drivers.

Here too. They call it the Thursday Club! I haven't used a bus since I left school but we do have them.

Another variation , At Salisbury the P&R services are free to Bus pas holders , there is no charge to park the car either so that is another option we sometimes use if we are going in and not collecting too much.

GH

Another factor is if when you moved to your dream home you just enjoyed the view and did not attempt to make new friends you can end up very isolated when the faculties go and you can no longer visit friends in old haunts. Whereas if you get to know a few people and are not shy then when stuck you can always ask somebody for a lift to that hospital appointment for that eye test with drops in that prevent you from driving yourself. We regularly ferry a couple of older residents around, hopefully if or when I get to that stage others will do it for me.

GH

But most people don't want to live life like that. With a disabled wife and three children, I value my time too much to spend large parts of it commuting.

It was just an observation that most of the passengers I see on local buses seem to be over 60, or does one need to be older to qualify now.

I have only used my pass in 3 cities and then only a handful of journeys, for its convenience really rather than cost saving. Locally I can walk the mile to town quicker than the circuitous bus journey. I generally cycle though.

I do understand buses are an essential service to people less able than I am.