Rail journeys up by 15 million for first 3 months of 2011

Editor's note: I'm going to try not to allow my personal feelings on rail travel to influence this article in anyway, shape of form.

Last week, the Association of Train Operating Companies released journey figures showing that for the first 3 months of 2011, there were 15 million extra rail journeys taken compared with the same period last year.

They're very excited claiming that the rise in passenger numbers is down to the rising cost of fuel at the forecourts. The British public is being forced to look at alternatives to the car.

The train operators also point out that petrol prices have risen at around twice the rate of rail fares in the last 12 months.

Yes, well done rail companies but I'm sure you'd attract a lot more passengers with a simpler, cheaper ticket system and re-opening old lines that would provide a useful commuter link - especially as many rural bus routes seem to be under threat from closure due to funding withdrawal.

photo credit: brent royal-gordon

Save fuel - drive more carefully as MP's lobbied over fuel duty increase staging

forecourt prices January 2010

With the cost of petrol hovering around the £1.30 a litre mark (and there are 4.54 litres to a UK gallon), British motorists aren't getting a lot for their money and there's talk of a planned 'staged' increase in fuel duty soon - something the UK motor industry is calling on the Government to scrap amidst a torrid time for beleaguered garage forecourts.

And as it's unlikely that fuel costs will drop, it's up to us motorists to squeeze as much mileage out of those precious drops of petrol as possible.

There are a number of things you can do to improve your economy:

Avoid harsh breaking and harsh acceleration. Look ahead, read the road. Why zoom up to traffic lights you know you'll have to stop at or junctions where you'll have to give way?

Tempting as it may be to warm up your engine and car before starting a journey, remember even though you're not covering any miles, you're still using fuel. This where stop/start technology in modern cars really pays for itself, especially if you do a lot of town commuting.

Lighten the load. Don't carry weight around with you that you don't need. I'm not suggesting you ditch the spare wheel but any weight you don't have to carry all adds to your fuel consumption.

Maintenance and care. A few simple checks is all it takes. Check your tyre pressures are correct, wheels aligned and fluid levels topped up. Change engine oil according to scheduled intervals and check air filters etc. Worn plugs increase fuel consumption through poor performance as do blocked air filters.

Ditch the roof rack. Roof racks effect the aerodynamics of a car causing more drag and increasing fuel consumption. If it's not being used, then take it off. Do you really need to use it? Always use the interior space first.

And if you're coming up for a change of car, then consider a more fuel efficient model. Smaller cars are lighter and use less fuel. How often do you make really long journeys that you think would require a larger vehicle?

Most journeys involve commuting to and from work. Think about other options like using public transport or car sharing with a colleague or even a friend going to the same locality. What's a few minutes brisk walk compared to the fuel savings you'll make?

You don't have to give up the car completely - just try a few days / journeys a week by alternative means. You'll be amazed how much you save and if it involves a little exercise, how much better you start feeling.

photo credit: martoneofmany

Will the London Tube strikes encourage greener transport?

Just a thought but with the London Tube Train system crippled by strike action today and thousands of commuters facing absolute chaos..... I wondered if it would encourage anyone to take a greener form of transport?

There is the recently launched London Cycle Hire scheme now, and it will be interesting to see how that copes today - will there be a shortage of bikes at popular spots?

pedalling around St Paul's

One tweet I spotted this morning on Twitter suggests that you may find it more difficult to find an empty dock in which to park your bike, as one Twitter user was pedalling around St Paul's looking for an empty space.

So over to you. Has your daily commute been affected by the Tube strike? Were the roads unbearably busy? Did you try the London Cycle scheme for the first time today?

I (and our dedicated readers) would love to know.

photo credit: annie mole

All Hail London's new cycle hire system.

The Guardian ran a very interesting article on the new London cycle hire scheme last week.

The capitals new cycle hire scheme is the second largest (after Paris) and The Guardian refers frequently to comparisons between the two cities and how London will need to learn from Paris mistakes.

There was one little nugget of information buried away at the bottom of the article which I found the most worrying.

The column refers to figures in Paris which suggest that car traffic levels haven't been affected but that public transport - buses and tube have seen falling levels of use as these users have switched to the new cycle hire.

If the purpose is to promote green transport, then it really does need to be aimed at those that would drive or take taxi's. Whilst it's nice to see users of public transport taking to the slightly healthier option of cycling. I say slightly healthier because you're still pedalling around next to fume chugging vehicles, not to mention the safety issues when you mix motorised vehicles and cyclists - especially on cramped roads like London's. These people were already using public transport - no need to change their habits surely?

And of course, the Guardian's test run was conducted on a bright sunny day. What happens when it rains?

I'll end positively by saying that i really hope the scheme takes off - lessons learnt by the French are incorporated quickly, theft and vandalism is a minimum and the running costs don't escalate and that Londoner's (and visiting guests) get on their bikes.

Click here to read The Guardian's full article.

London's cycle hire scheme will launch on the 30th July - that's later this week.

photo credit: tejvanphotos

Giving Cyclists more protection aids green commute efforts

Thanks again to Treehugger for highlighting this story from Vancouver where it seems they've been learning a thing or two about increasing green commuting.

This time last year, they physically separated a cycle lane over the busy Burrard Bridge using concrete road dividers.

The result has been an increase of a third in the number of cyclists using the bridge.

There's a great video (click here to view) showing the new lane and who knows, perhaps this will point other cities and planning authorities in the right direction when it comes to encouraging bicycle use here in the UK as an alternative for the daily commute.

What's your story? Have you tried to cycle to work only to find the roads too dangerous? Has your city or town made an extra effort to encourage you to use your bike? Do share your stories here.

photo credit: tom anderson