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In Search of a Better World

@bobjmsn I remember my grandfather telling me that his father never went more than five miles away from his home in his entire life, because that was a day's walk and back. And my grandfather said that with a bike he could get a whole ten miles and back in a single day.

Then he bought a car in his 40s. And then he could go 40/50 miles. And I own a car, and can go a hundred miles, or even jump a plane and go thousands if I want.

I'm not going back to bike or foot travel. Not voting .

@bobjmsn

I've seen . I'm not turning my country into that. I'm not shrinking my world down to that level. The need to stop being so anti car, and anti personal travel, if they want my vote.

@CrypticMirror @bobjmsn what about Wales? We have perfectly good roads here 😂

@huwfulcher @bobjmsn

Yeah, but that sheep-escape speed limit...

The average sheep can run at 25mph.

@CrypticMirror Scottish Greens negotiated free bus travel for young people. Affordable clean public transport is the answer.

@bobjmsn Still takes two buses and over an hour to go the thirteen miles to Tesco. And, obviously, I don't qualify for free transport. Costs almost twenty quid for a return ticket.

Bus transport is crippled by being hub and spoke, by necessity. Until public transport is ondemand and direct door-to-door it is a non starter, a regressive step, in mass transport policy.

@CrypticMirror Hence the need for the 15 minute city. Move facilities and services closer to people.

@bobjmsn Gonna be hard to have a fifteen minute city in the middle of the Scottish countryside, lotta building activity if you ask me.

@CrypticMirror People used to have shops within walking distance; why is that not possible now?

@bobjmsn I remember those. Green milk that was on the turn even in the shop fridge, and spongy turnips, no thank you on going back to those days. Plus the premium prices for it. The supermarkets were a blessed relief. I do not wear the nostalgia goggles

@CrypticMirror @bobjmsn 20 miles by bike takes most folk about an hour and a half. What was your grandfather up to for the rest of the day? Did your grandmother ever think to ask?

@CloudyMrs @bobjmsn

Say that again within arms reach of me, I dare you.

@CrypticMirror @bobjmsn I should be safe enough if you're as slow off the mark as your Grandpa. 🤣 never walked further than five miles from home in his life, eh? Sounds legit. 😐

@CrypticMirror FWIW we've never had a car, but we do use taxis and trains and even occasionally planes. I guess for me it's about encouraging everyone into only using the car when you need it, and using other transport when you can, rather than trying to take people's freedom away. And sometimes "need" can be just "I'm tired" or "it's wet" or whatever. (My bike is my freedom, but I know it's not like that for everyone).

@CrypticMirror [If I were a more confident driver I'd use the local car share schemes or hire cars for the occasional more convenient day out, but I'm not]