10 Dec 2001
Planes, Trains and automobiles
One of the less annoying things about travelling by train; less compared to the crush, the delays and the misinformation; is to see the rows of waiting cars at the other end of the journey. Wives, husbands, children all waiting for their beloved lazy relatives.
Their journey cannot be more than five minutes long given the number of stops on the route. I trudge off, annoyed by these people who would willingly (or not perhaps; perhaps they sit there fuming that they have to wait everyday for their spouses) give up their time. It is a waste of petrol and there is an ideal opportunity to try and keep fit.
The train car park is usually full and there are usually between ten and twenty cars wait for passengers to get off. I can understand the people who for one reason or another have to use the car; e.g. one off heavy shopping, pregnant, small child. But, it is usually, businessmen or women who should easily be able to walk the short distance home.
On a related note, I sometimes get the bus into town in the morning. There is more chance to read on the bus as there is a greater chance of a seat. Close to town there are a number of stops where large numbers of people wait. Usually, by this point, our bus is very full as it comes in from quite a way away. The looks of disgust we get when the bus sails straight past them. Walk, I say. On occasion, I've walked into town, roughly ten times as far as these people would have to go. It isn't far, and then the buses would be so full that they have to go past stops where people who need to use the buses (see above) are waiting.
Now, I've vented my fury at these people, I'm off down the pub (it's local; 100 yards away). I'll have to get my wife to drive me their in one of my Jags and get her to wait outside for me.
