Station rage

I’m sick of either/or thinking when it comes to the debate about cars and public transport.

We all understand the need to reduce traffic: smooth running roads, less pollution, less road rage, stress and general lowering of one’s view of other human beings. Nothing induces contempt quite like the stupidity I see on the roads.

And, we know, the more public transport around our homes, the greater their value.

My problem is this: if I am going to pay the price for a train ticket, I don’t want to paying for parking at the station. Otherwise, I will simply drive my car to work and be blowed with my philosophical commitments.

So why oh why do so few train stations have long-term parking nearby?

Here’s the scenario. Alarm goes, grab another 10, then shuffle into the morning routine. Time melts. Run to car. Run back to pick up lunch. Hit the slow crawl of traffic to the train station. Circle, circle circle. Walk five blocks. Every carriage is packed. Beyond packed – it is a cattle train. Ever seen train rage?

Next day, try station further away on another line that is less crowded. Circle, circle, give up. Drive to work.

Next, try two stations farther along. Find park. Find seat on train. Happy.

Routine? Drive to train several stations away because of local government’s parking policy. (And crappy public transport on some lines.)

Local governments might have a rationale for the parking times they set around train stations but they are incomprehensible to the average and above-average commuter. They simply add to traffic on the roads, increase the amount of pollution going into our lungs, and drive us mental.

Create abundant free parking around train stations, increase frequency of trains. Result? Happy city dwellers, reducing their carbon footprint.

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Do you agree? Write and tell me your views.

BRW

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