h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

One of the big problems in the U.K. over transport policy is just how "laissez-faire" government & local autorities are towards transport. It's not deemed so important as to allocate too many government resources when there are more pressing concerns (which incidentally also have a greater political price on them, namely healthcare and education). Added to this, tax revenues would rarely be spent or even risen to the benefit of transport ( so there may be a case for this behaviour). Subsidizing bus & train companies to keep prices down & standards higher, more toll roads...etc. (although, instead the politicians stealthily raise road tax, motor insurance, tax on petrol - U.K. has highest petrol prices in Europe -...as a hidden effort to move us out of the car). By the 'eck, such a policy has worked in France before now .
However, it would require a total culture change from government to move away from the fad of deregulation in the sector and the British public with their love affair of the automobile. Although, if the alternatives were so much better, I'm sure the good people of this Sceptr'd Isle would gladly hop on a bus. Although, a cost/benefit analysis of using public transport in the UK @ the moment would probably conclude that the car is just so much more convenient, efficient & preferable than public transport has shown itself to be. Afterall, when all is said & done, profit is the transport companies' overriding aim (above safety). Although, to be fair, it's not just the British public that love their cars. It's my experience that they don't like to complain as loudly or as frequently as their foreign counterparts. They're more likely to accept the fait-accompli that is the world of transportation.

HINT: Public transport is probably best used if you're not in any particular hurry - hence, if at all possible, avoid the twice daily scrum that is rush hour & travel off-peak (cheaper that way).

Yes please! Sitting here writing this while i'm waiting for a bus that is habitually late, i would heartily subscribe to any measures that would improve public transport. I pay over £300 for a pass for three terms worth of bussing too and from college, but when the buses are late, i arrive late to lessons and nobody benefits. grr And now the trains are being reduced too! Out of the 100 trains that are being taken out of service, apparently 30 are on the Southampton to Bournemouth line - the line i (and many others) use to get to college!!!!!! What can we do? I guess i should just give up college and write letters to my local government

How about 2 big ropes tied round Snowden, & some rather large tugboats pulling hard/