City one of the least car dependent (From Daily Echo)

Yeah, probably so, because driving in and around Southampton is an absolute nightmare. Too many traffic lights, poor phasing, too many roads dug up (and for too long) and inadequate road structures.

Plus there isn't a lot to go into Southampton for and many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton.

It has nothing to do with viable alternatives being provided! What a load of rubbish.

I think you speak for many Grinch!

Yes, I agree too.
>
"many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton"
Sadly, years of Labour driven councils, and Union interference, have driven businesses away - it is not perceived as a business friendly City.

Non existent City Centre places to go.

George4th wrote:
Yes, I agree too.
>
"many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton"
Sadly, years of Labour driven councils, and Union interference, have driven businesses away - it is not perceived as a business friendly City.

Here we go again,lets make it a political issue......numpty

I want to use transport instead of my car but due to a lack of transport, transport cut backs, over priced fares and transport takes 3 times as long as driving and a change of bus half way through makes it a nightmare to use transport in Southampton. This is rubbish a survey.

Should of said 'This is a rubbish survey.'

The Grinch wrote:
Yeah, probably so, because driving in and around Southampton is an absolute nightmare. Too many traffic lights, poor phasing, too many roads dug up (and for too long) and inadequate road structures.

Plus there isn't a lot to go into Southampton for and many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton.

It has nothing to do with viable alternatives being provided! What a load of rubbish.

Totally agree with you ! I have never driven in a City where the phasing of the lights actually bears no resemblance to the flow of traffic as badly as Southampton. Someone isn't doing their job properly !!

Lack of adequate parking is also to blame.

Congratulations, Asa Thorpe, for passing your politicians exam. Make driving round the city such a nightmare that nobody wants to do it, then claim it's because public transport is so wonderful. Top of the class!

The Grinch wrote:
Yeah, probably so, because driving in and around Southampton is an absolute nightmare. Too many traffic lights, poor phasing, too many roads dug up (and for too long) and inadequate road structures.

Plus there isn't a lot to go into Southampton for and many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton.

It has nothing to do with viable alternatives being provided! What a load of rubbish.

Good post, I totally agree with you.

It's because half the residents who live within the city limits can't afford a car!

The cost of parking is a big factor in the city.

.. I think I agree with almost everyone.

As a pedestrian, bus pass holder, cyclist and car driver my observations are: -

Driving is an absolute nightmare.

Cycling is not provided for adequately and in places made unnecessarily dangerous.

Buses are uncoordinated and infrequent - especially after 6pm.

Even walking is made unnecessarily difficult by lack of routes, facilities and safety provisions.

Had to travel many towns and cities in this country but it’s hard to think of one that makes ALL forms of getting about so unbelievably difficult.

freefinker wrote:
.. I think I agree with almost everyone.

As a pedestrian, bus pass holder, cyclist and car driver my observations are: -

Driving is an absolute nightmare.

Cycling is not provided for adequately and in places made unnecessarily dangerous.

Buses are uncoordinated and infrequent - especially after 6pm.

Even walking is made unnecessarily difficult by lack of routes, facilities and safety provisions.

Had to travel many towns and cities in this country but it’s hard to think of one that makes ALL forms of getting about so unbelievably difficult.

I totally agree with this post 100%... I've never lived in a city with such poor infrastructure!

Even my parents have given up driving into town.If they need anything they order it online and get it delivered.As for public transport, pah! Way too expensive for a family to use a bus.Especially when you have to use firstbus and bluestar to visit a relative.

No mention of how much this ridiculous survey cost! Southampton people leave their cars at home because they want to travel on crappy buses with chavs and inbreds (woops! that's another story) Family of 4 to travel from Bitterne to City return, how much? Has to be about £10 return. Car and parking for 2 hours about £5. There we go, my survey of the situation. Cost...... free!

wilson castaway wrote:
Even my parents have given up driving into town.If they need anything they order it online and get it delivered.As for public transport, pah! Way too expensive for a family to use a bus.Especially when you have to use firstbus and bluestar to visit a relative.

Good point about the disparate bus companies. How backward is it that this city can't support a single travel card that's valid on any bus? A lot of commuters will have to pay for 2 season tickets, just to get to work. Ridiculous.

Lack of parking spaces, robbery for what is available, poor public transport, gridlocked main roads, prolific roadworks, not surprising really is it?

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Lack of parking spaces, robbery for what is available, poor public transport, gridlocked main roads, prolific roadworks, not surprising really is it?

The legacy of 4 years from Conservative rule

localnews wrote:

George4th wrote:
Yes, I agree too.
>
"many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton"
Sadly, years of Labour driven councils, and Union interference, have driven businesses away - it is not perceived as a business friendly City.

Here we go again,lets make it a political issue......numpty

George4th's comment is anti Labour drivel but your comment is entirely wrong. Of course it's a political issue just like virtually everything that happens in life.

Politics is not a dirty word, it helps us form a view about how to run a democratic society with competing needs and views.

andysaints007 wrote:

The Grinch wrote:
Yeah, probably so, because driving in and around Southampton is an absolute nightmare. Too many traffic lights, poor phasing, too many roads dug up (and for too long) and inadequate road structures.

Plus there isn't a lot to go into Southampton for and many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton.

It has nothing to do with viable alternatives being provided! What a load of rubbish.

Totally agree with you ! I have never driven in a City where the phasing of the lights actually bears no resemblance to the flow of traffic as badly as Southampton. Someone isn't doing their job properly !!

like many, i'm in total agreement with these posts. and just to add that the state of local/ suburban roads is appalling too. plus the cobden bridge debacle, southampton has awful communication infrastructure full stop.

Given the majority of the comments above here, I’m surprised that even more people don’t simply cycle around the city…

I find cycling through Southampton far easier than driving. It’s normally faster and I don’t need to fret about congestion, traffic light phasing (I do stop at red lights and don’t ride on pavements btw). I don’t need to consider the lack/cost of parking, speed cameras, wheel clampers or the high tax on fuel.

I am also far fitter as a result of riding 8+ miles per day to work and back; occasionally bikes can be perceived as dangerous but it has been proven to be less risky than walking, statistically speaking. There are now many more cycle paths and wells in town but we still need more.

I do drive occasionally, when needed but as a family we gave up on owning two cars a couple of years ago and have saved many thousands of pounds as a result. Car ownership can cost about £6,000 per year on average.

I say good work to the council for all your efforts to promote sustainable transport within the city. Keep it up! It has to happen sooner rather than later. There are too many cars on the roads and they are still being used too often for short and unnecessary journeys.

To the people here who say there is nothing to do in the city – I say either, “You are not really looking very hard are you?” or (paraphrasing something a Tory MP once stated) “Get on your bike and go elsewhere then”.

Georgem wrote:

wilson castaway wrote:
Even my parents have given up driving into town.If they need anything they order it online and get it delivered.As for public transport, pah! Way too expensive for a family to use a bus.Especially when you have to use firstbus and bluestar to visit a relative.

Good point about the disparate bus companies. How backward is it that this city can't support a single travel card that's valid on any bus? A lot of commuters will have to pay for 2 season tickets, just to get to work. Ridiculous.

Last week me and my two son's went to visit my sister, total cost of travel was just over £17 due to using both companies.Totally disgusting.

Lone Ranger. wrote:

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Lack of parking spaces, robbery for what is available, poor public transport, gridlocked main roads, prolific roadworks, not surprising really is it?

The legacy of 4 years from Conservative rule

So, now the current Labour council have had time to look at these things, an assumption I know, things are better now? They have plans to resolve this crisis then? If a legacy of something is bad then you would assume again they would try to fix it, surely?

It'll be interesting to see if the parking situation has improved after their 4 year run. If it doesn't get any better, apart from yourself looking a bit silly, then we can look at Labour's legacy.

Doesn't really matter which party is ruining Southampton, fact is when I moved to Southampton in 1988 it was already known as the biggest Red Light district in the world and that position has never since shown any signs of changing. I myself only use my car when doing my monthly shop at Tesco's ( no parking charges ) or going long distances outside of Southampton. I usually walk from Swaythling to town centre when it's not raining as that is usually quicker, so any argument that good public transport is responsible for less use of cars is total rubbish.

HillsidePaul wrote:

localnews wrote:

George4th wrote:
Yes, I agree too.
>
"many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton"
Sadly, years of Labour driven councils, and Union interference, have driven businesses away - it is not perceived as a business friendly City.

Here we go again,lets make it a political issue......numpty

George4th's comment is anti Labour drivel but your comment is entirely wrong. Of course it's a political issue just like virtually everything that happens in life.

Politics is not a dirty word, it helps us form a view about how to run a democratic society with competing needs and views.

Yes, politics is intrinsic to most aspects of modern life, but what localnews is referring to, presumably, is the insistence by many posters of boiling every single issue down to a simple Labour vs Tory argument, or any other similar variant of the old false dichotomy. THAT solves nothing. These arguments are nothing to do with politics, they're 100% about which particular party happened to be in power at any given time.

wilson castaway wrote:

Georgem wrote:

wilson castaway wrote:
Even my parents have given up driving into town.If they need anything they order it online and get it delivered.As for public transport, pah! Way too expensive for a family to use a bus.Especially when you have to use firstbus and bluestar to visit a relative.

Good point about the disparate bus companies. How backward is it that this city can't support a single travel card that's valid on any bus? A lot of commuters will have to pay for 2 season tickets, just to get to work. Ridiculous.

Last week me and my two son's went to visit my sister, total cost of travel was just over £17 due to using both companies.Totally disgusting.

Bunch of cheapskates,ride a bike if you want free travel.

bigfella777 wrote:

wilson castaway wrote:

Georgem wrote:

wilson castaway wrote:
Even my parents have given up driving into town.If they need anything they order it online and get it delivered.As for public transport, pah! Way too expensive for a family to use a bus.Especially when you have to use firstbus and bluestar to visit a relative.

Good point about the disparate bus companies. How backward is it that this city can't support a single travel card that's valid on any bus? A lot of commuters will have to pay for 2 season tickets, just to get to work. Ridiculous.

Last week me and my two son's went to visit my sister, total cost of travel was just over £17 due to using both companies.Totally disgusting.

Bunch of cheapskates,ride a bike if you want free travel.

Calling them cheapskates, then suggesting free travel? Eh?

Also, where can I claim my free bike?

Georgem wrote:

HillsidePaul wrote:

localnews wrote:

George4th wrote:
Yes, I agree too.
>
"many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton"
Sadly, years of Labour driven councils, and Union interference, have driven businesses away - it is not perceived as a business friendly City.

Here we go again,lets make it a political issue......numpty

George4th's comment is anti Labour drivel but your comment is entirely wrong. Of course it's a political issue just like virtually everything that happens in life.

Politics is not a dirty word, it helps us form a view about how to run a democratic society with competing needs and views.

Yes, politics is intrinsic to most aspects of modern life, but what localnews is referring to, presumably, is the insistence by many posters of boiling every single issue down to a simple Labour vs Tory argument, or any other similar variant of the old false dichotomy. THAT solves nothing. These arguments are nothing to do with politics, they're 100% about which particular party happened to be in power at any given time.

In my opinion, the 25 years prior to the Tory council, we had council after council whose inertia, lack of planning, and general incompetence (whilst introducing salaries for themselves!) was a big carbuncle on the backside of the City of Southampton.
>
The Tories took over in desperate economic times and yet they managed to achieve things way beyond the previous 25 years of councils! The educated young and business do not favour Southampton - Why? For the young a lack of opportunity. For business? All those years of discouragement through lack of planning and the ongoing bad reputation of Unions.
Just when it looked like things were changing for the better in Southampton we (not me!) go and elect a Labour Council who, judging by the early signs, are as incompetent as all the previous Labour councils!

You reap what you sow...............

George4th wrote:

Georgem wrote:

HillsidePaul wrote:

localnews wrote:

George4th wrote:
Yes, I agree too.
>
"many companies for whom people could work have relocated out of Southampton"
Sadly, years of Labour driven councils, and Union interference, have driven businesses away - it is not perceived as a business friendly City.

Here we go again,lets make it a political issue......numpty

George4th's comment is anti Labour drivel but your comment is entirely wrong. Of course it's a political issue just like virtually everything that happens in life.

Politics is not a dirty word, it helps us form a view about how to run a democratic society with competing needs and views.

Yes, politics is intrinsic to most aspects of modern life, but what localnews is referring to, presumably, is the insistence by many posters of boiling every single issue down to a simple Labour vs Tory argument, or any other similar variant of the old false dichotomy. THAT solves nothing. These arguments are nothing to do with politics, they're 100% about which particular party happened to be in power at any given time.

In my opinion, the 25 years prior to the Tory council, we had council after council whose inertia, lack of planning, and general incompetence (whilst introducing salaries for themselves!) was a big carbuncle on the backside of the City of Southampton.
>
The Tories took over in desperate economic times and yet they managed to achieve things way beyond the previous 25 years of councils! The educated young and business do not favour Southampton - Why? For the young a lack of opportunity. For business? All those years of discouragement through lack of planning and the ongoing bad reputation of Unions.
Just when it looked like things were changing for the better in Southampton we (not me!) go and elect a Labour Council who, judging by the early signs, are as incompetent as all the previous Labour councils!

You reap what you sow...............

The prosecution rests....

Georgem wrote:

wilson castaway wrote: Even my parents have given up driving into town.If they need anything they order it online and get it delivered.As for public transport, pah! Way too expensive for a family to use a bus.Especially when you have to use firstbus and bluestar to visit a relative.

Good point about the disparate bus companies. How backward is it that this city can't support a single travel card that's valid on any bus? A lot of commuters will have to pay for 2 season tickets, just to get to work. Ridiculous.

It appears you are not aware of the Solent Travelcard: http://www.solent-tr
avelcard.org.uk/inde
x.html
which is ideal for many bus commuters.

Im certainly no cheapskate, i never suggested that I wanted free travel.I actually walk over 8 miles a day taking my son to school as I cannot afford the bus so im not lazy, I think if public transport was cheaper and reliable then I suspect many more people would use it and this report would ring true to many people.Does a solent travel card cross all bus companies?

SilvanDryad wrote:

Georgem wrote:

wilson castaway wrote: Even my parents have given up driving into town.If they need anything they order it online and get it delivered.As for public transport, pah! Way too expensive for a family to use a bus.Especially when you have to use firstbus and bluestar to visit a relative.

Good point about the disparate bus companies. How backward is it that this city can't support a single travel card that's valid on any bus? A lot of commuters will have to pay for 2 season tickets, just to get to work. Ridiculous.

It appears you are not aware of the Solent Travelcard: http://www.solent-tr

avelcard.org.uk/inde

x.html
which is ideal for many bus commuters.

I was not aware of that, no. Thanks!

Shoong wrote:

Lone Ranger. wrote:

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Lack of parking spaces, robbery for what is available, poor public transport, gridlocked main roads, prolific roadworks, not surprising really is it?

The legacy of 4 years from Conservative rule

So, now the current Labour council have had time to look at these things, an assumption I know, things are better now? They have plans to resolve this crisis then? If a legacy of something is bad then you would assume again they would try to fix it, surely?

It'll be interesting to see if the parking situation has improved after their 4 year run. If it doesn't get any better, apart from yourself looking a bit silly, then we can look at Labour's legacy.

Me looking silly ....... well i do that on a daily basis ........ But... somehow you still seem to beat me to it

Georgem wrote:
Congratulations, Asa Thorpe, for passing your politicians exam. Make driving round the city such a nightmare that nobody wants to do it, then claim it's because public transport is so wonderful. Top of the class!

Yep, it's like yesterday, I went into town and the light sequence for the Kathleen/Bursledon road junction had gone funny, the lights for people coming out of Kathleen road decided that somehow, people going left would be able to go around people waiting to go right as the left turn light was green and the right turn one was red (even though Kathleen road is only a single carriageway) and someone was waiting for the right turn to go green but someone intimidated them with their horn and giving it the coffee beans so that they went left and did a U-turn, if that's not poor light management then I don't know what is.

Lone Ranger. wrote:

OSPREYSAINT wrote:
Lack of parking spaces, robbery for what is available, poor public transport, gridlocked main roads, prolific roadworks, not surprising really is it?

The legacy of 4 years from Conservative rule

This problem has been ongoing for a lot longer than 4 years !

Urbane Forager wrote:
Given the majority of the comments above here, I’m surprised that even more people don’t simply cycle around the city…

I find cycling through Southampton far easier than driving. It’s normally faster and I don’t need to fret about congestion, traffic light phasing (I do stop at red lights and don’t ride on pavements btw). I don’t need to consider the lack/cost of parking, speed cameras, wheel clampers or the high tax on fuel.

I am also far fitter as a result of riding 8+ miles per day to work and back; occasionally bikes can be perceived as dangerous but it has been proven to be less risky than walking, statistically speaking. There are now many more cycle paths and wells in town but we still need more.

I do drive occasionally, when needed but as a family we gave up on owning two cars a couple of years ago and have saved many thousands of pounds as a result. Car ownership can cost about £6,000 per year on average.

I say good work to the council for all your efforts to promote sustainable transport within the city. Keep it up! It has to happen sooner rather than later. There are too many cars on the roads and they are still being used too often for short and unnecessary journeys.

To the people here who say there is nothing to do in the city – I say either, “You are not really looking very hard are you?” or (paraphrasing something a Tory MP once stated) “Get on your bike and go elsewhere then”.

I applaud you as a fellow cyclist, one point to add about the perceived "danger" of cycling, the only thing that makes it dangerous is the small minority of drivers who drive recklessly around us, like a cemex mixer earlier today, barely gave me 1.5ft when passing and about a month ago a bluestar bus passed me with less than a foot between us and people wonder why so many cyclists ride on the pavement when it's due to unnecessary fear caused by such drivers? Thankfully the vast majority of motorists are ok, I even have a bluestar driver noted on video to commend for brilliant driving.