badlyDrawnToy

For the past six months I’ve been on a contract in Cheadle Heath, which is 2 miles from the centre of Stockport and 14 miles from my house in Macclesfield. I’ve been driving each day which is painfully slow unless the school kids are on holiday. Even then, I am likely to get delayed by a farmer herding cattle across the road, or am forced to drive slowly to accommodate the odd cyclist that braves the narrow country roads.

I can’t get angry with the cyclists. They are doing the right thing. However, the council is not; with no provision for cycle lanes in an area with 50mph speed limits on unlit roads. I am not as brave as them.

The more sensible option would be to take public transport or to combine cycling with public transport. I want to do the right thing - cut back on the carbon emmisions and get a bit fitter.

So, let’s look at the options with regards to time and to cost. It’s hard to work out the cost of the car as there are obvious running costs, but let’s ignore this and just look at petrol costs.

### Travelling By Car
To get to the office for 9am, requires about 1 hour travel. I tend to get in before 8am to speed up the journey, but this still takes 45 minutes. If I get in for 7am, I can do it in 30 minutes, but I don’t really wish to start work so early.

####Travel cost and time (one direction)

Approx journey time: 45-60 mins.

Approx cost: £1.50

###Travelling By Bus
A single bus journey takes me from Macclesfield town centre to Stockport town centre. The journey takes 1hr 5 mins, plus a ten minute walk to Macclesfield . However, to reach my office, I still have another two mile journey at the other end, on a second bus. This takes the total journey time to over 2 hours (one way).

The travel costs are quite good. A weekly travel-card is £14 for 7 days travel.

But Macclesfield is in the county of Cheshire, and Stockport is in the county of Greater Manchester, and that’s where the problems begin. Because I travel across two counties, I have to deal with two independent travel budgets. The upshot being, that I cannot buy one travel-card for the two journeys. So, it’s another £9.50 for the second bus journey.

####Travel cost and time (one direction)

Approx journey time: 125 mins.

Approx cost: £2.35

###Travelling by Train
Train travel shouldn’t be too difficult. Macclesfield is on the main inter-city line from Manchester to London, stopping at Stockport in-between. To supplement the inter-city route, there are also local trains. Travel time is quick, ranging form 12 minutes to 23 minutes.

The cost isn’t so pretty though costing £35.60 for the week. And like the bus option, I still need to get form Stockport town centre to work, so that’s another £9.50 and another 45 minutes travel time.

####Travel cost and time (one direction)

Approx journey time: 70 mins.

Approx cost: £4.50

###Travelling by Train and Bike
The obvious option is train and bike. This removes the issue of getting a bus at the other end of my journey. Plus it keeps me fit. Travel time wold be reduced, as would the cost - though £7 for two 20 minutes journeys is still bloody expensive.

The key question is - can I take a bike on the train? Thankfully the answer is yes… sort of.

Both Virgin Trains, who run the inter-city trains, and Northern trains do have cycle policies, but they’re fairly restrictive. Virgin trains require compulsory reservation and allow only 4 cycles per train. So if 4 people form London decide to bring their bikes up, I’m stuffed. Plus they have restrictions at peak times. I’ve been on the train, and it is packed to the rafters - people sitting in corridors etc. so I’m not confident it is a viable regular solution. The gentleman I spoke to at National Rail Enquiries tended to agree.

Northern trains don’t require reservation, but they only allow 2 cycles per train. The trains run every 15-20 minutes, so it is a possibility.

####Travel cost and time (one direction)

Approx journey time: 20 mins.

Approx cost: £3.55

###Summary
I have in my hand a leaflet from National Rail that reads:

National Rail encourages the integrated use of cycles on trains

My arse! 2 bike spaces on a train cannot be described as encouraging!

Perhaps I’m being a little unfair. All train operators do now allow passengers to carry a folding bicycle on board. This is a positive gesture. Though I find it hard to imagine them refusing a passenger. It’s no different to a pram, or suitcase. That said, some train will only allow folding bikes on board if they can be stowed safely. Right. Well, next time you’re on a Virgin train, see if you there is anywhere to store luggage safely!

National Rail seems to be plugging Brompton bicycles as the folding bike of choice. Well, they’re priced between £380 and £1,000, so this is not an option. I have a perfectly good bike, with BIG wheels.

Well, I think I’ll give it a go on Northern Rail. Hopefully, no one else wants to get fit and reduce their carbon footprint.

Tags: stockport transport