Fuel Rationing

[Oola]

Petrol at our local garage is now £1.12 per litre - I can't see it going down any time soon.

I was thinking, how would Rich and I cope if the government introduced some sort of fuel rationing. In fact, how would the whole nation cope? Commuting fairly large distances is part and parcel of everyday living for many people now I think. Fuel rationing would be nigh on impossible, as local transport infrastructures are already struggling and offering a poor service, and I think the country would be up in arms as they rely on so much petrol just to get to work.

However remote working via the Internet may make it more viable. Could you ration your petrol? What would it mean for you? Do you take public transport much these days? I have to admit, I rarely do. If we travel into London we go via train, as it's pretty direct and the M1 is just horrendous these days. But everywhere else we go via car.

As Rich and I don't have to commute at the moment, I think we'd be ok. But if petrol prices continue to increase, I think a lot of people are going to struggle to carry on being employed so far from home. My sister only lives 15 mins or so from her workplace and it costs her £5 a day to travel in.

[sunflower]

Well, when I have'nt any cracked bones! I'm lucky enough to live near the hospital where I work and can ride my vintage bike...Willow(that's her name) or walk. However, lately, because I have been so ill this last two years, I have been thinking of the future. I would hate to give up cycling, so am seriously considering one of those bikes that run on a battery. It would be more difficult for Hubby because, most of his work is all over Dorset, and he has to take all his hefty tools in each day. He did try leaving tools on the job but has had them stolen so many times throughout his working life, that it is'nt an option.

[jazzactivist]

Good point, Oola. On first thought it would be impossible to live where I do in Scotland and have fuel rationing, as you need a car for absolutely everything. There is hardly any public transport, although the Dial a Ride bus has started up here now which is going well. However, there are quite a few people who live here and work from home, and there is now a range of vans selling food coming up here, plus wood, coal and oil trucks. However, this all happens during the day, so is difficult for people who go out to work! For commuting a car is essential, and also for any other type of shopping, or leisure interests. Thinking about it more, it would actually be possible to live here and never leave the village, but I wouldn't fancy such an insular lifestyle. Although I agree with public transport and think that the government should be putting much more investment into it to make it frequent and affordable for everyone, it is rare that one journey takes you exactly where you want to go - especially for work. So every journey takes a much longer time, all in. Plus, you don't have the personal space that you have in a car.

When I lived in South Africa there was fuel rationing for a couple of years and the way that they dealt with it there was to have only a few petrol stations open after 5pm with limited petrol available, and a surcharge if you bought petrol before or after certain times ie before 9am or after 5pm. The surcharge was hefty (R5 whether you wanted a full tank or not, and a full tank then cost R15). Everyone adapted to it a just bought / used less petrol, even though it is a county where distances between things are much greater than in the UK.