Just a few years ago, if someone was looking to travel a long distance, they would most likely have found a way for someone else to drive them. They and lots of fellow passengers would have hopped together on a bus, a train, or even a plane to get to where they need to go. The popularity of these modes of transport has dwindled dramatically over the last few years. Whether it’s the big increases in ticket prices, the unreliability and lateness of services or even health reasons due to the ongoing pandemic, more and more people are choosing not to travel with big groups of strangers.
It may also be that services such as buses and trains have very rarely marketed themselves over the last few years. They’ve relied on people realizing they are the best option, or even the only option, to make whatever journey they have to make. Whilst they have stood still, many other forms of transport have marketed themselves effectively and overtaken them. Here are three ways in which customers are taking back control of their travel.
Leasing a vehicle
The main reason most people take a bus or even a train is because they don’t have access to a car. If they only have to make journeys like these infrequently, many people might see buying a car as a waste of a lot of money. Not only do you have to buy a car, but you also have to maintain it, insure it, tax it, and even pay for extras such as parking. Luckily, there are ways of getting behind a wheel when you need to without buying a car outright. Many people enjoy the convenience of nationwide car leasing, as the monthly installments they pay can also include their road tax and a warranty. Even if you have a bad credit history, some companies will still lease you a car so you can travel wherever you need to go. They can even deliver the car to wherever you are, so you can literally step out of your door and be in control of your own journey.
Getting an Uber
For those who are unable to drive, or for those occasions where it’s impractical to drive, an increasing amount of people are hiring Uber drivers to transport them. Whilst catching a bus or even a taxi can be a bit unpredictable when it comes to how long you’ll be waiting, the Uber app allows you to fully track when your lift will arrive and where they are at any given time. The rating system means that you can be assured of a good service.
Jumping on their bike
Another increasingly popular mode of transport is one of the most simplistic and traditional. Many people are hopping on their bike to get from one place to another. Whether they’re considering the health benefits or the environmental benefits, there are a lot of advantages to cycling. Many of our towns and cities are also becoming more bicycle friendly. More and more places have access to bikes that you can borrow for a few hours and many road layouts have been changed to include better cycling lanes.
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