23-03-2022, 02:58 PM
Covid has already changed the way many of us work. Permanently
Instead of driving 20odd miles to the nearest big(er) town office every day, then 20odd miles back.
I've taken a job where there are more staff than desks, because they shut the more regional offices. So 'hybrid' working it is. Currently 4 days/wk from home. 1 day/wk in the office - which is the nearest big city. The likelyhood of going 5 days a week are getting less by the day as my employer takes more staff on and provide no more desks.
So 1day/wk by car to the nearest railway station with free parking (still 20 odd miles), then 40mins on the train (same back).
Mrs Jones works 3 mile up the road, and is hands on so has to travel.
I have not had to fill up the car twice a week since, indeed my biggest use of fuel is driving to the shed where I keep the steamers (10mile each way) to work on them. It also means that running 2 cars that are 15years old + is less of a stress as they do bugger all miles. In fact if I could find somewhere secure to keep an Austin near the station, I could get rid of my car totally and just use one of the Austins for running about in given I live in a market town.
I fully accept the likes of David who live in the arse end of nowhere need a vehicle to get to any services. So the current issue with fuel prices hits you guys harder.
Fundamentally, when there are more of these bloody electric things than petrol cars, the government of the day will need to rebalance the revenue streams. Current thinking is road charging, and I think the likelihood is that this will be variable, possibly even to the point where it costs david £X to drive perm mile in his local area, whearas it may cost me £X+25% as an outsider. And costs everyone through the nose in cities. But of course he will still be paying the same charge for the 'leccy his motor uses as I will. So it still wont be 100% fair.
Instead of driving 20odd miles to the nearest big(er) town office every day, then 20odd miles back.
I've taken a job where there are more staff than desks, because they shut the more regional offices. So 'hybrid' working it is. Currently 4 days/wk from home. 1 day/wk in the office - which is the nearest big city. The likelyhood of going 5 days a week are getting less by the day as my employer takes more staff on and provide no more desks.
So 1day/wk by car to the nearest railway station with free parking (still 20 odd miles), then 40mins on the train (same back).
Mrs Jones works 3 mile up the road, and is hands on so has to travel.
I have not had to fill up the car twice a week since, indeed my biggest use of fuel is driving to the shed where I keep the steamers (10mile each way) to work on them. It also means that running 2 cars that are 15years old + is less of a stress as they do bugger all miles. In fact if I could find somewhere secure to keep an Austin near the station, I could get rid of my car totally and just use one of the Austins for running about in given I live in a market town.
I fully accept the likes of David who live in the arse end of nowhere need a vehicle to get to any services. So the current issue with fuel prices hits you guys harder.
Fundamentally, when there are more of these bloody electric things than petrol cars, the government of the day will need to rebalance the revenue streams. Current thinking is road charging, and I think the likelihood is that this will be variable, possibly even to the point where it costs david £X to drive perm mile in his local area, whearas it may cost me £X+25% as an outsider. And costs everyone through the nose in cities. But of course he will still be paying the same charge for the 'leccy his motor uses as I will. So it still wont be 100% fair.