The last time I went on a bus before today was on my birthday, just over 15 months ago. I’d originally taken the day off to go for a walk with a friend but she’d called that off as the pandemic accelerated. It had therefore seemed propitious to take myself into Leeds city centre for a few items before it perhaps became too difficult, either in terms of travel or availability.
Now, with the imminent return to some semblance of face-to-face teaching and thus the requirement to transport myself one way or another to my place of work, I decided it was time to dip my toe in the public transport water again. I’d avoided buses till now, knowing that it was best to enable seats to be available for those who had to use them, but I can’t justify driving to work. As we can see currently in the US and Canada, climate change isn’t going away any time soon.
Anyway, the journey passed without note, though I did note that the roadworks practically all the way from A to B would be crucifying at peak travel times. However, that is tomorrow’s problem.
Of greater concern is the closure of a health food shop I have been trying to support since the first lockdown. It does have another smaller branch in Leeds markets but they can’t carry the same amount of stock. So, today I just had to take what I could and hope this shop can keep its head above water.
On a more joyous level, I at last was able to indulge in a coffee at an independent coffee shop I’d first noticed and hoped to patronise before, well, you know what. In the event, it was delightful and I stayed for over an hour, drinking coffee, reading my latest novel and looking out onto a down-at-heel street which has seemingly been ear-marked for some kind of redevelopment.
Growing out of chaos 
I am glad you enjoyed your coffee and the trip to Leeds went okay. Best of luck with the journey to work and hope the traffic/roadworks don’t cause too much of a delay.
Thank you, Clare.
What an adventure! I haven’t been on a bus or train since before lockdown either. But you are right about us needing to change our habits – I just wish it was possible to use public transport more but I have to drive so far to get to a bus route that |I might as well do the whole journey by car! It looks as though a number of small businesses have failed during the lockdown or just decided to retire or do something else. I hope some new entrepreneurs take the opportunity to start up something new.
Big companies have gone as well – eg Debenhams.
Many parts of the country are poorly served by public transport. One of my beefs with HS2 is that the money could be better spent on local public transport infrastructure.
At least you could get out and give it a go. May things improve for us all – especially you who have to travel to work
Thank you, Derrick.
You are braver than I am. Roadworks do seem to be a feature of the return to work. 😉
Oh well, hopefully they will be over by Semester 1 in the autumn…
You are a hopeless optimist, aren’t you?
I’m definitely an optimist. Hopefully, tempered by a dash of critical thinking 😊
🙂
High Streets are going to need all the help they can get.I have been patronising four towns with their High streets, anything to help.
That’s great, Cathy.