Driving a car is a privilege. Be it the latest luxury EV or even an old banger. After being behind the wheel for nearly 40 years, having to unexpectedly stop driving (for eyesight reasons, I wasn't banned or anything like that) quickly makes you realise that it's something you easily take for granted.
Suddenly needing to rely on public transport on a regular basis again is a real shock to the system. And I'm not talking about standing at a freezing cold bus stop in the middle of January.
Or having to wait another 20 minutes because a scheduled bus hasn't materialised despite what the TFL live arrivals app says. Or even walking the length of a platform only for them to announce that the next train is going to be diverted to another for some reason.
No, as irritating as those things can be, the most annoying thing by far is something else entirely... your fellow travellers. Not all of them. Most are fine. The vast majority sit staring at their phones. Or reading the freebie newspapers. Or just look out the window.
It's the other ones. Those who play music or watch TV loud on their device but don't believe in headphones for some reason. Them who don't seem to understand, or don't care, how a queue works. The herd on the platform who form a scrum at the doorway and climb on en mass as you're trying to get off.
I could go on.
I commuted into London by train on a daily basis for years in the mid to late 80s, then again in the late 90s. Yes there were those yuppies who shouted into their chunky mobile phones. The complete stranger who would fall asleep with their head on your shoulder. And the occasional p*sshead who just won't leave you alone. I don't recall it all being quite as annoying as it is now though. Maybe it's just because I'm older... and crankier?
Getting used to public transport again hasn't been all bad though. Being at the end of a bus route means a seat guaranteed on the outbound journey at least. Getting off the bus and walking is an option when the roads get completely jammed. And the Elizabeth line is much more frequent than the commuter service it replaced.
I'm expecting the optometrist's all-clear to resume driving again next month, but I'm seriously considering just sticking to buses and trains after all. It's really not too bad. Honestly.
Huh - who am I kidding? I'm going to be driving again the second I'm able to!
