@Magess train is not an option where I am, so I have no experience with that, er, experience. So ... car wins by default, as per the design plan for North America π
Most things within a 200 km radius are reachable most easily via car from home. London, Sarnia, Windsor, Hamilton, and the outskirts of the GTA are also within that 200 km radius of my house. Those require using multiple transportation methods so as to avoid going the long way around.
I voted train, but I'd actually prefer to bicycle if I have the time, I can find a safe route, and there are good/interesting places to stop along the way. So far I haven't done a bike trip of this length though, my longest bike journey was about 50 miles each way, maybe 60 depending on how you count.
How about... "I'd prefer train, but since I live in the USA where we don't have regular trains outside of major commuting corridors, my only choice for that distance would be a car."
I prefer a train, but if travelling with more than one person it's way too expensive.
For example, for a family of 4 who lives in Montreal to spend a week in Ottawa, renting a car for a week is a similar price to Via Rail, and unless you're staying in the downtown core you're going to want a car in Ottawa.
I chose other. With the acknowledgement I'm being snarky and not "coloring within the lines" here, my snap reaction is "Try to avoid having to drive 125mi" as a first step.
If I can't avoid it I'd go by car but only if I'm driving.
This is the midwestern US, traveling anywhere by train is a complete non starter.
I try to travel by train, if possible. But in many instances, e.g. when I want to go to rural areas with bad or no public transport, or during the height of the pandemic, I use the car instead.
I prefer trains, specially electric trains like subways. I love trolleys, those have some special place on my heart from the public transportation stand point.
Part of the problem is that for many, it is hard to even imagine some of the options. I've taken trains maybe four times in my life, and that includes commuter ones.
I was told there was a train in my area long ago, and a consortium of tire companies and oil men had it removed rail by rail to get people to drive instead.
Interesting would be the percentage of 'other' than motorbike within the 4% 'other' ... and of course their way over the distance ... donkey, zeppelin? π
It does depend where you start. A 125 mile journey from London is probably best on the train but a 125 mile journey from the moon is going to need a rocket or something IDK.
The interesting thing about this question to me is that before September of 2001 I *loved* flying and that would have been my immediate answer. But then the experience got a lot worse.
I missed this poll! I would have selected train as well. I worked the BC Rail line as a track labourer straight out of high school from '86-'91. In my opinion, there's no better way to get around! Hopefully we get some nice, clean passenger travel all around Canada someday soon. π
@scott actually you said they're almost never an option.
It sounds like they *are* an option quite often, but you prefer not to take them because they're inconvenient, expensive, have delays, are annoying, don't have good services at the terminals, etc.
Amtrak north of Seattle wasnβt available from lockdown until August last year. Going from Skagit to Seattle was three express busses. Lots of time to read!
Robb Montgomery
•https://robbmontgomery.com/travel-berlin-to-copenhagen-bike-tour/
Berlin to Copenhagen Bike Tour: A 20-day adventure - Robb Montgomery
Robb MontgomeryEvan Prodromou
•Mark Andrew
•5 km for me is walking distance. It's barely with the hassle ok getting the bike out and dealing with the lock etc.
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•Jan βπΌπΉβοΈποΈββοΈ
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•ghostdancer
•Stephen Kellat
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•Stu
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•Nelson Chu Pavlosky
•Mark Andrew
•That said go on train rides that long all the time.
I don't drive, so that's not really an option for me.
Dan York
•Rui Seabra
•John Beales
•For example, for a family of 4 who lives in Montreal to spend a week in Ottawa, renting a car for a week is a similar price to Via Rail, and unless you're staying in the downtown core you're going to want a car in Ottawa.
*.arj
•Akshay | ΰ° ΰ°ΰ±ΰ°·ΰ°―ΰ±
•Starry Starry Knight
•Starry Starry Knight
•Loy
•Tony Hoyle
•I can't see how planes would ever make sense for that journey.
Evan Prodromou
•Chris Thompson
•If I can't avoid it I'd go by car but only if I'm driving.
This is the midwestern US, traveling anywhere by train is a complete non starter.
Daevien
•Anna
•Evan Prodromou
•Anna
•Evan Prodromou
•But my question was, why does your preference depend on what's available?
Anna
•Mirko Adam
•Evan Prodromou
•I'm "train". I love taking them. It can be tough if the place you're going doesn't have good regional public transportation, but otherwise very fun.
Andres Jalinton
•I love trolleys, those have some special place on my heart from the public transportation stand point.
Evan Prodromou
•First was, "I prefer trains but that's not possible so cars". The question is "what is preferred", so it's interesting that people replied otherwise.
Second was, "No trains in my home town", which is also weird because the question doesn't ask about your home town or country.
I'll take those assumptions into account for future polls of this style.
Rozzychan
•I was told there was a train in my area long ago, and a consortium of tire companies and oil men had it removed rail by rail to get people to drive instead.
morph
•Adam Dalliance
•Mark Andrew
•In any case I made a decision to prefer public transport sometime in the 90s and that has influence my, and my employment and housing decisions.
mcc
•Grant πΊπ¦ArmUkraineπΊπ¦
•Evan Prodromou
•https://www.amtrak.com/plan-your-trip.html
Amtrak Travel Planning Map
www.amtrak.comEvan Prodromou
•https://www.amtrak.com/plan-your-trip.html
Amtrak Travel Planning Map
www.amtrak.comEvan Prodromou
•If I ask, "Do you prefer cake or ice cream?" you can kind of guess that I'm talking about an abstract preference.
If I am pushing a dessert cart and ask the same question, you'd expect that I'm asking which of the available options you want.
Greg
•If I was forced to not use a car to do that length trip around here I would not prefer it π
Christopher Neugebauer
•Evan Prodromou
•It sounds like they *are* an option quite often, but you prefer not to take them because they're inconvenient, expensive, have delays, are annoying, don't have good services at the terminals, etc.
Evan Prodromou
•Evan Prodromou
•: j@fabrica:~/src; :t_blink:
•Piper McCorkle π» WA6PMC
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