A couple of years ago I tried a little experiment and tried to go a year without a car relying solely on cycling, hitching and public transport. My conclusion in Rural Wales it's impossible if you want to have anything close to a normal life.
Of course, this was pre-Covid when home shopping options were limited so it would be easier now so the first challenge was the weekly shop in Tesco. This became a test of strength packing skills and careful planning. Out came my 70 litre backpack and what fitted in came home assuming I could lift it and woe betide if I was delayed and missed the last bus.
Yes, that would be the last bus at 1810 Mon-Sat with nothing on a Sunday from Rhayader to Llandrindod or from Hereford for that matter too. So school governors meetings were, make sure I had a lift back or out with the bike and a 45-minute ride, lovely in summer but no chance in winter. This was however the major positive as it kept me fit and well and was reliable in arrival time (except for picking up the occasional puncture or having someone tamper with the peddle and brakes).
So, what if I wanted to go further afield. Not many options really Cardiff in a day? Fine if 2 hours in the city works for you or you are happy with a 9-mile walk home at the end of the trip nor can afford a taxi.
The sad reality is there isn't a viable public transport network in mid-Wales that supports anyone who wants to live sans-car other than on the Newtown-Builth-Brecon Trawscambria service route. Even where busses do exist the cost of travel is no cheaper than running a car (based on HMRC cost calculations) and far less convenient.
And therein lies the challenge, rural bus services are creating their own CO2 footprint for a handful of people. Rural residents no matter how much they might want to go car-free are trapped by a lack of service options. Whilst I was able to walk/cycle /bus or tube everywhere in London hiring a car for weekends away when needed here in mid-Wales ownership is a necessity for the majority of residents and while that remains the case the challenge of reaching net zero is just that little bit harder to reach.
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