“The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence” and “things were much better in the past.”
We are regularly guilty of adopting this approach to life. I can often be found telling people that football was better before all these highly paid imports and Sky TV ruined everything.
In those days I could stand on the terraces trying to get a good view of players hacking the ball around on a glue pot of a pitch and then stand a good chance of having my head kicked in on the way back to the station afterwards.
No matter that I can now take my young daughter in comfort and safety and have a guaranteed good view of the best players plying their trade on a perfect surface – even the food is bordering on edible – I still hanker for the ‘good old days’.
I find that there is a tendency to go down this road particularly when people talk about transport. Apparently things were better when the railways were under national control. Really? Those of us old enough to remember the days of British Rail being a national joke – strikes, delays, draughty trains, falling passenger numbers – would beg to differ. I don’t want to get political, but occasionally logic and facts have to be put in the way of long-held prejudices.
Anybody who tells you that buses are better on the continent has clearly not travelled far and wide. We have standards of vehicles, accessibility and networks that rival anywhere in the world.
“Buses are better in London” is another one that many commentators and politicians use. On 3 May a letter from Lord Adonis, an ex-Secretary of State for Transport, appeared in The Times that implied contactless payment was only available in London. Not true. Contactless spreads by the day. Passengers outside London are highly satisfied with their bus services – just ask Transport Focus.
“Coaches are old and rickety” and only take old people on holiday. Unless of course we have actually been on a coach recently and seen how modern and comfortable they are with young and old enjoying their experience.
I appeal to all of us to be loud and proud of the services we produce. Do not allow anyone – politicians in particular – to spout their truisms that have no basis in fact. Challenge them whether it is said during conversation or in the media. “Our services are not as good as those on the continent” – they are better and we should not be scared to say so.
I have written to The Times in response to Lord Adonis. Will my letter be published? I am not so sure. People do hate facts getting in the way of a good prejudice.
My letter would be published in other countries of course because newspapers are so much more balanced overseas. Oh, hang on…
