I can be green, but I can't use public transport

7:30am Wednesday 3rd September 2008

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MANY have accused me of not caring enough about the environment. It could be because my wife – not me – drives a 4x4, or that I leave my mobile phone charging overnight or possibly because I leave light bulbs burning when walking out of a room. Whatever the reason, many environmentalists have accused me of not doing enough.

Once, my polar bear-loving sister accused me of caring more about my football team’s results on a Saturday afternoon than the environment and the future of our planet. She was right of course. In fact she still is and I still do, but at least I admit it.

However, I recently decided that I could do more. I have installed a two-bin policy at home where recyclable materials are separated before being empted into our green bin easily. Our bottles go straight to the bottle bin.

I have even purchased energy-saving light-bulbs which enable me to sit in a room of dullness where I can gratuitously pat myself on the back for doing my bit.

I can also watch the National Geographic channel without feeling any guilt when a documentary about melting ice caps pops up.

When Madonna, the Queen of Pop and all things green, orders people to “do their bit” while on her 45-date worldwide tour – which will generate the same emissions as that of 160 Britons in one year – I feel less guilty.

However, despite my changes I have continued to drive to work. The main reason is because I do not believe I have an alternative. There is no direct rail link to where I work from where I live and the easiest way would see me having to commute into London before heading back out again at much, much more cost. It is also too far to cycle.

But I have always believed that if I worked in the city I would commute by train. That was until last week.

Due to attend a meeting at the Press Association’s headquarters close to Victoria Station last Wednesday, rather than drive, I travelled by train.

Now I head into London most weekends to watch my football team in action, my grandmother lived in Old Street, my sister still lives in London and I attend numerous meetings in the capital throughout the year, so the underground is nothing new to me.

But all my journey did was ensure that I went home knowing that I was correct to drive.

For a start, I spend approximately £45 a week on petrol, but my one day, on-peak travel card set me back £29.

The journey to St Pancras International was okay and on time, but it was there that my commuting took a turn for the worse.

I entered the London underground and soon realised that the sweltering heat – it was not a particularly hot day – was going to cause me and the other two million people a problem, especially as I was wearing a suit.

While waiting for a train, memories came flooding back of standing on a German underground platform a few years ago with the cool breeze of an efficient air conditioning system blowing through my hair. That thought soon evaporated as a train came in. Packed already with windows pushed open, there was clearly no more room for any more passengers, barring a few hearty pushers.

Many stuck their heads out through the open doors and gasped for air before retracting their necks for more of the same. The platform got busier and eventually I found room on the third train to stop.

Packed in like sardines, the beads of sweat began to fall from my brow and I saw dozens of other people attempting to fight back in numerous ways.

Some fanned themselves with newspapers while others attempted to remove their jackets or coats before realising there was no room to do so. The commuting veterans pulled out tissues and hankies while others simply rubbed their hands across their foreheads and sighed.

The return journey was no better. It was 4.30pm so less busy than it could have been but the heat was still on a par to that recently experienced on our family holiday to Egypt.

Why on earth would I swap a climate controlled car for this?

At Kings Cross I dutifully read all of the information about line closures and suspended services remembering that I was due back in the city at the weekend for one of those aforementioned football matches. At least I would not be wearing a suit this time.

For as long as I can remember we have endured engineering works on our underground system and I was left wondering if this apparently never-ending work would be completed by 2012 when millions of Olympic fans are due to come visiting . . . probably not. By then, flag-waving and the buttoning up of one’s jacket will be the last thing on Mayor Johnson’s mind.

We are all encouraged to use public transport but the infrastructure just cannot cope. The platforms – barring Westminster – are dirty, smelly and too hot making them not fit for purpose, but we are expected to use them all the same and pay vast amounts of money for the privilege.

Instead of focusing our attention on a new national stadium for the Olympics, why not overhaul at least some of the underground with the £500 million and use Wembley instead?

If those running the country really believe that public transport is a viable option for those who currently drive, they are kidding themselves.

Meanwhile, the prices being paid by those left with no other option is nothing short of daylight robbery. There is no justification to the obscene amount currently being paid to ride on a train from outside London on to the tube, and these journeys invariably conclude with the passenger not being able to sit down at all.

I’ll certainly do my bit for the environment and have started doing so, but I thank my lucky stars that pubic transport is currently not an option.