The city's 'unreliable' public transport system needs to be improved to fix our reliance on cars, commuters have said.
Merseyside is 'car sick', according to the ECHO's political editor Liam Thorp, who wrote about how more needs to be done to offer proper alternatives to try and combat the car-led culture that has swamped the region for years now. Week on week there are new instances of cars behaving badly and outrageous parking.
However people need to get around the city and the region but many feel failed by the public transport alternatives provided to them, he said.
READ MORE: Passengers desperately squeeze onto packed out last train home to Liverpool
Hundreds of people responded to what Liam had to say. Some called public transport 'unreliable' and 'useless', saying that until an effective alternative is provided their car is the only sensible option.
On Facebook, Cameron Dineen said: "My car is clean, comfy, gets me where I need to be when I need to be there and probably costs a similar amount to run. Why should we stop using our cars when the alternative is c**p?"
Karl Duvall said: "People would ditch cars if there was a reliable, cost-effective public transport alternative. Until we have the volume of Manchester, let alone London, it will never change."
Phil Owens said: "Improve public transport and people will stop using their cars."
One man said that despite a lifetime of choosing public transport over a private vehicle, he is considering a change. Alex Scott who has 'never even sat behind a wheel', said: "Recently things on public transport are so bad that I have been considering just forgetting my principles and going for comfort with a driving license and a car instead.
"The other day I was on a Merseyrail train on the Wirral Line and about 50 teenagers charged onto the train screaming and shouting, I quickly picked up my things and headed for another carriage."
Ste Perryman said: "Well If the public service networks were affordable and punctual then maybe it’d change. And if the cycle routes in and out the city were safe people would be encouraged to leave the cars at home. But they’re not so they won’t."
One commenter, 'Mark082' said 'people's preference for personal cars is understandable' and argued for a long term shift to electric vehicles. They added: "By focusing on investing in infrastructure for [electric vehicles] and addressing key concerns, such as pollution and charging accessibility, we can create a sustainable transportation system for the future."
Commenter 'Bitterbluegirl' said: "Most of it is laziness. I think the Merseyrail service is good. Even where I live in Southport there are plenty of bus services as well.
"I see parents using their car to take their children to school, what is wrong with walking? It's healthier and teaches them not to rely on the car."
Join the Liverpool ECHO's breaking news and top headlines WhatsApp community
READ NEXT:
Police cordon off road after woman, 21, falls from bridge
Met Office weather warning as more thunderstorms to hit Merseyside
