One hundred years ago our ancestors would not have believed the emphasis we all place on personal mobility. The overriding ambition of almost everyone is to be able to go where they want, when they want. Many people are prepared to sacrifice other financial objectives, in order to achieve a high level of independent travel. This is confirmed by the annual production figures from the car manufacturers and importers. Far more new cars arrive on our roads than are scrapped at the other end of their lives. The roads are becoming more and more crowded.

This situation especially affects those of us who live outside towns. By definition there are more facilities in the towns and cities and we need to access them from time to time. Most people do their routine shopping at a supermarket. Normally they are situated in towns and cities, or on the retail parks which surround them. Many supermarkets now provide free buses to carry potential customers into their premises. However for those who wish to undertake more that just a "one stop shop" the supermarket bus is not an answer. They need to be able, either to catch a convenient bus or train, or normally, they prefer to drive themselves to their destination.

Motorists pay huge amounts of tax and excise duty on their vehicles and on the business of driving. It does appear that many of them are prepared to pay significantly more for the privilege of being alone when driving to work, notwithstanding the efforts of Terry Wogan and Henry Kelly to make them feel they have a friend with them.

The problem is that, for most of us, there is little alternative to the car for everyday use. Dr Beeching ensured that the old train services ceased. The many-closed branch lines no longer have rails. Never again will sheep or cattle, bought from distant livestock markets, be sent home by train in the manner of our farming forefathers.

The privatised bus companies seem to offer fewer and fewer services, unless you want a sightseeing tour of York, while the fares just rise and rise. It is uplifting for mankind to aspire to perfection, which a decent public transport would be. I suppose that local politicians are still believers. The rest of us realise that perfection is only very rarely achieved. Disillusion soon sets in.

It is difficult to persuade car drivers not to use their cars. Excise duties on fuel have been increased by more than inflation and penalties have been introduced, enforced through the income tax system for company cars and still we use them. Drivers want facilities provided for their motoring ambitions. Some of the choices made, on our behalf, by those paid considerable sums to get these things right, are bewildering.

For many years now, residents and visitors have wondered why the northern part of the York Outer Ring Road was not built as a dual carriageway. Why is there not enough parking provided for those who want to use the railway services operated from York? Is it really necessary to have such an expensive and complicated junction built on the A64 for the use of the residents of Copmanthorpe. There is already a perfectly adequate eastbound exit on to the A64 at the Askham Bryan roundabout. The roadworks are causing terrible disruption. The only people to benefit from the new junction will be those wishing to travel towards York. All the other routes are already in place.

But then we are only the people who pay for and use these systems, and so, I suppose, we don't count.