Connected and Reliable Required As Well As Cheap?

Melissa and Chris Bruntlett are Canadians, living in The Netherlands. The Bruntletts describe themselves as 'Urban Mobility Activists'. In that capacity, they provide an interesting account of the first month of operation of the German government's 9 euro per month travel pass (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/jul/14/germany-9-euro-travel-pass-cheap-fares). The German travel pass is available for the months of June, July and August, 2022. It gives unlimited travel on all buses, trams, subways and regional trains across Germany. The travel pass makes public transport very cheap (around 45 eurocents per day). Data from June, show the travel pass has greatly increased the numbers of passengers on medium and short train trips. Its issuing also coincides with reductions in car congestion in a majority of monitored German cities. The Bruntletts are clearly enthusiasts of the public travel system in The Netherlands. There, cheapness and reliability, has convinced them (and others?) they don't need a car for their daily transport. Reducing car use clearly has benefits in terms of reducing 'greenhouse gas' emissions and improving air quality as well as minimising congestion and road traffic accidents. It even reduces the need to use petrol and diesel fuels. The Bruntletts point out, however, that cheapness is not enough. Public transport has to also be easily accessible and very reliable. It's clearly not going to replace the car in the UK, anytime soon. The UK's public transport is a) very expensive; b) not at all easy to access, especially outside major cities like London and c) unreliable in terms of its timetables (also currently exaccerbated by rail strikes). Fixing public transport would also help commerce and education. Strangely, the country almost seems to ignore it, regarding having a car as 'normal'.