The economics of ecology

To hire a car for a day and drive to Liverpool next Tuesday will cost me around £75-£80, while a second class return rail fare is £77 plus the cost of a taxi home late at night, and the risk of missing the last connection in Reading. Last time I did that journey it it was only the Guard recognising my sprinting form on the bridge and his charity in holding the train, that avoided my spending a difficult night on Reading station. So even for one person its more economical to damage the ecology. The only advantage is a few hours work, but even that is disrupted by no less than three changes (hence the risk on the last train back) and with the hire car I can use my iPod to catch up on various podcasts. This isn’t freakonomics, it’s just plain stupid.