This weekend, we see pubs and restaurants starting to reopen. And yet we see public transport operators and government telling us to use trains and buses only if we "need" to. That's not because it's dangerous to travel on public transport; with social distancing, masks, cleaning, and still-limited services, it's because of limited safe capacity.
For those of us who use public transport and who have been essentially "shut in" for over a hundred days, it is frustrating to see those who have their own transport able to move around freely in England, while the rest of us are told not to unless there's a need. It's doubly frustrating to see public transport services being substantially stepped back up, and people with a liberal and unintended view of the word "need" taking up capacity where others of us are still holding back as requested.
Some, but not all, of the pubs and restaurants near us are opening up tomorrow or within a week or so, and I suggest that if you "need" a pint of beer, you walk into town. Not only does that support the local businesses, but it gives you a first gentle step out, and a chance to try what's going to be a very new experience of socially distanced eating and drinking out. And by sticking local and walking, it saves you any temptation to drink and drive, which remains illegal over a certain limit, and remains dangerous.
It's clear you're not a fan of the word 'need'. When does 'needing' to do something, turn into a 'pressing need', or an 'urgent need', and so at what point does it become acceptable?
I interpret it quite loosely. If I needed to visit my gran, because I haven't seen her for months, and I didn't have a car - then I would say that is a totally acceptable train journey to undertake, trying to avoid peak times, without breaching any rules or guidelines. If I had a car, or I saw her last week, then the need to use the train is much less, so I would say that would go against the spirit of the word 'need'. Unless of course she wasn't well in which case there might be an 'urgent need' to visit her - which again I would say is acceptable.
It is open to interpretation, but what alternative word or phrase would you use? Alternatives include 'have to' or 'want to' or 'must' - all of which are equally open to interpretation, and surely it's impossible to try and clarify 'need' any further producing a list of reasonable reasons to use the train?
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