Hi Alex,
One of the best ways still to get out and about on a regular basis is joining a fishing club. If you get to the meetings and fish one or two of the matches, getting to know other anglers you'll often find that they wouldn't mind giving you a lift to other venues. That's the way I started many moons ago when my only form of transport was a push-iron
My club has several matches throughout the year and often anglers pair up for transport.
Being young I wouldn't have thought you would have much trouble in getting a lift off the regulars.
Try the site's Club Directory for one local to you or drop me a line and I'll see if we can locate one.
Dave
(ps. Myself and Stu several years ago fished the Armley stretch of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal. This bloke in full combat gear came along with a Rotweiller and a rifle, and if he had told us it was night-time we would have gone home and put our pyjamas on
)