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Original poster

Could do you do without your car?

236 replies

anon2334 · 12/03/2022 14:14

Or would you never consider that ? Public transport? Cycling? Walking all good options depending on where you live. I’m cutting back, school runs I need the car though , but definitely walking more into town etc and to parks. Just doing occasional trips out etc.

OP posts:
LadyFlumpalot · 12/03/2022 20:41

Logistically - yes. We moved to the town we work in and the kids go to school just up the road. There is a main London-Devon train line a five minute walk away and the coaches come through twice a week. Shopping could be delivered and there is a co-op for emergency pints of milk or anything else.

Emotionally - no. I love my car. I have more pictures of my car on my phone than I do of my kids. My main hobby is cars. Car shows, track days, modifying etc. Also, I love the freedom having a car gives me. Cars make me happy. Driving makes me happy.

Ragwort · 12/03/2022 20:46

Yes, in theory, I can walk to work, walk to the shops, doctors surgery, library etc I live in a small market town. But having a car makes life much easier and enables me to enjoy more activities ... it would be very hard to visit my elderly DM on public transport even though she is only 10 miles away (one bus a week Grin). I also do a volunteer role which would be difficult (but not impossible) to do without a car. We could cut down to one car but my DH and I have very separate interests, hobbies and friends so again it would be very limiting. My DM has recently given up her car and I know she feels sad about the lack of independence or being able to do things spontaneously.

Blossom64265 · 12/03/2022 20:50

I used to live in a place where I rarely used my car. It was for the occasional big shopping trip or for travel. I walked to work, for regular grocery trips, to the doctor, and just generally would walk wherever I could to avoid taking my car out of it’s reserved parking spot and having to find parking at my destination. I was also living in a walkable urban area with temperate weather. There was also public transit and taxis available for backup if the weather was bad or you weren’t feeling well. They weren’t perfect or pleasant ways of traveling, but they did exist.

I couldn’t do that now. Neither the layout of the area or the weather are remotely compatible. There is no public transit safety net. I would never willingly go back to living in an urban area though. The noise and crowds are just too exhausting.

AlwaysLatte · 12/03/2022 21:01

Definitely not. Semi rural, parents and wheelchairs to move about and children with activities to ferry to. Our own hobbies which require transport. We'd be stuck without our cars.

shinynewapple22 · 12/03/2022 21:11

I could at the moment as I'm working from home but if (when) I return to the office I would need to use my car as the journey on public transport would be ridiculous in comparison to the number of hours I work . We do have two family cars though, DH is retired and when he finishes his lease contract in two years time we will downsize to just the one .

Taytocrisps · 12/03/2022 21:16

I'm similar to Ragwort above because I live within walking distance of shops, my GP's surgery, a library etc. I'd manage ok for grocery shopping because I could get a Tesco delivery. However, I'd be stuck if I had to go to a hospital or take my cats to the vet or to the cattery. And it would be difficult if not impossible to transport heavy things home - DIY stuff or garden stuff such as compost/plants/plant pots etc. You wouldn't carry a bag of compost very far. Also, DD's orthodontist is about 20 kms away and she has to go for regular check ups - that would make for a very expensive taxi journey.

BigRedDuck · 12/03/2022 21:24

No. Can't walk to DCs school (would take at least 2 hours) and no public transport anywhere close. Have to have a car to get anywhere!

BashfulClam · 12/03/2022 21:25

No my village has no Bus service. There is a train station. Nearest supermarket is 7 miles away and i hate online food shopping. Also to visit our family we would need 3 trains to each whereas it’s a 20 minute drive.

grey12 · 12/03/2022 21:35

OP, most people nowadays don't have money to have a car as a status symbol 🤷🏻‍♀️ they have a car because they bl**dy need it!

Long gone are the days of having 2 cars: one for every day and a cool one for weekends 🤪

RampantIvy · 12/03/2022 21:42

Yes, in theory, I can walk to work

It would take me 5 hours and 38 mintes to walk to work Grin

GoldenBlue · 12/03/2022 21:42

No only people who live in a city and/or town where they also work can do without a car.

I live rurally, there is no way I could live without a car. The nearest bus stop is over a mile away and buses are rare and irregular and don't go anywhere near my work. A 30min commute would turn into nearly 2 hrs each way.

Daft as anything, urban eco warriors with no concept of real life

GrannyBloomers · 12/03/2022 21:44

@Waxonwaxoff0 I think it's upsetting because I think I should be able to live without a car. I shouldn't be in this position.
I should be fit and healthy but have acquired a condition some years ago post virus that has taken my choices away, I'm stuck in a rented property in an unsuitable location as my ex refuses to get divorced and years later I'm without a single penny. Clearly I'm a loser I get that.

noinorm · 12/03/2022 21:50

Yes, because I've never owned one (nor has my partner). We choose where we live based on local amenities and good public transport links.

noinorm · 12/03/2022 21:54

[quote PinaColada123456]@drawingpad Driving imo is a life skill and something all 15/16 year olds should be taught. It's about priorities and wanting the best for your child. Also not wanting your child to have to rely on public transport which no parent should want for their child. Luckily where I live Driver's Ed is a compulsory part of the school curriculum, thank goodness.[/quote]
I'm glad I don't live somewhere where car dependence is instilled at such an early age! Shock

And why should no parent want their child to rely on public transport? I'd rather have public transport so good that my child (if I had one) wouldn't need to rely on a car.

5zeds · 12/03/2022 21:57

No, not unless I moved.

mumofEandE · 12/03/2022 22:05

No!
Actually couldn't do without x2 cars
If 1 of our cars has to be in the garage, then it involves a lot of planning!

clarepetal · 12/03/2022 22:09

No.

savehannah · 12/03/2022 22:27

It would severely restrict the leisure activities the kids could do and the days out we could do, to say nothing of, preventing us being able to go camping which we do quite a lot.
Our extra curricular schedule with 3 kids is pretty busy and building in the time to get places by public transport would make a lot of it impossible.

Places that are on our train line are relatively easy to get to but trains are not that frequent so if the timing doesn't work out well you're potentially talking about having to get somewhere super early and hanging around for 45 minutes for example. Our nearest city is only 5 miles but it's not on our train line and the bus fare is very pricey as well as slow, as we count as being outside the city area.

I do cycle short distances (into town is only about a mile) wherever possible including mostly to work but it's not always practical depending what I need to carry.

maddiemookins16mum · 12/03/2022 22:38

I could, at a push. It would be inconvenient but there are buses and I have two working legs.
Will I? Not yet.

LadyOfMisrule · 12/03/2022 23:16

No. I could manage without it for work, but the children are in sports teams that train and play all over the country. I also have a hobby that requires a car.

Interviewdisaster · 12/03/2022 23:17

Daft as anything, urban eco warriors with no concept of real life

Who are you talking about here? OP made no judgment, they simply asked a question. Those of us who have said we manage without cars have also stated that we have made the necessary lifestyle choices that enable that; mostly living in a city. Which is itself an acknowledgment that it’s not possible if you live rurally. So who are the “daft as anything urban eco warriors”? Confused

JustGotToKeepOnKeepingOn · 12/03/2022 23:19

No. No public transport to get to work.

TravellingSpoon · 12/03/2022 23:31

I need my car for work, as I work across the county providing care to people in their own homes. Not only would I not reach some people on public transport, I would struggle to take all my paraphernalia with me.

Outside of work, it would be doable as I live inside a city with good transport links, we are on a major bus route and live close enough to walk to a big supermarket.

MintJulia · 12/03/2022 23:36

No, there is no public transport. I need to get to work and the school bus is 7 miles away. Ds could cycle 7miles but then nowhere to store his bike for the day.

We could manage at the weekend, walking and cycling, although a lot slower.

MrsSkylerWhite · 12/03/2022 23:38

Most of the year yes but holidays, no. We always stay in the UK and train fares are just too expensive.