I'm a non-driver, but very used to getting to places by public transport. I often feel a bit uncomfortable when people stop their cars and expect me to get in and take a lift. Do any of you feel the same?

[Winterysun]

I know people mean well, and if it's pouring with rain/I'm running late the offer is much appreciated! But I feel uncomfortable with people suddenly pulling up next to me, loudly beeping and insisting I get in their car, right now! These are all people I know, obviously. 😀

I'm fairly introverted I suppose, so can be lost in my own thoughts when sat at a bus stop with a coffee, doing my easy 15 mins walk to work (this is several times a week so I'm well used to it) and I don't mind the walk.

People seem offended if I refuse, but I felt uncomfortable with this just the other day! I was wandering along, podcast in ear, with plenty of time to get where I was going. Suddenly I heard 'Do you want a lift, we're heading to town too!'
Didn't recognise car, then realised it was ex-neighbour & husband. Said thanks but no, then she insisted again. Problem was, I couldn't find the doorhandle! It was a new car with button on 'hidden' panel if that makes sense. Her husband rolled his eyes, embarrassingly! Then a complicated seatbelt arrangement from ceiling which neighbour had to help me with.

Once in town, as I got out her dh sad 'Oh you managed to figure out the door THIS time then'! I felt embarrassed tbh, would have been easier for me to carry on walking! It wasn't far.

Similar has happened before, ie, I haven't realised a car had stopped/failed to recognise someone's car (I'm not expecting to see them) or looking forward to a quiet bus journey!

I don't mean to sound ungrateful, but it's easer for me to just carry on! Anyone else feel the same?

I don't walk on my own in the dark, obviously not! If I'm coming back from somewhere late I'll take a taxi. But where we live (just outside city centre) it's really not unusual for people of any age to

Not obvious at all. I walk home alone at night all the time. Have done all my adult life. Couldn’t have done my job otherwise.

I drive lots of places, too. And walk and use public transport. It all depends.

See…. We all have our individual preferences.

Use your words. Even an introvert can say ‘thank you that’s so kind,- you know to acknowledge that they are intending to be kind rather than smash your delicate bubble - but I’m getting my steps in / enjoying the walk / need to finish this audio before book club / meeting someone in the bus’

Completely agree with the previous 8-9 people who posted after your weird post! Yours is the most batshit post on the thread. (Probably the most batshit on Mumsnet this month so far!) 'Grown women walking with backpacks is odd,' because 'only teenagers' do this? And 'walking everywhere beyond your early 20s is unusual?' Also, as a pp said, where on earth do you live where 'no-one walks anywhere' and anyone walking anywhere, would be stared at - and looked upon as an oddity?!

It's really not unusual for people to walk instead of driving sometimes. I know MANY people of all ages, right up to their 80s, who walk regularly. Particularly where I live as it's a beautiful, rural area. There is a big walking group that do 3-5 miles walks, on Wednesday and Sunday mornings. Mostly in their 50s, 60s, and 70s. But a few younger, and a few older too. (Maybe 50-70 people altogether.) AND THEY HAVE BACKPACKS TOO! AND THEY ARE NOT TEENAGERS!!!!!! 😱 I also know a number of people - actual grown adults! -who walk to work and back! (A few of them have backpacks too. OMG!!!!!)

Your post is so ignorant. Educate yourself.

From NHS.CO.UK

Walking is really good for you. It's good for your heart, good for your respiratory system, and good for your soul, and it's an extremely healthy thing to do. It builds stamina, and muscle, it can improve the quality of your sleep, and it increases your heart rate and blood flow, and it helps bone health

Walking is a weight-bearing activity that can increase bone strength and slows the process of osteoporosis. It can also improve your mood and reduce your risk of depression .. Walking releases endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, which can make you feel happy and positive

Walking can also reduce stress, and build your immunity ... Brisk walking can help your body produce more immune cells, which can help fight off infections.

Also, walking increases blood flow, which can help you feel more alert and refreshed. Other benefits ... It can also improve your memory and reduce your risk of dementia.

Finally, Walking can help you prevent weight gain.

Your posts is bonkers. 😆 Sounds like you're projecting, because you drive everywhere, (probably even to the corner shop 100 feet from your house, and to your kids school 5 minutes walk away!) and you can't fathom why anyone would want to walk ANYwhere.

Also, I haven't seen anyone say they walk everywhere all the time. Just a number of posters saying they enjoy walking, and prefer to walk rather than get lifts most of the time. They're not walking everywhere. Like when I go to the beach - 40+ miles away, I am not walking there. Nor am I walking to my nearest city - 12-13 miles away! And I don't walk to my local market town to do the food shopping, as it's 3.5 miles away, and I wouldn't be able to carry all my shopping back 3.5 miles!

Seriously, I am wondering if you're that batshit woman who wanted me to get in her car, for the last 7-8 minutes walk to the Christmas fayre, and started laying into me in front of people for not accepting her lift when she saw me there. Throwing her toys out of her pram, and spitting her dummy out, because someone had the temerity to not do what she demanded! 😂

I'm embarrassed for you @CantStopBuyingSeeds !

I just walked an hour to work. In the DARK. With a BACKPACK. I feel great. 😎

I don't feel uncomfortable i just don't want a life if I say no thank you

I get the first offer that is them being nice but a simple 'no thank you' should be enough

Otherwise it becomes more about their need to help rather than the person they think they are helping

Oh thanks but Im expecting a personal phone call so can't - thanks again and walk away

Or just says thanks, but ive got to get my steps in and walk away

Or thanks for stopping but its much easier if I walk and walk away

the walking away prevents further interaction as a car is cumbersome it gives you the advantage

I used to have a neighbour who would sometimes stop and offer me a lift - but tbh I think she realised I got there quicker by foot than she did in the car due to all the traffic - so she stopped offering, it was only a mile walk and would take me 20 minutes

So many of you feel sinilar, it seems!

JustAMiddleAgedDirtBag, your bus driver did a very kind thing, but yes, I too would have felt anxious about being driven somewhere not on bus route, and being the only passenger too!

I do wonder if car drivers think our legs fall off if we walk! 😀

Once I had this happen - I'd walked round the corner, literally a 5 minute walk, to drop a birthday present to a friend. We spoke on the doorstep for a few minutes, then as I came back down her driveway I was aware of someone shouting to me.

It was a neighbour, who'd stopped his car in the busy road and was insisting I get in - 'Winterysun, I've stopped for you, you don't want to be walking home in THIS!'

THIS - was a bit of drizzle, so slight I hadn't even realized it was raining! I had no option but to get in, he'd held up traffic to stop for me🤷‍♀️ Ridiculous, then he asked if I was ok as seemed quiet. I just wasn't ready for the interaction, I'd dropped the present off and was walking home (so I thought), totally in my own world! I hate being 'ambushed'.

I experienced this before I could drive myself, and a couple of times after!
I walk down to the local shop sometimes because it's a nice walk and by the time you've arsed around trying to park and then get back out again, less hassle! But I've had people stop and be all "Oh is your car off the road?!" No, just fancied a walk and you do get looked at like you've got two heads sometimes.

Before I could drive I've also had the insistent lift givers, who never seemed to realise that I could manage to get myself around all the times they didn't drive past me, or weren't in the same place as me, and seemed to be under the impression that I wasn't getting anywhere f they weren't taking me, and are seemingly offended by a refusal.
Which is odd because according to MN non drivers are always scrounging for lifts and expecting other people to drive them everywhere and are deeply resented for this.

This reminds me @Carnewb I used to work 15 minutes walk away from where I lived (early 1990s in my 20s,) and every other fu**king day, one of the men from the office would stop and say 'hop in Sabre, I'll drive you the rest of the way!' It was another 5 minutes walk! It was on the last stretch of road before the small industrial estate that the company was on. Sometimes I was turning into the road, (and the building was 2 minutes walk,) and they stopped to give me a lift. Stopped, opened the passenger door, and said 'get in luv, you don't have to walk all the way!'

I was much younger then and couldn't seem to say no, even though the more it happened the more it annoyed me.

We all started at 9.00am, and I left home at 8.40am to get there for 8.55am so I had time to grab a coffee before starting work. So after the 15th-16th lift, I started leaving home at 8.25am, so I would be at work before any of the men came past. They all got there around 8.50am to 8.55am, that's why they kept catching me! So me leaving at 8.25am got me there by 8.40am, and none of them were nearby then, so I managed to stop it!

I had a couple of them ask 'how come I don't see you walking now?' I just said 'just your bad luck I guess!' 😄

I didn't get the women stopping because to be honest, back then 35 years ago, not many women could drive where I worked, and the few who could didn't have their own car. So they got the bus in.

I find this post quite laughable. Don’t you have legs?

It is a bit cringe isn't it. 😆 I notice that poster hasn't been back since she had her arse handed to her on a plate by around a dozen posters. 😬

It was a thoroughly ridiculous, laughable comment though!

I met a friend in her town, and when it was time to leave the cafe, I asked if she would like a lift home she said she'd walk unless the weather was rubbish (impossible to see from where we were) it was fine, she walked.

I feel I have fulfilled my social contract by offering and a "offers open" statement. 🤷🏼 It's basically people who won't take no for an answer and it's pretty rude really.

I did once take a lift that was insisted on. Ended up taking 25 minutes instead of 10 and more walking than going direct 😂

The lift giver and I would always laugh about it when we had a similar finish after that 😂

Really, how bizarre, very normal where I live and far better for health and environment 🤷‍♀️

"I get car SICK"
and shake your head very obviously
"thankyou no"

Phoenixbiscuits, You're the type of lift offerer I like! You offer, and accept their answer.

I have a friend who says 'If you need a lift left me know, otherwise I'll see you there'!
That's always appreciated, occasionally if it's raining or I'm short of time. Otherwise I'll make my own way and she's fine with it!

I find your post baffling. I really hope you've come back onto this thread and read all the replies saying how batshit you are.