Wondering how many other people are car-free

[solidgoldbrass]

For most of my adult life, most of my friends have been non drivers or car-free. OK I live in London and I do understand that people who live in rural areas generally need to learn to drive and get cars as soon as possible, but the level of car-dependency seems a bit weird to me.

Couldn't possibly be car free. Buses are ok up here, but it still takes an hour to wait for one and get one to a place that takes 10 minutes in a car.
I did manage with a bike and buses pre kids, but I think anyone with kids outside London will probably find it quite limiting without a car.

We used to be car free when we lived in big cities - NY, Paris, London.
Now we have cars as we are slightly outside the city and need a car to transport the children.

I hate it and wish I could walk more places, the centre of the city we are in now (Dublin) and the public transport options are not condusive to walking.

My waistline shows it too, there is no doubt that walking is what keeps a lot of city dwelling ladies slim!!

I think you could be a bit clearer in your op, it's a legitimate question why you drive in London because it is so clogged with traffic and there is no where to park. But having tried to get around on buses and tubes with just one small child I am certainly not going to criticise anyone who needs to travel with small children deciding that they would rather drive.

The one thing I will never ever miss about London is the tubes and waiting in the rain for a bus, which then doesn't stop because it's full. Many a night out was ruined by waiting HOURS for the N3.

Aye, to be fair it's not a good comparison - being able to live car free in London is a different situation. If I lived in Lahndan I wouldn't have a car. Or Manchester.

We're car free by choice and live in London

I still can't believe the fact I've lived here for 17 years and still there are some neighbours I have never ever seen walking down the road...or to our local shops that are 3 minutes away.

Sorry, just noticed you did exempt the under 5s from criticism!

The real reason to drive is simple convenience, knowing you can get into your car, fling your heavy bag in the back, turn on the radio to the station of your choice, then even if you are stuck in traffic for an hour it's a better environment than crushed on the 159 to Brixton. And when the Victoria lone was down, which was frequently, I had to get the 45 bus which would take well over an hour, compared to about 20 mins in car, even accounting for traffic.

But I had a blue badge so parking was marginally easier. I really don't know how anyone who doesn't have dispensation ever gets to park in London.

Car free by choice. We live in Leeds. We were going to get one when i was pg with DD (now 6mo) but thought we'd see how we got on without one. Yes, having a car would be more convenient but do we need one....no.

I guess it's a personal choice...we manage without and prefer not to have the outgoings that running a car entails. Most of my friends do have cars...fair enough but some of them do profess to need a car when actually what they mean is it's more convenient.

You might be able to get to Ikea on the bus, but you won't get that wardrobe home, will you?

Well no but you can order it to be delivered to your home...

I ordered some drawers from Ikea last week, which were delivered on Monday. Only, they were delivered at 7:10am and the driver didn't knock the door loudly enough to wake me. For some strange reason he took them to the post office so I had to go and collect them. It really wasn't easy to get them home.

I've always lived fairly rurally and passed my test as soon as I hit 17 and my mum got fed up ferrying me around.

Public transport here is rubbish, unreliable and ridiculously expensive so as soon as my kids are old enough they'll be learning too.

We walk everywhere we can and cycle a lot but the kids have various activities outside our village, our school catchment is quite large so they have friends all over the area, the nearest library is in the next town, as is the cinema, restaurants, supermarkets, etc.

I live in London. We have a car which we think about getting rid of every summer (tax, MOT and insurance all due at once), as we use it about once a week or fortnight.

We were actually going to get rid before having kids, but then ended up keeping it to visit family (to avoid getting public transport back from other side of London or mid-Surrey late on a Sunday), for DP to use for sports kit once a week, and for transporting DIY materials and large stuff around which we do frequently. Also DP gets bus-sick.

It gets used about 3 times a year for journeys to other cities when we want to take lots of stuff - suspect that once the kids get to train-ticket age the balance will tip more in the car's favour rather than less. And this one is worth nothing if we try selling it. At least we only need to buy petrol every other month, though.

We don't have a car. I live in sw London, hate driving, have great public transport links and am not smug.

am not smug

I live in London too and most child free adults I know are car-free, but most families I know have a car if they can afford it. Those who don't are generally the less well off amongst my friends - single parents or p/t low wage workers.

I've struggled to learn to drive here (have dyspraxic traits and anxiety) and never managed to pass my test. It would definitely be more convenient to have the option to drive (if only just for occasional hire on holiday or using Zipcar for big purchases), but owning and running a car would definitely take a huge chunk out of my budget.

I'm very lucky that I live about 5 mins walk to a zone 1 tube station, so it's definitely quicker to take public transport, plus there are loads of buses and other options if my local station is closed. Many people I know in London live further out in zone 4/5 and live either a bus ride away from their nearest tube, or only on one tube line so they are really stuck if there is engineering work going on.

I often take short breaks outside London and I'm often shocked how difficult it is to get to some places, even areas like Kent or Hampshire (so not totally remote like the Highlands) there are areas where there are hardly any buses. It can be frustrating if you want to do days out as there are literally no public transport options, but I suppose the cost of a taxi for those occasional days is still much cheaper than running a car.

I live in London and don't have a car because I can't afford one and haven't passed my driving test. I would love one though as it would make life a bit easier.

I don't drive and I manage pretty well. I am a sahm with 1 child though, I don't think I'd cope if I had any more kids or a job. Currently learning to drive and I can't wait to pass!

Buses here start at 7am and end at 6pm, some days i start at 7am some days i work til 9pm. Can't work if no car and taxis would cost me more. Would happily live car free if i lived in a large town or city.

I wouldn't be without the car unless we really couldn't afford it. It's so much easier for day trips and visiting people. The expense probably evens out - petrol is SO much cheaper than train fares. The time saved can be significant. A 1/2 hour trip across town on buses (and over £5) can take less than 20 minutes in the car (and cost hardly anything in petrol). We still take the train for short distances sometimes and I walk loads.

A 1 1/2 trip across town on buses that is.

Dh has a car, I don't drive. I work 5 miles away, on public transport it takes the best part of an hour to get there, or 5 mins in the car.

Dh does shift work - without the car he couldn't work as he wouldn't be able to get to work or home. To get to the nearest large supermarket takes two buses and about 90 mins, plus costing £6.

I used to live in London, and would love to have that level of public transport here.

We have two cars as due to a forced move I now work 45 mins away from home (1.5-2 hours on public transport each way) and DH was made redundant from a local job (he used to cycle) and now he has to travel 20 miles away to work - again with 2 DCs who need dropping off at school etc we needed the extra car.

Cost-wise monthly it wouldn't be that much different than public transport and we would be able to go away for weekends up the country as easily.

Oh and I live in a busy city but getting out of the city to anywhere else is quite difficult.

We just look at bus stops etc when deciding where to live/work

Dh takes the bus an metro to work, kids walk, cycle or bus to school (or sometimes get a lift from the nlaws, but we do just fine without that, except for getting a bit wetter if it is raining) and I walk or cycle to do my main job, then bus and metro to my other job, which is in the centre of Newcastle on match days anyway so a car would be useless.

Shopping is either online, Iceland (delivery) or I just take the bike traile or the bag on wheels. Occasionally get a taxi home from the shops.

Holidays by train, which can smetimes be a pita, but again I have no idea how I would drive, keep kids amused, have to stop for toilet breaks ver five minutes, get lost etc, without thinking it would have Ben better by train.

So, yeah, a car would be nice, if only so we could take the bikes further afield, and dh could spend less time commuting. But not the end of the world. Having a licence so we could hire a ca would be nice I suppose.

Public transport costs us £80 a month, which I think compares favourably with a car, and if the bus breaks we just catch another.