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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think cars should be banned from towns and cities

143 replies

chrome100 · 26/04/2013 19:55

I don't own a car, mainly because I am too poor but also because I don't really need one and get around from A-B either on foot (short distances), cycling (medium distances), or bus/train (long distance). I am not a lentil-weaving hippy by any means but I really dislike the way that the dominance of the car has influenced our towns and cities - children can't play out, we are always waiting at junctions and traffic lights, running and walking necessitate several lengthy pauses to cross busy roads etc etc.

Why can't we create some kind of system whereby cars must be left on the outskirts of a city and everyone wanting to move around inside it has to walk/cycle/use the bus? I know this is hugely unrealistic and expensive but the impact this would have on our daily lives would be immense. The general environment would be so much more pleasant, we'd be to roam (ok, maybe I am a bit lentil weaver Grin )

I know some people are disabled etc and allowances could be made for that but the vast majority of car journeys within a city (I think) could be avoided if people gave themselves more time to get to where they were going.

I'd love to live in a town town with no traffic, to cycle along with no cars and not have to fight dangerous junctions as a pedestrian.

OP posts:
VinegarDrinker · 26/04/2013 21:44

Get the bus home? What?! I'm not sure you understand car clubs at all. There are 6 Zipcars within 5 minutes walk of our flat (closest 30 seconds), that's how car clubs work.

StanleyLambchop · 26/04/2013 21:55

Vinegar- I am not sure that you understand that not all areas in every town have nice, convenient car clubs. Having just googled, the ones closest to where I live are a fair distance away. Hence my initial point about there being so many different circumstances, this idea could never work.

VinegarDrinker · 26/04/2013 21:58

No, of course they don't currently. But lots do, and as a long term solution to the problem of too many cars on the road they are a great addition that should be widely promoted and subsidised.

caroldecker · 26/04/2013 22:04

And the weather - the Netherlands is significantly warmer and drier

VinegarDrinker · 26/04/2013 22:09

If it's freezing cold or raining you can use the cheap utopian public transport that runs from the end of your road Grin

expatinscotland · 26/04/2013 22:28

yes because we have so much money to throw at this cheap public transport.

BigKidsMadeMeDoIt · 26/04/2013 22:35

what about delivery vans or tradesmen who need a vehicle to transport their equipment to wherever they are working?

can just see a white van man loading all his gear into some panniers (sp?) and getting on his bike.

BadgersNadgers · 26/04/2013 22:40

You're jealous of car owners. Just green eyed jealous and want to spoil all our car driving fun.

VinegarDrinker · 26/04/2013 22:43

I had a car. Sold it. Now happier, thinner and better off Smile

MidniteScribbler · 26/04/2013 22:51

So because you can't afford a car, no one should have one? You're an idiot.

cantspel · 26/04/2013 22:55

I haven't ridden a bike since i left school many moons ago and i am not going to start again now.

VinegarDrinker · 26/04/2013 22:55

Was that to me or the OP?

Personally I could afford a car fine, thanks.

BadgersNadgers · 26/04/2013 23:04

Nah VinegarSprinkles, OP. Glad you an afford a car though.

janey223 · 26/04/2013 23:23

Can we at least just ban cutting through the side streets? I waited 10 bloody minutes tonight to cross the 'lets just cut through here' road in the middle of my street tonight. Of course the drivers all stop and wave each other past but ignore the toddler desperately trying to run across the road.

YoniMontana · 26/04/2013 23:26

This has been invented. It's called a park and ride. But nobody round here uses them...

Original poster
chrome100 · 27/04/2013 00:06

Um, ok. I think calling me an idiot is uncalled for. And, trust me, I am not jealous of people owning a car.

A lot of the reasons people have given for needing a car are because public transport and other alternatives are so shit in this country. I agree - sometimes it's more of a hassle/expense to get the bus and in those circumstances I can totally see why people choose to drive. My suggestion is that, rather than build carparks and widen roads, we focus on looking at others ways of getting about and investing in these alternatives: better transport links, more car clubs, metro systems etc. I am not suggesting that people who are elderly/disabled/white van men should all pootle about on a bike, but there are thousands of people who are NOT elderly/disabled but just can't be arsed not to drive and can't really see that they don't need to. These are the ones that can drive less and in doing so would make a generally better environment for all.

My colleague, for instance, drives the 1 mile to work every day and pays £40 a month to park her car at work. She is fit, healthy, single - there is no reason why she couldn't walk that distance. It's people like her that I think would benefit from better investment in these alternatives. I think there must be a different way of doing things.

OP posts:
LRDtheFeministDragon · 27/04/2013 00:08

My town is pretty much like this. It has a lot of streets only taxis and buses can use, and very limited and expensive parking in the centre. Unfortunately, once you limit cars, you notice how many buses you need. And how many are full of tourists who wander out into the street, clog up the bike lanes on the pavement because they don't know what these are, etc.

I am in favour of the idea but it has to be pretty carefully thought through.

imour · 27/04/2013 00:32

My colleague, for instance, drives the 1 mile to work every day and pays £40 a month to park her car at work. She is fit, healthy, single - there is no reason why she couldn't walk that distance. chrome100

what the hell has being single got to do with her walking to work or not , that made me laugh .there is a reason she doesnt walk its because she owns a car and wants to drive and its her money paying for it not yours .

Original poster
chrome100 · 27/04/2013 08:14

By "single" I mean she doesn't have kids so doesn't need to drive anyone anywhere. Realise that was a poor choice of word, apologies.

Ok clearly IABU and a massive idealist who has no idea about anything. But I still think some people are just lazy fuckers.

OP posts:
StanleyLambchop · 27/04/2013 08:45

Chrome, I don't think your idea is necessarily a bad one, but- as a car driver I resent the idea that I should pay all the costs associated with car ownership, and then be expected to use public transport on top of that. The amount of money that car owners generate for the economy could not be replaced easily if everyone switched to public transport, which is why councils/governments are reluctant to consider the measures you suggest. So I think for most people it has to be a one or the other type arrangement.

I would certainly not pay to kep my car taxed and insured just to sit in the suburbs not being able to drive anywhere in it. Having one car between 50 in a car club will not bring in the same amount of revenue as 50 people having their own cars. So it comes down to economy v environment. In the current climate I know which one will be priority.

ItsAFuckingVase · 27/04/2013 09:00

Well done OP. You've just banged the final nail in the coffin of the high street.

I don't want to drive into the city centre, because it is a fucking massive inconvenience to be limited in what I can bring back. It's a pain in the ease having to find space for a load of bags on the bus or train, and not have the contents spill out. Even more so when everyone else has a load of bags.

I drive into the city centre for meetings. To use public transport would add hours of non productive time to my working day. And then to add to it, we're not exactly renowned for our ideal weather conditions in this country, so I'd also get to turn up to said meeting pissed wet through. And there's nothing worse than having wet trouser bottoms flapping against your leg. Not sure it'd be a good look professionally either.

ItsAFuckingVase · 27/04/2013 09:01

*pain in the arse

undercoversahm · 27/04/2013 09:07

I am with you OP It would be transformative. We could have bikes with carts dragged behind for the shopping (cargo bikes). And a few electric taxis for those who really can't manage. But let's make first moves at least to prevent the overwhelming dominance of motor traffic...it restricts and blights as many lives as it liberates. We are making a start with pedestrianised zones, Trafalgar Square's new design, Queensgate and Boris Bikes in London have made a big difference. The full externalities of car travel should be charged as a starter (this won;t be popular but we need even bigger taxes on car use to properly reflect the harm they cause).

undercoversahm · 27/04/2013 09:09

itsafuckingvase Do you need to buy so much? In any case, Most bought goods can be delivered.

In our utopia the public transport would be regular and cheap.

Also, what about video conferencing? Do you really need to be physically present at meetings? That is so last century.

Grin an answer for all your gripes.

ItsAFuckingVase · 27/04/2013 09:22

I buy what I want to buy. And you know, it's nice to get out of the house and actually see and touch things in a shop, rather than second guessing sizing and wondering whether the colour of something is as shown on a screen.

I like to choose my own food. I buy my meat from a butcher, my fruit and veg from the market, bread from a bakery etc. As far as I'm aware, none of them offer an online shopping service.

And yes I have to physically attend meetings. I'm an engineer, and you can't really manage a project without visiting the site from time to time.