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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To find it annoying that some car drivers don't seem to know any other way of getting around?

92 replies

ApignamedJasper · 10/02/2015 13:32

Somewhat confusing title but I'll explain!

I travel a 65 mile round trip on a motorbike to get to my place of study, last week it was snowing and extremely cold and I still made it in. Yet there were 2 people on my course who didn't, who live about 10 minutes away. One of them the road was too icy in her estate as the council hadn't gritted it, the other his car's locks had frozen and he couldn't get in to his car.

Fair enough, the road is icy, don't drive, much safer. But they only live 10 minutes away! They could have easily walked or got a bus!

I used to live in a house with a couple, the girl got a job but she gave it up not long after because her bf wouldn't give her a lift to work every day? Either walk, bus or taxi!

I've only just recently gotten on the road and before that I used to either walk or cycle if the distance allowed, or bus/taxi if it didn't. Aibu to find it annoying how some people who drive cars just seem to think if the car is out if action for whatever reason, they basically can't leave the house?

OP posts:

RiverTam · 10/02/2015 20:50

I love watching people do their make-up on the train - I am rubbish at it so always good to watch a pro transform themselves.

I think some people are missing the point of the thread - not that it's not OK to want to drive everywhere, just that it's a bit mad to refuse to budge if you can't drive for one reason or another.

lurkerspeaks · 10/02/2015 20:55

Snow days being out the worst in people.

The last bad snow we had found me working rurally about 40miles from home. My own car wasn't very good in snow so I borrowed my brother's "spare" landrover (because obviously everyone needs a spare landrover).

I offered my local colleagues a lift - she declined as her car was great in snow but the phoned in for 2 consecutive days because she couldn't get to work...

My driving really isn't that bad!

PrettyFeet · 10/02/2015 21:01

Depends on lots though doesnt it OP

I live in London and if the roads are bad it generally goes with buses/tubes being the same.

I actually wouldnt kill myself trying to get to work.

meandjulio · 10/02/2015 21:07

I'm a bit mystified by people who appear from my reading of their posts to be saying they are more likely to be injured walking to the bus stop in icy weather than if they drive. I feel you must be talking about having specific problems with walking, because I really don't believe that as a general principle.

TBH people who drive to my workplace are the brave ones because it's an absolute ovaryache driving anywhere in the rush hour in my town, before you even start thinking about parking. Hopping onto the bus is the lazy option. Cycling is quicker than the bus.

PrettyFeet · 10/02/2015 21:14

I would never cycle on London roads.

I crap myself in the car when large vehicles come anywhere near let alone make myself so vulnerable as to be cyclist.

Cars and bikes (of any description) do not mix well.

PrettyFeet · 10/02/2015 21:16

let alone anything bigger than my little fiesta as in any other type of 4 wheeled vehicle.

Whippet81 · 10/02/2015 21:37

I just haven't got time to fuck about with public transport sorry. I live rurally and I would have to walk for twenty minutes to get a bus (there's one an hour and I'd still be late as they don't start early enough) I would then have to get off and walk to the train station and then get a train to the town I work in - two offices I work at are both another 20 mins walking in very shitty areas. It would take me about an hour and a half - I can drive it in 35 mins tops. I'm also disabled and suffer from anxiety. I also need my car at work. I also live on a very steep hill and have to negotiate very steep hills to get to work so actually if we do have two foot of snow I'm going nowhere.

I don't have to explain myself to anyone. I'd also rather be sat in my car listening to my radio with the doors locked rather than encounter the nutter trying to set fire to my seat like I had last train journey.

Original poster

ApignamedJasper · 10/02/2015 22:02

I can assure you people setting fire to your seat doesn't happen very often!

What would you do if you didn't have the car whippet?

OP posts:

ChristmasMarketCrazy · 11/02/2015 10:59

I think some posters are missing the point of this thread.
It is fine to drive to work every day/love the freedom etc. What the op is saying is why does everything grind to a halt for some people when their car is out of action?

ChippingInGluggingOn · 11/02/2015 11:15

Christ Whippet, where do you live?

If my car is out if action I can't get to work and I can't do my job. Hiring a car would be my only option.

I miss living in London with fabulous PT.

MollieCoddler · 11/02/2015 14:30

agree with the pp who said that snow days bring out the worst in some people.

i travelled 50 miles across the pennines on public transport to a work meeting in a small northern town one snowy day. I arrived at the meeting to be told that the my colleagues, who mostly lived a few miles away from the meeting location and were car drivers, 'couldn't make it'.

i had to go all the way back and return another day. I was fuming!

MissBattleaxe · 11/02/2015 16:01

I totally agree with you OP. I think many people once they pass their test, use their cars instead of legs. Even some of my friends think nothing of jumping in the car to drive half a mile to the corner shop.

I may get a flaming for this but I think people's over reliance on cars rubs off on their children and I think this is partly responsible; for why the nation is heavier these days.

Some drivers seem to think a simple bus ride is akin to organising a trek in the Himalayas, and walking seems to be positively unfashionable.

geekymommy · 11/02/2015 16:42

Getting alternative transportation is more feasible in some places than in others. This is especially bad in some areas of the US. It's not easy to look into alternatives for the first time, especially if you have somewhere you have to be at a set time. I wish more places were pedestrian and transit friendly (I don't like driving and would like to do less of it), but the fact is they're not.

Mrsfrumble · 11/02/2015 17:03

I understand geekymommy; l live in one those places. We cause quite a stir at my children's preschool because we walk there and back... We live 5 blocks away!

There is a growing movement in our city to make neighborhoods more walkable thanks to growing realization that car-dependency is damaging people's health, the environment and a sense of community.

On a practical note, Google maps has a journey planning function that gives generous estimated times for walking different routes which helps me work out if a journey is actually walkable as I'm crap at conceptualizing distances. You can use the satellite view to see if there are sidewalks and crosswalks too.

MollieCoddler · 11/02/2015 17:13

Www.transportdirect.info is also good for planning non car journeys

googoodolly · 11/02/2015 17:24

I think it is a bit ridiculous that some people are practically housebound when their car breaks down. So, if you all had no car for a week or something would you just not go to work? Use up your holiday or not get paid or something?

It's a bit pathetic really.

ivykaty44 · 11/02/2015 17:38

Don't complain when you are stuck in traffic - you are the traffic....

geekymommy · 11/02/2015 18:19

Some of us might work from home if our car were out of commission for a week. Some of us might use another household car- there are lots of households that own more than one car (I think DH and I are kind of in the minority, at least in our socioeconomic class, for being a one-car family). Some of us would rent a car. Car insurance here in the US will often cover the cost of a rental car while your car is repaired after an accident. A rental car might well be cheaper than a week off work, even if your car insurance didn't cover it.

Of course, weather has something to do with it, too. Walking or waiting outside for public transit is much easier and more pleasant in a place like San Francisco than it would be in Minneapolis (Minnesota, average low 4 F) in the winter or Phoenix (Arizona, average high 106 F) in the summer. A lot of the non-walkable places in the US are that way at least partly because it really is unpleasant to walk outside for a significant part of the year. That's going to be less of a factor in the UK- London or even Scotland doesn't get that kind of climate extremes.

Whippet81 · 11/02/2015 18:28

I've never not had a car since I was 17 - not even for a week (now 34). If my car was in the garage or whatever I would either get a hire car off the garage or borrow a family members car or have the day off.

I'm not a public transport idiot - I often get the tram from work to the nearest city for meetings etc but I am for day to day life completely reliant on a car. I couldn't do my horses and get to work etc relying on public transport - not where I live - it's very different if you live in a city. I couldn't even get DS to playgroup.

So no I don't think I'm 'pathetic'. I will never be in the situation of not having a car to use.

bigbluestars · 11/02/2015 18:40

I can't abide people who can't drive and expect others to give them lifts everywhere.

googoodolly · 11/02/2015 18:42

How do you know that, though? ANYONE could end up in the position of not having a car - either through lack of money, illness, injury, whatever. I mean, what if you develop an illness that means you're not allowed to drive but you can still work? Do you just stay home? It makes no sense to be so reliant on something to me.

blackheartsgirl · 11/02/2015 18:55

I vowed never to use the bus again after a local nutter threaten to rape my young daughter in front of me as soon as we got off the bus. I know he was mentally ill but it badly shook me up.

I've seen drug abuse, alchohol abuse, fights and intimidating behaviour on our local buses. I was assaulted in the bus station at 10pm waiting for a bus home.

I'll stick to my safe car thanks.

ThatBloodyWoman · 11/02/2015 19:02

I don't drive,and sometimes I'm horrified by people's over reliance on cars.
Just a word about walking in icy conditions -not quite so bad if you live in a urban area,but on country lanes,walking can be a dodgy option -no protection from car drivers sliding about.

MollieCoddler · 11/02/2015 19:34

I'm liking the phrase 'public transport idiot'!

I think people do loose the wherewithal to use public transport when they become over reliant on cars.
Yes buses have their fair share of nutters but the idea that cars are 'safe' is bonkers

graceM · 11/02/2015 19:39

Me personally I love walking, especially in the summer months. However I have three children at three different schools/nurseries. The two eldest also do tons of out of schools clubs and activities so having a car and driving is essential, and I couldn't cope without it. I think more people should learn to drive especially parents who have to drag their children on buses here there and everywhere in the cold, which I think is unfair.

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