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

[ApignamedJasper]

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?

graceM did you mean to be so offensive?

Actually,there are many people who choose not to drive for environmental reasons.
And as for dragging children around in the cold -well,my dc's are fit and healthy and it does them no harm to do a bit of walking.

I'm learning to drive. When (if?) I pass my test I expect I'll still be dragging my children here, there and everywhere on the bus and on foot. I think I'd be doing them a bigger injustice if I let them grow up believing that buses are only for the use of the criminally insane, and that they'll freeze / melt / injure themselves if they actually have to walk anywhere in inclement weather.

Actually I would rather my children walked everywhere than got ferried around in a car all the time. DP has three DC and neither of us drive. His ex doesn't drive either and funnily enough all three of them have survived being "dragged around on buses" by all three of us, cold or not.

Cars aren't essential just because you have a small person. I actually think it's pretty bad when kids can't walk further than a few hundred metres because they're so used to being ferried everywhere in a car. Oddly enough, using public transport with children is an okay thing to do.

I think what most people here are missing is that car drivers often move to places where you need a car. There are several new estates I can think of where you'd be stranded without a car. Huge housing estates with no shops it'd take half an hour to walk out of. No train stations. A bus 3 times an hour that takes over an hour to the town centre. Nothing to get to another area.

In my experience people who use public transport live in well connected areas with lots of local amenities.

They are 2 different worlds.

Nearest bus stop to me is half hours walk away when I'm dragging my children with me.
It'd be great to have a bus 3 times an hour!

I love driving - and I enjoy walking too. I'll drive, or walk, depending on convenience. If I have to, I'll get a train, but I'd rather not.

I'd rather eat my own arm than use the buses round here though. They're unreliable, crowded and grim. I'm quite happy in my diesel guzzling Landy, thanks.

It often gets stated on here that driving is an essential life skill. I think that being able to go about your life without a car should you need to is equally important. As someone said up thread, there are plenty of circumstances where you may find yourself unable to drive, and having the stamina to walk a few miles at a decent pace (barring disability) / the common sense to dress appropriately for the weather / the ability the cycle safely or negotiate public transport means you won't end up like the people in the OP.

I don't think the OP is saying that you shouldn't drive if you can and you want to, just that it's worth considering alternative means of getting around so you're not stranded if driving is not possible.

Where I am, it is simply not worth attempting to get to work if I cannot drive unless I know the night before that I'll be using the bus.

The bus service wouldn't let me get to work until 12, and if I don't have the car I need to leave at 1.15 to get a bus home in time to pick up my son, so yes, I could make it into work by other means but I wouldn't be bothering doing a 40 mile round trip for the sake of an hour and a quarter's work.

I relied on our shite bus service for years, I'm not in any hurry to use it again unless absolutely necessary.

downstairs I was thinking of a friend who had a similar experience to you when I wrote that post. He had a series of unexplained seizures in his 30s and was advised against driving while doctors investigated the cause. He was distraught at first, but then took up cycling and got so into it that he hardly ever drives now, despite being given the all clear to do so.

Mollie my car is safer than our buses so please don't say I'm bonkers. sorry but when your five year old daughter is threatened with rape to her face in front of you and the driver did fuck all then I'd rather drive thank you very much.

I think Mollie was referring to the fact that 2,272 children were killed or seriously injured as occupants of cars in the UK in 2012 (the latest year I could find stats for).

Thanks mrs frumble, that was indeed what I was referring to - though I didn't realise the number was so high

I've already explained that I am disabled so saying 'what if illness or injury got you' is a bit crass. If I couldn't use a car in the future for any reason I would lose my job and have to either work at home or get a job in the village or move. I don't think people understand the concept of rural living. You don't just 'jump on the bus'. There are no buses. Well there is one an hour for a limited time in the day and a free one to the supermarket a few times a day. The nearest train station is 30/40 minutes drive away.

Also I am expected to use a car at work - I can have ten site visits to do a day.

What if those people who can't drive can no longer use public transport - can't walk to stop or stand if needed to? What would you do then?