Driving in London

[Imustbemad00]

Why do people that live outside of London seem to think iabu for having a car in London? There seems to be a perception you shouldn’t need a car if you live in London.

I live in zone 1. I haven’t always had a car, but I have one now and wouldn’t want to be without it. Not everywhere is accessible by tube, buses take forever. Even though tubes are quick you have to factor in extra time walking to and from stations. Doing this daily with children just to go anywhere or get shopping is horrendous. It’s also extremely busy.

I don’t need to drive to get to work, but I need the car for other aspects of my life. Okay, maybe I don’t NEED it but life has been a lot less stressful since I’ve had it. Also, we do like to leave London and visit other places often.

@passthecherrycoke ok, if you are someone who for some reason needs emergency big shops then get an uber. Much cheaper and more environmentally friendly than buying, insuring, fuelling and parking a car in central London. But I think most families in London don't live like that - you set a weekly/fortnightly shop to order and top up with fresh stuff at the local shop. I think it's rare to "urgently" need more shopping than you can carry. Still baffled I'm afraid.

@Midnightmystery so drivers get to enjoy it while asthma levels for children living in central London go through the roof and global warming continues? I don't think that's reasonable.

People with disabilities or living in areas underserved by public transport need cars for now - and that situation needs to be addressed by public policy. Able-bodied people living in zone 1 are prioritising their "convenience" over their children's' future.

I live on the border of zone 1/2 and absolutely rely on my car. School, after-school activities, GP, shopping, even driving to central London to a restaurant (free in the evening and parking is free too).

I find it funny when I meet my friends for lunch, they all agree that there is absolutely no need for a car in London, then all ask me for a lift or a trip to a supermarket.

My car didn’t cost anything. I certainly wouldn’t buy a decent car- I had a 15 year old beetle. It cost £400, £400 a year insurance and my residents parking permit was dirt cheap. It’s hardly a big expense. The hassle of getting in an Uber is no more
Or less if you live in sloane square or sidcup, and you wouldn’t argue with someone in sidcup driving to the supermarket 🤔

Imustbe DH and I had the opposite experience; lived most of our adult lives in London without cars, moved abroad for a few years and needed one and really disliked it, then sold it and moved back to London and thought “phew!”

I do sometimes bang on here on MN about not needing a car in London, because I find it frustrating that people lack imagination and seem convinced that we live limited lives and are somehow depriving our children of their freedom or enriching experiences by not owning one.

Lots of our friends here do own cars but don’t depend on them the way people who live outside London do (for example they don’t commute in them or drive their kids to school). They obviously feel like owning them makes their lives easier anyway, but honestly don’t seem to get up to anything that we don’t manage on public transport. Vive la difference and all that!

Oh and I urgently need unexpected big shops for impromptu parties!

I would say having a car in London can work out expensive , C Charge Ulez Charge , Resident Permits etc . Plus non drivers always want a lift/ride home in the colder months which may not be on route for you

But the positives out way the negatives freedom of travel you can visit friends and family out of London and not have to worry about working out the journey back due to cancelled or delayed trains . Supermarket shopping is handy with a car. If you have young children it's even better keeping spare toys etc in the boot . I have a spare pair of heels and flats which I keep as well as my child's items in the boot.
Also as another poster mentioned Xmas presents so much easier to deliver while visiting relatives
I also have the flexibility of getting into work if there's an issue with public transport by my car, "plus you're guaranteed a seat

@stuckforlong it was me who talked about Christmas presents and we hire a car when going out of London at Christmas for precisely that issue. It's not a reason to own a car. The rest however is not a "need". It's marginal convenience.

I can honestly say I’ve never asked for a lift to the supermarket! I bloody hate the places and think online grocery shopping is the best invention ever

In my area resident permits are very cheap. I find Uber less convenient and I am more comfortable driving myself and not getting into a car alone in the dark with someone I don’t know. Also it’s much nicer driving kids to school when it’s raining or cold outside, I don’t like them spending all day at school with wet feet, I’d rather drive them down the road... Also drugging violins/sports kit/swimming bag and a clarinet is not my idea of fun, I might be unreasonable but I don’t care 🤣

Resident permits in central local authorities are very cheap and you get 90% off the congestion charge.

You don't need a car. Need means you absolutely can't survive without a car, which you clearly can with all the options open to you.

If you're only using the car at the weekend then I can see why it's useful to have.

I live in zone 4 and hardly drive except to visit family.

OP didn’t say she needed one. She said it makes her life easier to have one, and doesn't understand why people can’t understand that.

People can understand that. Some of us just think it's unreasonably selfish. I think @PinkCloud summed the OP's point of view up best - some people just don't care about anything but their own comfort.

Selfish why? Why is it anymore selfish than having a car in sidcup?

I lived in zone 6 and we had a car. My husband was working away with the car and I had to get 2 kids ages 3 and 4 months to the Chelsea hospital by bus(es) it was bloody hideous. We used our car a lot still when we lived there, not to mention to visit places and people outside of London! Though we never drove into central London, but was hard if you were on your own with a pushchair.

@grimupnorthLondon So what's the alternative how else is everyone supposed to get about with children especially?

@Midnightmystery walk, bus, tube. We are talking about zones 1 and 2 here where loads of families manage it. Children can walk. Children can travel on buses. I used to get two buses to school with violin, PE kit and a cookery basket and lived to tell the tale. Some kids can even survive being out in the rain.

My kids have 7 music lessons a week between them. Their teachers live in locations that are nowhere near any tube station in zones 2 and 4. So how me going there by car is different to someone in say Leeds driving around? How I am more selfish than anyone else who wants to get from place A to place B with a minimal expense and maximum comfort?

^^ What grimupnorth said. We walk, cycle, take the bus, tube or train. Children are 8 and 6 and cope perfectly well. They have never arrived at school with wet feet, they wear wellies in the rain!

My sister is in London - not zone 1 - and has had a car since before her children were born. She's needed it for work, as a musician she has often had late finishes and sometimes a car is better for these.

They do use public transport mainly though - and I had to laugh at the first response - 2 of my nieces do indeed play the cello and their dad has often had to negotiate buses and/or tube with two cellos and two collapsible stools, as well as the girls in tow.

I live in Zone 1 very central London and im a single parent with two children. I travel out of London fairly often going on short breaks all over the country, camping etc. I have family spread across London who I visit often. I don’t drive and really don’t find it a problem, transport links are very good and even with a pushchair people are helpful so in my opinion yes yabu to feel that you ‘need’ a car when you live in zone 1. You obviously want one though, and that of course is your decision to make.

You've found music teachers who don't live near any bus routes either? Anyway you weren't just talking about that - you were talking about driving kids to school so their feet don't get wet....

More specifically I want to know how do you get from Chelsea to the backstreets of Balham that are nowhere near a tube station, by public transport? And more importantly how long will it take, after school, when you have other children in the family to look after.

@pinkcloud3 by Bus. The big red double-decker things.

I think you are re-defining first world problems here - Chelsea children having to venture out in the rain to their music lessons is not really a "need".