To ask how you manage as a resident in a congestion charging zone?

[TheABC]

My city is being pushed into doing this and we can't afford to upgrade to a newer vehicle before it arrives. Whilst we walk where possible, for bulky items (such as the tip run, IKEA visits, etc.), we have to use the car.

More selfishly, it also means fewer trips to the swimming pool or the bigger parks as there are no direct bus routes available and it's impractical to ask a three-year-old to cycle across several busy junctions and roads for two miles.

How did you cope? Taxis, car share lifts or just accepting that you can't do certain things? I would happily consider a rental club, but they don't appear to exist where I live. Public transport is nowhere near as good as London's.

And yes, IKEA!!!!

If you live in a city centre you shouldn’t need a car. If you’re only using it for things like trips to Ikea then sell you’re car and use a car share service like zip car.

Congestion charge isn’t affected by how old your car is. Unless you mean the ULEZ charge?
Congestion charge residents get 90% discount.
ULEZ there is no way around unfortunately. I’m extremely lucky, if my car was 6-12 months older I’d have fallen into it and would of has to get rid of my car. Couldn’t afford a newer one.

I would love to use a carshare service - it's just finding one that operates in the area! I may sit down and work out the costs of taxi v car - fortunately, neither of us drive to work.

@Imustbemad00, it's outside of London and will operate in the same way as the ULEZ (I think). I am glad that the air quality is being taken seriously, but I am also concerned about shoppers being driven away from a struggling centre. As one councillor said "it's a sledgehammer to crack a nut".