Anyone regretting not learning to drive?

[Doingtheboxerbeat]

I have never ever had a problem with not driving due to living in cities with excellent transport links and being an avid cyclist but I am really regretting it now since lock down.
I finally got around to getting my provisional licence back in March then I lost my job due to covid-19.
I live alone and really want to go to the beach or anywhere that is too far away to cycle but I can't justify using public transport for this can I? And I can't really expect another household to take me.
I'm just bored shitless - anyone else?

I would probably use public transport if I was you .
With kids it’s tricky.

Waiting for the usual "driving is an essential life skill" mob to come along. I didn't start driving till my mid 30s because I was having too much fun living in capital cities around the world. You're not limited, you've just not got an option you'd like - hopefully that option is realised by yourself very soon so you can do what you'd like to do

Oh god yes, I know this would be so much harder with kids, so there's that.

Sort of. I tried in my teens but I was a really really crap driver. Now I wish I had learnt, but you know, it is another expense and another thing to worry about and organise, having a car.

I'm 26 and I regret it so so badly, 3children and bored out of our brains!

I'm definitely going to learn once lessons are aloud to go ahead, I suffer from anxiety though and I know I might struggle with getting behind the wheel.

@GinDaddyRedux, they're obviously right about essential skills, but unlike other essential skills - learning to drive isn't necessarily free and unfortunately other things in life got in the way.

Yes! I was taking lessons and had learned everything and was just getting driving practice in before lockdown, now I'm worried about how nervous I'm going to be when I finally get behind the wheel again and that I'll have forgotten everything

Mostly I feel like life is harder because I can't carry more than one bag of shopping, can't pop out to see family members without faffing around on transport, can't get to places to go on nice walks , my DDs school isn't on the door step so if I drove that would help massively, would love some independence.

I'd love to drive, I have family 2 hours away & a one year old.. I'd love to visit my mum even half way with the baby but I have epilepsy so not allowed yet, hopefully I will do soon though.

@iwilltaketwoplease, me too, I will make this a priority, as soon as I get back into work. I always had other things to spend my money on .
Luckily I have no fear of the roads since I ride a bike, so I suppose I benefit in that sense.

I can drive now but iin my early twenties I hadn,t yet past my practical and was living and workin in rural France. Not being able to drive put a strain on my working relationship with my colleague and was very isolating.

I didn’t bother learning until I was 30 and needed to move away from London. It’s not too late. Hopefully soon driving lessons in PPE will be possible. You could start swotting for your theory test now.

I know what you mean OP, but public transport is a decent alternative. Just wear a mask.

I had to stop driving a year ago for medical reasons, and while I adjusted ok, I miss the spontaneity of just taking off somewhere. I don't need a car for work.

I'm glad I'm doing ok but driving is out of the question now sadly. So I had to adjust pretty quickly when I recovered. Got myself a wheelie backpack for shopping, use the tram, walk a bit which is good for me and so on.

The one thing I miss is planning to buy a bolthole in the countryside somewhere. Won't be able to do that now without four wheels. But I count my blessings just the same!

I finally passed my test at 31. I'm glad I did, but I think it depends on where you live.

Up until then, I was living in London, and I used public transport to get everywhere. Then I moved to Essex, and it was 1 bus an hour, so essential really.

If you live in a place with good transport links, I wouldn't worry too much.

@iwilltaketwoplease, so this could be a positive outcome to this whole mess and have something to work towards . @Cam2020, you will pick it up soon enough, as you will be inching to get it done now - positive thoughts. @georgie279, that sucks! Hopefully soon you will be able to.

I’ve driven since I was 20 but barely moved the car during lockdown and now that I’ve recently started driving more again it’s made me appreciate it so much more. It’s offers an element of freedom & independence I’d not fully understood before lockdown and I’m really glad of it now.

@saveeno, that's really sad to have it taken away from you and you're obviously right about limited places you can live.
I used to have issues about using public transport during "peacetime" because the moment someone sneezed I would stress about catching something, so you can imagine my anxiety now .

Omg yes. I feel so sick of the three parks in walking distance (and appreciate that I'm lucky even to have that many), and with young kids I can't go too far away and wouldn't feel comfortable on public transport yet even if it was allowed. But feel a bit claustrophobic!

@ArriettyJones, that's good advice actually, I'm going to start right now - thanks.

I passed my test right before lockdown so have hardly had any opportunity to practise in my own car! So anxious every time I go anywhere

I only passed my driving test last year at 35. Id never felt I needed to drive until I split up with my husband. Then I realised how isolated and stuck I felt. So I booked some lessons. I love being able to drive now. I never regretted until I'd passed and knew what I was missing if that makes sense?

You're not limited, you've just not got an option you'd like

That's what limited means.

I couldn’t afford to learn in my late teens or twenties, then I lived in cities with good transport links, then I lost my confidence and decided I was too old to bother. Now I’m revising my opinion and in spite of being a bit ancient and spatially challenged, I’m seriously considering getting lessons when it’s possible to do so.

I’ve been driving for years but never built up the confidence to go out of my comfort zone which is basically as far as the surrounding towns So limited in that way!

YANBU, I also didn't need a car until a fairly recent move. Just before lockdown I had passed my theory test and I was about to book my practical. I hope I haven't forgotten too much over lockdown.

I completely understand your anxiety around public transport (I had counselling for OCD a couple of years ago) Maybe mask up and try doing a shorter journey first just to see how you get on, a day at the beach would be so good right now!