Would you be put off by a man who doesn't drive?

[ItDoesMyHeadIn]

I was. Cancelled the date. I'm being too fussy apparently. To be fair my friend is married to a man who doesn't drive and he's amazing. Neither of my parents drive. The guy I was going to date could afford it, he just can't be arsed. He is happy to walk everywhere or use public transport. Up to him. But I would want to be with someone who can literally take the wheel sometimes. Like fuck do I want to be the one driving 8 hours up to Scotland for a holiday, or being the one to always collect the takeaway etc. I'm pretty traditional and sometimes I admit I would want my man to pick me up and take me out for dinner etc (fuck off crazy feminists, yes I can take myself out for dinner). I didn't actually realise how much of a deal breaker this was until it was put in front of me! Interested in opinions...

Was born and brought up in a village. Wouldn't go back.

It's all a trade-off and a question of perspective though, isn't it? Cities and villages both have their advantages and disadvantages, as do cars and public transport.

I was brought up in a village too, then lived in a couple of cities, including London, and then in villages again. I wouldn't go back to living in a city.

I use my car a lot. It would be impractical for me not to. But it's great that some people don't. At least dh and I will be able to car-share soon and for the foreseeable future, due to a job change.

Yeah, when I bought my car I halved my IQ.

Me no understand bus.

Well, apparently there are indeed people who don't understand how buses and trains work.

The common denominator seems to be that they aren't driving.

My experience as well, when her car broke down she said she couldn’t go anywhere as she “wouldn’t be seen dead on a bus” she was the one relying on lifts from people. Also she insisted that if I drove I would never take my kids anywhere because I wouldn’t be bothered to drive far places as that’s how she feels, she only drivers around the local area and never takes her son anywhere out of the area! I told her I still would as I take my kids all over now so why wouldn’t I do it if I had a car.. I think it’s more down to the type of person you are rather than whether you drive or not.

Well, apparently there are indeed people who don't understand how buses and trains work.

Well, the people who wrote that don't know how buses work. The Reddit post refers to return tickets. These don't exist anywhere near where I live or work: you can either buy a single or an all-day ticket, and the drivers get tetchy if you ask for a return.

There's not much excuse for not knowing the basics of how trains work, as there are national web sites/apps with timetables and pre-booking (although they make it as hard as possible for you to save money by split-ticketing). Buses are much harder: finding out what the fare will be for a bus journey you don't do regularly - or even where/how you're supposed to buy tickets - is ridiculously complicated in many places. And bus drivers aren't renowned for being the most helpful of people, although that's hardly surprising given the amount of abuse they get.

Just how many people commute daily from Birmingham to London? I bothered to look up data on how long the average commute was and tallied that up to a relevant season ticket. I suggest that you do the same rather than picking extreme examples for the sake of it.

Otherwise I'll adjust my "cost of motoring" figures to depict Lamborghinis as a representative school run car.

No

I went to Sea Cadets as a kid. Driving there was incredibly tedious, the traffic was dire. It could take an hour.

Where I live now, if I was to challenge a driver to a Le Mans-style race to a given amenity in town (so you start at my front door, go to wherever your car/bicycle is parked, drive/cycle into town, park as close as possible, walk to destination), it would be a very close-run thing between the car and the bicycle.

Within a 20 minute bike ride, I can access a riding school, tennis club, swimming pool, all three cadet forces, Scouts/Guides, sailing club, dry ski slope, football club, golf club, theatre...

Which opportunities might any kids i have miss out on?

They can all afford taxis everywhere though!

They can all afford taxis everywhere though!

Yes they'll have chauffeurs/drivers for sure, so not sure what that proves TBH.

I think it's more to point out that a lack of driving license doesn't automatically mean a lack of other skills that can make you successful in other areas of life, as so many are determined is the case.

Yes, but are they failures in life because they don't drive as implied or stated by many on this thread?

On another recent thread on this topic, someone said people who don't drive through choice 'aren't fully functioning' people. I don't think any more needs to be said when you think of the successful people mentioned. (I'd love to watch someone tell Noel Gallagher to his face that he isn't a fully functioning person because he doesnt drive!)

(I'd love to watch someone tell Noel Gallagher to his face that he isn't a fully functioning person because he doesnt drive!)

No, it isn't because he doesn't drive.

Doesn't Robbie Williams live in LA? That's a terrible place to be if you don't drive.

I'd happily tell him. He seems like a bit of a dickhead anyway

NG used to have a house by one of my relatives in Buckinghamshire, proper middle of nowhere, you would definitely need a driver there or you would be going nowhere.

From his statement NG is actually a prime example of the reason I wouldn’t date a non driver!

Looks like it's a family trait-

Liam Gallagher can't drive. The 47-year-old rocker never learnt how to get behind the wheel of a car legally because he knew he would've wiped everyone out - including himself - straight away. Speaking to GQ magazine, he said: “No (I can't drive). “That's why I'm still alive

Apologies, I think I misunderstood your post. I thought you were saying he wasnt a fully functioning person because he doesn't drive

No I think the message was he's not because of a multitude of other reasons. But I have never had a problem with him TBH, I know the Gallaghers are Marmite though.

For the record, I don't like the Gallagher brothers at all, I was only pointing out that he has done quite well yet shock horror, doesn't drive.

They have both reached the point where they have enough money not to need to now I assume. I guess they have roadies and drivers to keep the show on the road now. Back at the start someone must have been driving the van.

I don’t drive as I’m visually impaired. It really upsets me when I’m labelled as someone who is lazy and can’t be bothered learning. It took me years to come to terms with 😔

It’s even more upsetting now I know that someone may actually use it as a reason not to be in a relationship with me.