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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To wonder why is Mumsnet so anti-car?

375 replies

Ticketsto · 14/01/2023 07:37

There is at least one thread a week on here demonizing cars! What is with all the hate? I know they cause pollution and can kill people however they’ve revolutionized the way we live! Not all of us are fortunate enough to live somewhere with good public transport.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
MadameSzyszkoBohusz · 14/01/2023 07:40

Really?! That's never been the impression I get - the opposite in fact, if you don't drive, you're considered to have failed in some fundamental way as an adult.

LlynTegid · 14/01/2023 07:46

I don't demonise cars.

I do object though to SUVs driven by people and the impact of the environment, when what I would call a standard size car is perfectly adequate.

I object to travelling walkable distances and parking badly, and the impact it has on their health and the delays for whom there really is no easy alternatives.

I object to those (usually men) who drive aggressively, often in certain makes of car, to intimidate others (often women) on the road.

I object to those who want cyclists off the road, or tractors at the time they travel, because it inconveniences them for a minute or two.

I object to giving licences and not banning those who drink and drive, or who take illegal drugs. I want to see medical checks at reasonable intervals, as I think perhaps 10% of car drivers are sadly not fit to drive for health reasons.

I object to courts not taking motoring crimes seriously, and being allowed to accept bleeding heart excuses and not ban someone.

OxPeg · 14/01/2023 07:51

@LlynTegid is spot on.
OP, nobody would disagree that cars have revolutionized the way we live! However, they obviously present some very real dangers - both environmental and societal - and people rightly have strong feelings about these.

megletthesecond · 14/01/2023 07:52

There's a time and a place for cars. I sadly have to use mine for kids activities a couple of times a week. I just don't like lazy-itis. Lots of people can use their cars a bit less by carrying shopping and doing nearby errands on foot.

Susanthehappytrottingelf · 14/01/2023 07:53

It so isn't! It's full of people being disparaging of non drivers and people proclaiming that it's completely impractical to walk more than a step from car to house. Off street parking is #1 requirement on the property threads

BOOOORRRRIIINNNGGGG · 14/01/2023 07:57

As ever, it’s targeted by people with an agenda to change some aspect of society. See also Brexit, Covid, H&M threads, any brand that’s repeatedly mentioned in a short time etc

SpinningFloppa · 14/01/2023 07:58

Yes I’ve also noticed the exact opposite, if someone mentions that they don’t drive they are pulled up on it and treated as if there is something wrong with them (it’s apparently only acceptable if there is a medical reason 🙄 I’ve been questioned why I don’t drive.) Also seen people criticised for saying they “don’t” drive instead of can’t when I don’t know anyone irl who says they “can’t” drive.

Quveas · 14/01/2023 07:59

MN is against everything. It's the nature of the beast. Dogs, cats, hamsters, the royal family, the non-royal family... take your pick.

GenuinelyDone · 14/01/2023 08:00

LlynTegid · 14/01/2023 07:46

I don't demonise cars.

I do object though to SUVs driven by people and the impact of the environment, when what I would call a standard size car is perfectly adequate.

I object to travelling walkable distances and parking badly, and the impact it has on their health and the delays for whom there really is no easy alternatives.

I object to those (usually men) who drive aggressively, often in certain makes of car, to intimidate others (often women) on the road.

I object to those who want cyclists off the road, or tractors at the time they travel, because it inconveniences them for a minute or two.

I object to giving licences and not banning those who drink and drive, or who take illegal drugs. I want to see medical checks at reasonable intervals, as I think perhaps 10% of car drivers are sadly not fit to drive for health reasons.

I object to courts not taking motoring crimes seriously, and being allowed to accept bleeding heart excuses and not ban someone.

This 100%

RampantIvy · 14/01/2023 08:03

I agree that there are more "why don't you learn to drive?" posts than anti car posts. All the anti car posts will be from posters who live in places with abundant public transport and who have very little understanding of what living in an area of poor public transport is like.

Mercurial123 · 14/01/2023 08:11

I'd say the opposite, MN is really anti cyclists. One idiot on here wanted to knock a cyclists over as she was so angry. Or anti giving people lifts.

fnfnf · 14/01/2023 08:11

Mumsnet seems very pro-car to me.

SavoirFlair · 14/01/2023 08:14

I don’t think there’s an abundance of anti-car posts.

i know there has been an increase in posts about 15 Minute cities and the environmental benefits of having all amenities and work close by.

This is due to the Oxford low traffic neighbourhoods and other cities following suit.

This means some will argue for the benefits to residential areas of not having lots of cars drive through their street. Some will also argue for people to consider non-car journeys.

That’s usually met with a volley of “we have 3 buses a day that are a 25 min walk from our house” etc, failing to see the point that they don’t live in an urban area therefore we’re not talking about them…

Susanthehappytrottingelf · 14/01/2023 08:14

RampantIvy · 14/01/2023 08:03

I agree that there are more "why don't you learn to drive?" posts than anti car posts. All the anti car posts will be from posters who live in places with abundant public transport and who have very little understanding of what living in an area of poor public transport is like.

It's a bit chicken and egg though and I see this in a few contexts.

I would never live somewhere with no public transport - that's a choice people have made

Different issue but I also see "in my area there is no wraparound care or holiday clubs" - well again I wouldn't have had children there.

And I do get that a small number of people for whatever reason didn't have tons of choice but most people do have some choices and options on where they live

BigGreen · 14/01/2023 08:15

What part of the boards are you reading?! Agree w other posters about the driving licenses / lifts. I've never asked a lift since reading the vitriol here 😂

RampantIvy · 14/01/2023 08:19

You are right @Susanthehappytrottingelf. We would never have chosen to live where we do if we couldn't drive. We are fortunate to have a railway station in our village, but the rail strikes make our public transport options more difficult.

BunchHarman · 14/01/2023 08:28

This place is very weird about cars and driving:

If you can’t drive, or worse, the man you’re contemplating dating doesn’t drive, you and he should be ashamed and learn immediately, it’s a life skill.

However, if you desire any sort of car other than an ugly, boxy, tiny little electric one that costs £60k, you should be ashamed.

That said, everyone is utterly terrified of going over 30mph, driving in the rain, the dark and don’t even contemplate leaving the house if it’s icy, or worse snowing.

However, there’s apparently nothing sexier than a man’s forearms while he does big manly driving.

And finally, don’t you dare try to park anywhere near your own house if you’re too poverty-stricken to have a driveway with space for eight cars, you entitled wench.

Thedaysthatremain · 14/01/2023 08:29

Really? There's a running thread on mumsnet that you are a defective adult if you can't drive. It's very irritating.

BigGreen · 14/01/2023 08:46

Perfect @BunchHarman 👏😅😜

HoneyDragon · 14/01/2023 08:48

I don’t think the moaning is unique to Mumsnet. I chose to live in an area with good public transport that now has pretty much no public transport at all. Local social posts are bemoaning too many cars, too little parking, too many cars parked on roads. They are blaming the car owners but can’t see the link between the total decline of the bus service and the increase in car drivers. I don’t think mine is the only town in the UK with this issue either.

whataboutsecondbreakfast · 14/01/2023 08:50

I wouldn't say MNwas against cars.

I'd say that, in general MNetters are very pro-electric car, very anti-cyclist and not very understanding of how little public transport exists in huge areas of the country.

I've seen so many threads where people say "just book an Uber" or "DC is sixteen, they can get the bus!" - without realising that Uber is non-existent in many places - just like the bus service.

I live in a small town with several primaries and a secondary school. There is no bus service here - the nearest place serviced by bus is 7 miles away down a main road Grin

OhmygodDont · 14/01/2023 08:52

Anit car? How can it be anti car yet anti those who can’t drive haha. The amount of hate to those failed adults who can’t drive it pretty big.

Apparently we all constantly ask for lifts and want people to make plans around us. Most of us actually don’t just some Arseholes do but like some drivers are arseholes funny that.

My dh drives, we have a drive we also have a bus stop at the end of the street. We do both sides of this argument. His only dislike about me not driving is that I can’t be the designated sober, but we don’t really go out drinking and honestly his a terrible passenger. We get a taxi if he wants to drink and we are actually going out simple.

FeckingHungryMozzies · 14/01/2023 08:52

Because lots of times they're not needed, but used anyway. When we lived in London, our ndn drove her DC to school every day, we walked (easily) there. It was absolutely not needed.

We now live in Melbourne, have one car and everyone assured us we'd need a second car. 4 years on, still no. Dh walks to the station, and we plan needing the car around it's availability (now have to drive for school run as too far to walk).

Some people genuinely need a car/2 cars, but some really don't.

QuertyGirl · 14/01/2023 08:54

Ticketsto · 14/01/2023 07:37

There is at least one thread a week on here demonizing cars! What is with all the hate? I know they cause pollution and can kill people however they’ve revolutionized the way we live! Not all of us are fortunate enough to live somewhere with good public transport.

You've answered your own question there.

echt · 14/01/2023 08:58

I'd love to see the evidence of one thread a week demonising cars. nHmm
Also, there is no "MN" view, only posters saying what they think.