To say car ownership shouldn't be seen as the default

[Sidslaw]

several posts on here about financial problems, all claiming the car is "needed" and not up for discussion

People tend to set up their lives with the assumption that they will drive - surely with the climate in the stat it is in it should now be the other way around? People to set up their lives with the assumption that they will not drive, as the default.

I don't drive, I am dyspraxic, so can't and always knew I wouldn't, and it has never been an issue, as I have chosen the places I live and the jobs I do on that basis. I use public transport, walking, cycling, taxis. I have raised my family as a single mother like this, and my children ( not dyspraxic) have grown up to set up their lives the same.

There is always going to be people who rightly or wrongly think they are an exception, but surely the default should be, don't own a car, don't drive?

I have dyspraxia, dyslexia and ADHD, and I learned to drive an automatic, but I do have a very fuel-efficient car as well. It took a while - longer than most - but I got there.

I'd survive fine without one but it'd make harder and shifter so not something I'd do unless i had to. I don't care if it makes me selfish, plenty of people are.

There is no way doing those trips by taxi would be cheaper. One of those trips alone would probably cost double my monthly car insurance.

you are doing nothing but showing your massive ignorance as to how peoples lives may be different to yours.

We don’t have a decent public transport system in most of Cornwall. When you get the train on holiday to somewhere like Cornwall how do you think the campsite or hotel has been taken care of? A lot of staff have to drive in because there are no buses. The staff in the shop where you buy your food for your holiday? Yep, some have to drive.

I am a community nurse. Would you like me to cycle across the whole of Cornwall to care for your relatives on end of life care or am I allowed a car?
Even if we had decent public transport I won’t be doing that. Sorry.

Yes, I am for real, I have at least one hospital appointment a week, and chose a hospital I can easily reach by train, and during train strikes, or when I have to be there before the earlies train, I have used a taxi, and there is also hospital transport as a back up, which I have never yet needed

Some dyspraxic people can definitely drive. There is a very stringent test all learners have to pass.

Some things maybe more tricky for people with dyspraxia to learn but it doesn’t mean they all can’t do it. Like some autistics can work a crowd and give powerful speeches, whereas others might struggle to speak to more than two people or speak at all.

Neurodiversity doesn’t manifest in people the exact same.

I used to have a swimming instructor who was dyspraxic whereas many dyspraxics will say they can’t swim.

And I’m sure you’ll be aware some ND people struggle on public transport.

But you are contributing to that by taking taxis and public transport all over. If you just stayed only the places you could walk to. That would be far better.

Bikes have to be manufactured. Causing some pollution. Even your shoes, for walking, cause some pollution.

You contribute by having kids, getting taxis and so on.

All easily said when you have access to public transport, and are able to cycle of walk...

Not if you live in the arse end of nowhere. We have 3 4 x 4’s, we paid for driving lessons for our children and bought them all cars. DH couldn’t do his job without a car, I wouldn’t get down the drive in winter in a normal car, our children wouldn’t be able to get to their jobs nor work the shifts they do without a car. We don’t want to live in the city.

Actually what is killing people atm is a lack of ambulances, so people are needing cars to take their kids and family members urgently to a&e. And no, you can’t always depend on taxis.

Do you honestly assume that every single person with dyspraxia is unable to drive?

No, you don't need to live in cities, I have lived in many rural locations, in Yorkshire, Devon, Surrey, Kent, for example.

And as I was trying to explain, you need to SET UP your life without a car, it is much harder to choose a job which is hard to get to then try and get rid of your car then.

What will you do if you have a common little vertigo incident tonight, and your driving license is suspended tomorrow?

What behaviour do you have a problem with on UK buses?

I love driving- and I live in London. It’s so much quicker. You can set your life up without a microwave, dishwasher and washing machine if you like too.

They will have to peel my car out of my cold dead hands
Nothing else replicates the freedom to go. where I want,when I want

Are you actually trying to fuck people off? I guess you must be because nobody reasonable is as twattish as some of your replies have been. But you've made me really happy that I drive a child killing, environment ruining gas guzzler every day so there is that.

Rather depends on where others choose to live to if you want to visit family regularly. I agree with you to a degree but life isn't as neat as that and public transport certainly isn't.

I don't have a car or a dishwasher, do I win? I'll draw a line at handwashing clothes though. 😆

You’re alright. You can wait for your bus if you like. I’ll give you a wave as I drive by with the aircon on, going the same route as you but doing it in a third of the time and not having to sit next to anyone else thanks.

It should be everyone’s right to drive.

Anyhow, once everything is electric your perspective becomes redundant.

What are you going to eat in that ivory tower when all the farmers move to the city?

"Learning to Drive with Dyspraxia" https://www.passmefast.co.uk/resources/learning-to-drive/drive-with-dyspraxia

You know bugger all about dyspraxia.

I sincerely hope these legion taxi drivers who'll be taking us everywhere for significantly more than a car would cost don't have the cheek to use their vehicles for personal journeys!

If a taxi driver needs to get a relative to hospital, obviously they should do the right thing and force them to cycle there. Otherwise they evidently hate the planet and want us all to die.

I live in a rural area and need a car, I chose this, fair enough. I drive a hybrid and where possible I just drive to the train station and do the rest by train so I'm trying to do my bit.

However: we have within walking distance a GP surgery, a library, some shops, and a tiny business park with a vets and other small rural businesses. In your ideal world the people who work in these would live in this community so they could walk or cycle to work. But what about their partners? It's hard enough to recruit GPs as it is, can you imagine if their spouse had to be prepared to uproot their life and find work at the vets or the pie shop?

The UK has moved well beyond the time when everyone lived 5 minutes from their work. Rather than trying to turn back time we should be pushing for better public transport options, which really needs significant central government funding to achieve however progressive your local council might be.

We live rurally and have just lost our most used buses as there is "no funding".

WECA seem to find plenty of money to fund the city buses though. It's those of us who live rurally and most need the buses that don't have them so yes you are being unreasonable. Without a car you are pretty isolated out here.

Well done @Sidslaw I've always chosen to live near railways so I know I can get around, but I drive too because sons journeys are difficult on public transport and rail can't take you everywhere.

I did used to like my rail commuting days I used to do around 2-3k miles oer baum in my car. I only kept it cos it had 7 seats so was useful. Now I'm up at 12k miles a year and I hate it - most of which is running my 84yo mum around - she doesn't drive and lives in the back of beyond sticks.

Also, no safe cycle routes near me.