To be constantly surprised that people 'don't drive'?

[MissEloiseBridgerton]

Every day on here, and on my own social media, I am shocked that soooo many people don't drive. My local FB group is constantly people asking for favours because they don't drive, they want a dump run, or someone to deliver second hand stuff to them. On here, the barriers to work, to childcare, to anything is so often that they don't drive!

For me growing up, learning to drive was just what you did. I don't have any friends who didn't learn to drive at 17. Most had cheap runarounds or borrowed parents car.

I totally understand it's expensive and costly to run a car but I don't think I realised how many people never learned!

Well, that’s ok then, sod him!

Lots of comments about being privileged on here

The real privilege is living in an area where there is effective, cost effect, plentiful and reliable public transport that acutally goes where you need and that you are close to the doctors, hospital, shops, entertainment, friends and family, work etc.

its living where there are pavements and lighting so you can walk and cycle along

I paid for my own lessons with my part time job while at college but didnt actually go further until in my 30s because I was lucky enough to be born and bought up in London, didnt need a car, went everywhere by public transport, never got cabs (couldnt afford them) and didnt ask for lifts

Now I live somewhere where that isnt possible as do many others.

@LoyalMember I'm another one who has had many jobs throughout my life and not needed to drive for any of them.

I’ve always had to drive for work. Not as part of my work, but to get to the varied venues

Are you actually joking?

Well obviously if I'm drinking I don't drive! But I arrange beforehand - either to be the designated driver or for another woman to be. We take it in turns. Which is when you then come up against some women not being able to drive, and afaic there is no reason for it.

@NPET There has been a multitude of reasons throughout this thread, all you seem determined to ignore.

Maybe he is ok with it?

My step-dad is my mom’s chauffeur and not only is he ok with it he was opposed to her going for her license again! (She does rely a lot on public transport and taxis in fairness.)

Victim blaming? Who's the victim? The person who hasn't bothered to learn to drive? It may not be the 1950s but men still think they drive "their" women about. And that's where another problem comes up. It's STILL more likely that boys/men can drive (or certainly have their own cars) and that is doubly horrible.

I have a reason for not being able to drive:

1. Cars cost money.
2. I have not driven since I passed my test 20 years ago because
3. Cars cost money.

Also living and working in central london with no parking for most of the places I have lived just made it seem like a crazy and expensive idea.

This post makes me feel very sad. In all the decades I lived in London never once did I think I needed to drive for safety. Taxis and nightbuses were the order of the day. I only left 7 years ago.

I live in a city where there is good public transport amd cycle routes. Too many people seem happy to use cars for even the shortest journeys, even driving their (healthy, sporty) kids to the local school which is less than a 5 minute walk. If more people took time to think about transport options, and drive less, the world would be a nicer place.

OK you're an exception. If you live AND work in central London, there are presumably always ppl around and always buses/tubes/trams/taxis to take you anywhere.
But some of us dont live in central London and don't have tubes and buses passing our door 24/7 and aren't always among crowds.

OP wound everyone up and buggered off 12 hours ago

they’ll no doubt be 25 empty seats in 7/8 cars as most people cart around empty sofas and armchairs & will then have the audacity to complain about others blocking the roads 🙄

Do you really want people who shouldn’t be anywhere near a car driving? There’s enough maniacs on the road as it is

Probably too surprised to respond.

I'd just get a taxi.

If I am going to a party I will be drinking. So would never be driving.

Why do you assume women will always be at a party with a “boy who is driving”? Most of the times I go out with men they are drinking too.

Ubers, night buses, taxes, late tubes. They have served me adequately over my life.

I feel bad for you if that’s your experience of men. I certainly don’t associate with any who think they drive ‘their’ woman about.

People have legitimate reasons for not driving. Your mentality is odd.

I did not say most people live and work in central london.

You said there was no reason for somebody not to drive. I was giving you reasons.

Equally I have no always lived and worked in central london but still never had a car because cars cost money.

Same. Never once needed to drive to work.

Well yes, quite.

Why assume women are out at a party with a ‘boy’ at all. Bizarre.

Hate all the ‘my parents couldn’t pay for me to learn’ comments. Money was not your barrier. I grew up with nothing, my parents couldn’t pay for lessons, didn’t have a car I could learn in or borrow and we lived in the arse end of nowhere with rubbish transport.

I passed my test at 19 after I left college, got a full time job (that I had to commute to on the hour long bus and meant waiting around forever) ended up renting a place in the city near my job with a mate. Paid my own lessons, didn’t go out, lived cheaply, got a car on finance. No one gave me it I worked for it and did it.

Not having a licence funded for you and handed to you is no excuse!

I think it's a very privileged way way of thinking.

Lessons are expensive. Not everyone has money to learn.

Even if you're 17 and have a job, they might not have disposable income if their parents/families are not longer able or willing to financially support them.