To be p*ssed off that people think I'm odd for being 30 and not driving?

[OracleInaCoracle]

I like public transport. ds loves trains and the bus may take longer, but he sees more of our town than he would in a car.

running a car is bloody expensive.

we should all be reducing our carbon footprint, this is one of my contributions.

we walk, a LOT. ds is very fit and healthy and sees/hears/smells things first hand.

i CHOOSE not to drive, it is not a rite of passage or a necessity, so less of the shock please!

Apologies for the double negative, that should be 'no desire to drive'

I hate not being able to edit my posts.

I think of driving as a bit like swimming.

You might not have to do it everyday, but it's a useful life skill to have.

It wouldn't occur to me to consider someone odd if they couldn't drive, though.

Each to their own.

And I'll give you a lift if you like.

It is unusual, and 'odd' in that sense.

But not necessarily a bad thing, depending on circumstances.

but CoteDAzur, there are taxi's and i dont understand why people are so dependant on their cars. we dont live in a city, and public transport isnt fab around here, but i have never been late for an appointment and my ds doesnt miss out on day trips.

I can't swim either

I'm hopeless I know.

lol falcon, i can swim but i dont like it

I don't drive - never have - late thirties.
It has never stopped me doing anything I really wanted or needed to do.
I am shocked by how lazy reliant some of my young, healthy, able-bodied mates are. People who drive round to my house for a coffee, to playgroup etc, all less than 10 mins walk away.

The thing that bugs me is when people assume that because you can't drive you are always asking people for lifts to places. If you don't depend upon a car, you don't expect to need one.
Non swimmers can prolly doggy paddle as well as I can drive!

exactly mazzy. my dsm will drive to the shops in 10 mins (around the interchange, following the 1 way system) rather than walk in 5

We've spotted neighbours driving to tescos and coming back with milk instead of walking 2 mins up the road to the corner shop!

pinky, i never rely on others to drive me anywhere.

i dont drive, but would be happy to share taxi fares etc on nights out.

I have a friend who cannot drive and does not leave the house unless someone comes in a car to take her somewhere.

She is entirely reliant on others giving her lifts to get anywhere. She never uses public transport.

It is a 20min walk to school and she has never walked.Her Dh takes child in the car and then rushes to work, often late.

That is odd.

I know most non drivers are not like this, but the ones that are, are odd, and irratating.

that is odd lavenders (great name btw) you should just say no.

ds, dh and i walk everywhere (he doesnt drive either)

I do think it is a bit odd, tbh, although it's not something I would make a big fuss of.

i suppose i get pissed off when people say "what you dont drive at ALL?"and look at me like i have 3 heads.

Lavenders- that is really strange. I know people who don't drive but get taxis everywhere because they don't like buses- that seems very extravagant to me.

Lisselou- I agree completely - I find it mind boggling how some people would feel that without a car they would be stranded places or completely dependent upon others. I'd hate to feel so dependent on a machine.

I am always v surprised when I meet men who can't drive

[sexist]

It is such a rite of passage for young men, when I was growing up and hanging around with soon to be 17 year old boys, they were all DESPERATE to get driving and practically had their 1st lesson on their birthday !

and one of the reasons that public transport is poor (because it can be) is because people dont use it. several bus routes have been closed down around here because they are no longer financially viable. use it or lose it!

"I'd hate to feel so dependent on a machine"

So do you not have a...

washing machine ?
oven ?
fridge ?
computer ?
television ?
public transport ?

I think you get the picture.....

I'm late twenties, and plan to learn to drive later this year. Don't plan to have a car of my own though, just borrow mum's people carrier a couple of times a year to take my kids to places not easily accessed by public transport

I passed my test last year, I'm 32 now. I absolutely hated learning but passed just before I got pregnant and am so glad I can drive now. I don't have to haul ds and all his stuff on and off buses and don't have to wait for them either.

I never thought driving would make that big a difference to me tbh but it really has. I can just pop in the car with ds when I feel like it and go anywhere!

YANBU though. I always got funny looks and comments when I said I couldn't drive. You'd think I'd owned up to being a serial killer!

but ovens and fridges are necessities. i could live without my washing machine/tv/computer. i am certainly not dependant on them!

My sister was the only one in our family desperate to drive, she learned at 17. My brother didn't learn until he was in his late twenties. He gets the train to work but drives on holiday. That's what I'd like to drive for- share the driving on holiday with DH. I can't see him letting me do it much, though.

He was driving motorbikes from age 14(trials)and his family are car mad- my MIL imagines I'm marooned in the house without a car!

Tch, thinking the car-free are odd is one of the classic identifiers of a stupid mundane. If you live somewhere remote with little or no public transport then you will probably become a driver out of sheer desperation, but if you live in a city with good access to public transport and you and all your family are able-bodied, then unless you have a job or hobby that necessitates transporting tons of bulky awkard crap around all the time you don't need a car, you';re just being lazy and precious if you have one.