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Ethical living

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Original poster

Managing without a car

58 replies

MsG · 20/11/2008 15:22

Hi. Just wondered if any of you have kids and don't have a car. Am pregnant now (due end of May) and we don't have a car, but I'm thinking it's going to be difficult without one. We don't live very near shops. Nearest supermarket is a 15-min walk. My DH is against the idea of getting a car and I am in theory, but practically I think it will be difficult managing without. Also not sure we can afford one but surely a second-hand one wouldn't cost too much.

Just wanted to know if people had positive experiences of not having a car, really.

OP posts:

needmorecoffee · 20/11/2008 15:25

We've been car free on and off over the years. At one point I had 3 kids under 3 and no car - that was for several years. If shops are as close as 15 mins then its no problem.
We've been car free with 3 teens and a severely disabled younger child too.
Walking and buses are pretty easy with one child and no disabilities.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 20/11/2008 15:33

I cheat a bit - I am car-free during the week as DH uses it during the week, so do everything on foot or by public transport. I have toddler DS and am 8 months pg with DC2.

On-line shopping might be an idea for bulky shopping, 15 min walk to the supermarket to top up in between?

Also it depends where you live - I live in a city and although public transport is not the cheapest, it's pretty easy to get around. When the baby is small you can just chuck them in a sling, when they are bigger you get pretty deft folding the buggy when needed.

Also consider that although you may be able to get a cheap second-hand car, you will have to pay road tax, MOT, servicing, petrol etc, which all adds up...

ForeverOptimistic · 20/11/2008 15:33

I am without a car (ds is 4). When ds was a baby/toddler it was fine I really didn't miss it, now he is older it is a pain, carrying shopping/library books without a pushchair can be a struggle. As ds has got older I have started to feel he is missing out, all his friends go off to the zoo and farm etc and he has to miss out as unless you want to go shopping you can't really get anywhere by public transport.

RhinestoneCowgirl · 20/11/2008 15:33

Oh, and I am much fitter now than I was 3 yrs ago - all that buggy pushing

citronella · 20/11/2008 15:35

I am and most of the time it works well enough. 15min walk is nothing for small bits of shopping (do the bulky stuff online once a week), public transport is usually ok around me as I have made sure I live within an easy walk of school, childminder and public transport links but obviously it takes longer. It would be nice to have a car to be able to go further afield quickly and easily and for out of town days out but we manage well enough without for now for it not to be a significant hardship.

needmorecoffee · 20/11/2008 15:37

I don't think not going to 'things' is missing out. especially at 4. Mine haven't never been to those things even during the times we have had a car.
After the buggy days, geta shopping trolley for the shopping.
We got a car this march that was wheelchair accessible for dd (4) as the buses here aren't accessible. Bloody thing costing me a fortune so its going back to motability. We've managed with dd's wheelchair without a car so we'll manage again.
What city you in? Most cities seem to have good public transport. And I think a walk of up to an hour is reasonable.

Laugs · 20/11/2008 15:41

Neither I nor DP drive.

It definitely has not been as hard as other people expected (it wasn't a big worry for us, as we'd never driven, but everyone else seemed to think we would struggle).

A 15 minute walk to the shops sounds ok to me. You will be on maternity leave in the summer months and probably looking for any excuse to get out in the sunshine and show your lovely new baby off to the world! Our supermarket is about 25 minutes and I quite often walk there but get the bus back if I have a lot of bags.

Buses seemed fairly intimidating at first with a huge pram. I remember I wouldn't go on one the first time until DP was with me! But it soon becomes second nature, and probably just as easy as driving in, finding a parking space, getting back to it in time etc.

I suppose it depends on whether you live in a city or in the countryside, but for me - on a day to day basis at least - I don't find it a problem.

ForeverOptimistic · 20/11/2008 15:47

Aaah but needmorecoffee, I can't get a shopping trolley, I want one badly but the consensus seems to be that they are too "old-lady ish", there was a thread on it the other day.

When I get a job I will save up and get a car but finding a job without a car is proving to be difficult.

WowOoo · 20/11/2008 15:48

From the other side of the fence here!

I need a car.

Be careful if you do decide you need one. A cheap car will have lots of mileage, not be as fuel efficient, and will break down more so lots of everyday running costs, plus hidden ones plus all the insurance, tax etc.

I also use public transport as ds loves it, but for bigger jobs, shopping and work I need the car.

WowOoo · 20/11/2008 15:50

Who cares if those trolley things are too old lady ish? One day you will be an old lady!
I've got one they're fab.

RobynLou · 20/11/2008 15:51

depends where you live, but if you can manage now without i dont see why having a lo would change things.
we've never had one, i'd recommend getting a good sling you can use for a while as that makes getting around lots easier.

mamadiva · 20/11/2008 15:58

None of us drive and we live 30 minutes from nearest supermarket and 15 minutes from nearest shop we manage fine and both of us work as well as nursery drops etc.

My DS is 2.5YO but we have never struggled is actually lovely walking with pram, and I hated walking before but youd be amazed!

Do you have a pushchair yet?

My advice though if you dont use public transport get a good pram 3 wheelers are fab to push and actually easy to steer etc but not so great if folding all the time as they are quite bulky, if you are going to be using public transport then I'd go for a Maclaren or something because you will end up buying one in the end. HTH.

Original poster

MsG · 20/11/2008 16:26

Thanks, everyone - it's really good to hear peoples' thoughts and experiences. We live in a smallish town in East Yorkshire.

I'm just concerned that having no car limits our choices for things like nurseries, and places where we can take the baby once he or she is a bit older. (eg there are none of those soft-playing things in my town - don't know what they're called!) Public transport is not good round here. To get to the nearest city, which is only 8 miles away, usually takes over an hour and that's just to the city centre.

I guess I will see how it goes - we've been told we can borrow my in-laws' car sometimes, and we can get the odd taxi if we need it. I think it's the people who have cars who say "You'll definitely need one!" who are worrying me a bit!

I think it'll be fine when I'm on maternity leave but get harder possibly when I go back to work. It'd be nice to be able to nip round to visit my sister or go to feed the ducks or something, but not really feasible with no car. Hmm.

OP posts:

TheBlonde · 20/11/2008 16:35

We got a car when DC2 came along
We live in the city so don't really need one

It is perfectly easy to cope without one but hiring a car and lugging car seats about gets more annoying with more then one child

trockodile · 20/11/2008 16:36

My advice as one who was carless for a few months while ds was small is get a travel system. I know they are not ideal but it is ifuriating to have to refuse lifts-worry about should you get a taxi etc while out and about because of no car seat. Also it is handy to leave baby in it if you have to fold up rest of pushchair to go on bus (you can place seat on ground etc)It sounds a bit mad I know but I think it is when they are most useful.

PerkinWarbeck · 20/11/2008 16:45

for those whose refuse to get a shopping trolley, what about a large backpack? my nearest supermarket is 25mins walk, and it's uphill on the way back, so that's how I manage (bus fares are daylight robbery around here).

DD is 20mo, and we have been car free until yesterday.

TheBlonde · 20/11/2008 17:05

trockodile - I would disagree, if you don't have a car definitely no need for a travel system

trockodile · 20/11/2008 18:21

Interested to know what you would suggest then if you are out and about and end up needing to get a taxi? As i said it is only my opinion but presumably the op would get a seat anyway and I found it very useful as I would never put my child in a car with no seat.

trockodile · 20/11/2008 18:23

Other option is a bike with trailer -although the ones which can take a small baby are more expensive. But could be good for when dc is a bit older and extends your radius of places to go.

TheBlonde · 20/11/2008 18:25

well I never get lifts/taxis anywhere as we are in town so the majority of people are on foot

I have taken black cabs and you just leave the kid in the buggy and hold onto it. If they are toddler size then the newer black cabs have a built in seat you can use

Some cab companies will bring a child seat if you prebook which can be handy for airport trips etc

Anna8888 · 20/11/2008 18:29

My DP has a large, family-sized car that can carry both of us, the two DSSs and DD - but he uses it for work and I don't have a car during the week. This is entirely through choice. We live a short walk from the supermarket, a mile from a street market (for fresh food) and a mile from DD's school. I do most shopping and school runs on foot, and take the bus when I want to go further afield or if it is raining.

I order all the heavy and non-perishable groceries on line, as a matter of course, and get other deliveries too - when you live "car free" you quickly discover just how much you can have delivered to your doorstep.

I would try life without a child without a car and see how you get on. It will probably mean shopping almost daily - but actually it gets you out of the house, which is no bad thing.

Original poster

MsG · 20/11/2008 19:12

Thank you. It's mainly that the public transport round here is a bit rubbish that bothers me, and the being limited in where we can go. I guess I'm also worried about being isolated. Would be lovely to just pop into a car and go and visit family/friends.

OP posts:

Laugs · 20/11/2008 20:32

The Blonde, I thought you needed a car seat to be get home from the hospital? When I was in they insisted on it.

Either way, I would definitely second the travel system. It's great to be able to get lifts when offered - a friend takes me and both our toddlers to soft play, for example.

MsG, a friend of mine lives in York and is in some kind of car rental scheme where you pay a certain amount a month to borrow a car when you need it. They can't afford a car at the moment, so it seems to work for them. They pick it up nearby when they need to do a big supermarket shop or visit family.

TheBlonde · 20/11/2008 20:45

You can just get the bus

Of course you would probably want to get a car seat but no need for a travel system

Original poster

MsG · 20/11/2008 21:42

Ooh, thanks, Laugs - that's a good idea; I'll look into that.

What is a travel system by the way?

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