why don't people drive??? I am surprised at the number of mnetters who can't drive..why don't you?

[brimfull]

genuinely would like to know

i am too scared. i have driving licence, have taken hundreds of driving lessons, but i am jsut too scared...

because of my eye sight.

I can see to drive under ideal lighting conditions but as soon as it deteriorates I genuinely can't see to drive.

I've not driven since I first was diagnosed with vision problems. I've lost my nerve, our new car is huge. I must get dh to take me out when the light is good so that I'm not quite so restricted as it really worries me, if something happened to him..... and it is so bloody restricting for me and dd.

Because just as I had sort of got to the stage where I had the time/opportunity to learn, DS1 got hit by a car. He's alive and well now (this was years ago) although hospitalised at the time, but as you can imagine it freaked me out and I'm still decidedly twitchy. I'm even a nervous passenger.

Also my parents don't drive so I grew up without a reliance on the car.
I've never been overweight and my children are fit and healthy and can walk fair distances. I can only see these htings as bonuses

Cant afford lessons
Cant afford to run a car
Had lessons when I was 17 and found out i really dont have the kind of brain to drive a car!
Live in London so dont need a car.

Altho I do get jealous of people who drive to school while ew're feezing at the bus stop. Its 7 mins by car, half an hour on foot then bus.

It's expensive and there is often no need to drive, particularly in urban centres.
I only learned after moving to Australia where it is literally too hot to go outside in the summer and walk somewhere, public transport was not good out of the city centres and the distances involved were so great.

phobic - car crash.

I live in London, two minutes from a train station and fifteen minutes (or a v short bus ride) from a tube station. Buses to everywhere in a half hour driving radius from a stop three minutes walk away. Cafés, supermarket, butcher, greengrocer, parks and all main shops are mostly within ten minutes walk and others within twenty minutes walk. I just don't need to drive. I hope I never will! And walking is the only exercise I get, so it's probably all for the best.

My brother deosn't drive because:

1. He lives in London
2. He is keen environmentalist
3. He cycles to anywhere he can't get public transport

My ex didn't drive because he had a motorbike.

On the other hand both my mum and MIL can drive but won't and haven't for years and years - too nervous, always hated it.

I think there are a host of reasons TBH - and if you have never driven and live somewhere with decent public transport you just get on with it - you don't miss what you've never had IYSWIM.

Sorry just re-read OP - it was specifically MNers who can't drive.

As far as I know neither my brother or ex are MNers (but you never know i suppose!!!)

I live in London and don't really feel it's necessary

I can't afford to run a car which is a shame because I used to LOVE driving.

I don't drive because I find it difficult to tell left from right, I can't follow directions or maps (especially when going somewhere for the first time) and now feel too old and scared to learn.

It wasn't a problem when I just had one child but with 2 it does mean we are restricted to where we can go on public transport during school holidays etc. Fortunately being in London does mean we can get about easily - but we are restricted nonetheless.

Right, will now read why the rest of you don't drive!

i grew up in london, lived most of my life there and thus never had any inclination to drive. started learning last year and quite enjoy it, but haven't taken my test yet - am hoping to pass this year. it's definitely a useful skill to have.

I can now, but when I didnt it was because I didnt think I would be able to,(crap at grand turismo on the playstation[hmm, it was evil for the planet and there was never a time when I had the money to learn.
My mum paid for my car, and a chunk of my lessons and even now if anything goes wrong with it I generally borrow from her to fix it

I passed my test 13 years ago, got lessons until I passed for my 17th birthday and have never driven since.
I'd love to but can't afford it.

Message withdrawn

I am learning but even now I don't use the bus that much, walk to and from work every day and walk to supermarket - about 40 minutes walk each way. Only use bus to get in to town really.

1. Can't afford the lessons
2. Expensive to run a car anyway
3. Public Transport and Walking is much healthier for me , my son and the enviroment.

Dont get me wrong sometimes I wish I could drive but most of the time it's easier and in the long run cheaper to use public transport occassionally.

A family that we know mostly use public transport, bikes or walk but interestingly they are part of a car share scheme.

(btw they even go abroad on public transport)

I don't drive and hate the pitying lok the other mum's give me
'do you really walk every day in all weathers' - as though I'm cruel to my kids dagging them out in the rain.... it's only a 20 minute walk

I get that compo, but I think they're a bit odd.... do they really think it's easier to fold up a buggy and strap in two children and load up the boot and drive ten minutes what you can walk in 20.

People say to me "did you WALK here!!!!!?"

"eh yes, took me 30 minutes"

I know some people are just being kind, but it's as though they've forgotten we all have legs