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Original poster

Advice please: children without a car

46 replies

TheChangeSpiral · 17/04/2010 20:57

Hello everyone

I've just found out I'm pregnant with my first child. As something of a greenie who has lived in London for the last few years, I don't have a car.

We'll be moving to Bristol before the little one is born and don't plan to get a car, which seems like an unusual lifestyle choice to most people. Is there anyone out there who could offer some advice on having children without a car? Preferably city-dwellers although London is a bit of a special case.

Many thanks in advance x

OP posts:
5inthebed · 17/04/2010 20:59

What kind of advice do you want? We didn't get a car until DS1 was nearly 1, and even then he only drove us around at the weekend.

Not an unusual life choice at all., plenty of people do it.

Original poster
TheChangeSpiral · 17/04/2010 21:03

Well that's fantastic news. I suppose that's exactly the sort of advice I'm after - examples of people who say it's perfectly possible to reassure me that it's not a completely barmy idea. Our families and most of our friends seem to think so and I was beginning to doubt that I was being realistic!

OP posts:
zippy539 · 17/04/2010 21:04

Hi ChangeSpiral - to dc's here and no car. Live fairly centrally in a small city with decent public transport and all amenities fairly handy either by foot/bus/occasional cab.

Main issue is shopping which we either do locally in bits and bobs or get a supermarket delivery (not very green but needs must!).

Only time it has been a real issue is when dd was small and needed to go to hospital a few times in a hurry (it's out of town). But in those cases we got taxi's - and tbh no matter how much we spend on cabs in those instances I don't think it comes close to the cost of running a car in a city (parking permits etc).

What are your specific worries? (Though I don't know Bristol so may not be much help).

zippy539 · 17/04/2010 21:05

Sorry - should have read 'two' dcs.

justallovertheplace · 17/04/2010 21:10

Not odd at all, and much more doable in a city than out in the country. I have an almost 2 year old and an almost 6 year old, and it's never been an issue. Also, one less bill to worry about.
It is an unusual lifestyle choice for people who drive everywhere though. I walk miles every day, whereas a lot of people I know drive everywhere, even if it's just up the road. I do all my shopping on foot. I would say, if you're considering a buggy then pick wisely. You want something to fit on a bus if yuo intend to catch one, but also something that is robust enough to pound the pavements everyday -Maclarens are great but the wheels wear out incredibly fast if you are actually using it every day rather than getting it out of the boot to use in a shopping centre.
We have a Mountain Buggy which has a big basket and plenty of room for my ds until he will no longer need a buggy.
Online shopping is your friend If you are a greeny, are you considering reusable nappies? I used them when ds was small but had to stop when he was about a year old due to a skin condition he developed. It is now a real pain to carry nappies back with the shopping every week.
Also, you will lose the baby weight much quicker if you walk everywhere. I am by how often people have asked if I work out now the sun is out and my arms have been exposed- I've never worked out in my life, I just push a buggy around every day

Alouiseg · 17/04/2010 21:12

It's doable I'm sure but how will you take your children to birthday parties or drop friends home after coming to tea? It seems unecessarily backward to me but I spend a huge percentage of my time operating as a taxi service for my children and their social life would suffer if I didn't.

onadietcokebreak · 17/04/2010 21:14

You will probably still need a car seat. You can buy them new for £30.

Leaving hospital, emergency trips to hosp etc.

justallovertheplace · 17/04/2010 21:15

'unnecessarily backward'
It's called being poor in my case, but thank you
I have never had an issue with being able to get places. I am in Exeter which is much like Bristol I am sure in that it has a good bus service. And you know those 2 bendy things at the bottom of your body? Those are legs dear, and god gave them to me for a reason. I for one like that my dd gets lots of exercise just by walking everywhere.

UniS · 17/04/2010 21:15

In a city like bristol its not a problem being a cycling/ walking/ bus useing family. There is decent public transport, schools are never very away and neither are Drs, shops or parks.

Original poster
TheChangeSpiral · 17/04/2010 21:15

Actually food delivery is much more green than supermarkets. Partly because supermarkets are huge energy sucking holes but also because a van delivering to several people is more efficient than all those people driving to the supermarket. A very interesting fact about food is that the vast majority of 'food miles' that people make a big deal about is actually from driving to the supermarket.

In answer to your question I think you already told me what I wanted to know, which was what the potential issues are, if any. Like you say, I can't see anything that can't be solved by the occasional taxi, which costs far less than running a car all the time.

OP posts:
onadietcokebreak · 17/04/2010 21:17

I wouldnt call it unneccesarily backward...I would say well done! If you choose the option for environmental reasons even better.

zippy539 · 17/04/2010 21:17

What kind of geographical area do your dc's friends live in Alouise? Genuinely curious.

I walk visiting dc's home - and walk my kids to parties. If it's too far I jump on a bus or get a cab.

misdee · 17/04/2010 21:17

we ditched the car 7months ago.

we have 4 children.

there are things called buses, trains or legs. they are wonderful things.

regarding friends coming over for tea, most friends are local so we walk them home afterwards.

same for afterschool clubs. dd's attend rainbows, brownies and guides, we go to the farm, go on day trips, and have our holiday planned without a car next month.

wastingaway · 17/04/2010 21:20

Hi TCS.

I've never learnt to drive, so only had DH to drive us when not at work, but we sold the car a few months ago, and haven't replaced it.
DH pays petrol money in a carshare, and we will hire a car for going on holiday etc.

We live a 20 minute walk from the town centre, near the library and some shops, but in a pleasant residential area. I can get 2/3 bags of shopping on the buggy, and usually get at least one Tesco delivery a month.

Location is absolutely key in making it work. Proximity to shops etc. and public transport.

You'll need to make sure any pushchair is completely foldable for public transport.

Children under 3 can travel in taxis without any restraint, just hold them on your lap, and over 3 use an adult belt. In an emergency you can do the same in any car, but it can't be a regular or pre-planned thing. So if you needed to get to hospital, you could get a friend or neighbour to drive you without having to have or fit a childseat.

I don't know Bristol at all, but if you move to an area built before the 2nd World War it should be pedestrian friendly.

And congratulations!

janeite · 17/04/2010 21:20

We're in Birmingham. Our girls are 14 and 12 now and we've never had a car. The only time it's been a bit of a problem is when they've been invited to birthday parties that are not local. The catchment area of their school is tiny, so nearly all of their friends are in easy enough walking distance.

nellie12 · 17/04/2010 21:21

We live in the suburbs but close enought o the city and it is very doable. Friends tend ot live close by and dc love getting the train or bus.
Top tips are;

make sure you're near a good bus/train service and within walking distance of gps and playgroups.

Always have money handy for a taxi in case of emergency.

But a pram with spurs on the sides for barging past cars parked on the pavement.

If you use the bus a lot get a buggy that is easy to get on the bus.

misdee · 17/04/2010 21:22

oh, and i've found, that without the car we only do a big food shop once a month or so, then top up locally. we waste less, save more money, and its a lot easier.

Original poster
TheChangeSpiral · 17/04/2010 21:24

Alouiseg Surely I can take my children to parties on foot or public transport?

Car use isn't just incredibly bad for the environment but it's also bad for health (both ours & childrens), safety, aesthetically and worst of all it's destroyed community cohesion. It's well documented that communities with more people on foot and bicycles have a stronger sense of cohesion because when you pass people on the street you see their face and are much more likely to trust and interact with them.

So I definitely wouldn't call it an uneccessarily backwards. In fact I think I prefer to call it necessarily forwards, as the price of fuel inevitably rises more and more will be going carless you know

OP posts:
janeite · 17/04/2010 21:24

Lol at 'backward' btw. I would have thought that using public transport or walking and thinking about the environment is actually quite forward thinking.

janeite · 17/04/2010 21:25

Crossed posts there.

zippy539 · 17/04/2010 21:26

Good tips nellie12. Do make sure that you're on a good public transport route with handy local amenities. Have you an area of Bristol in mind? (says she with no knowledge of Bristol but a hugely big nose).

wastingaway · 17/04/2010 21:27

Lol at Alouise. Do they not let you on a bus if you've got your best party dress on?

misdee · 17/04/2010 21:27

oh yes, we live in a town with good amenities close at hand, and fairly good transport links as well.

i have also found we are less stressed without a car.

Original poster
TheChangeSpiral · 17/04/2010 21:27

Wow this is fantastic - thank you all for your wonderful encouragement and advice. I heart mumsnet

OP posts:
Nymphadora · 17/04/2010 21:28

We lived in a suburb of a small town & managed perfectly well for 6 years without. We have 2 now as we both need one for work.

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