How hard would it be to give up the car

Sirbendy

Right now, we could manage without a car here. We're lucky to be in a town with decent busses, going all over the county (one stops outside work!), we've got local shops a 10 minute walk away (in 9 days they'll be a 30 second walk away), and we have excellent taxi provision.

There's also a place that hires out bikes (and all the gear) on an hourly/daily/whatever basis which is quite fun. They do electric bikes as well.

Jem walks to work, I drive simply because my legs/balance are shot. Shopping is done in the local town shops with the occasional run to a tesco to "tin stock". We either walk or cycle there.

As has been said - I *could* bus it into work. Quite happily. Cost wise though, the car still wins. In this weather, I would probably take the bus if work wasn't shut anyway (school).

Where it falls over is going to see my mum..she lives out in the sticks with a bus every so often..it'd be a couple of hours either way.

Jems mum lives on a bus-route, so that'd be easy..she does it every friday.

I have to say, I was without a car for several days when the head gasket went, and it was a funny feeling...everyone said I was much more relaxed. I felt it too..no worrying about petrol cost, idiots on the road, nothing. Very odd.

If public transport was cheaper, I'd consider using it for work and the car at the weekends...but then, we pay so much for owning a car, I'd feel I wasn't getting my moneys worth. Not that I do anyway - is my money going on roadcare? Doesn't seem like it.

I'm looking at the £700 electric mopeds, and cheap electric assist cycles that could take the knee destruction out of hills...it's tempting! Walking or cycling is so much more satisfying and I find it quite relaxing.

It's a shame the bike shop don't have any recumbent cycles.I'd love to have a go on one. One of those with an electric assist and a trailer for shopping, and I'd go to work in it.

There should be less superstores and more local shops I think...the joy of being able to go to walk to local stores and not be tempted to buy junk, to spend half what we'd spend in Tesco and get better things for it is immense. Jem was shocked at the butchers..for less than we'd pay at Tesco, we got more meat, fresh. Plus a healthy walk there and back.

We've also signed up to the Riverford Farms vegbox delivery scheme - now THAT is excellent. Every Thursday, we have a fresh box of assorted naturally grown veg in the garage. That keeps for a good week or so, and feeds us both as well as the guinea pigs.

Fire_Fox

Sirbendy wrote: »

As has been said - I *could* bus it into work. Quite happily. Cost wise though, the car still wins. In this weather, I would probably take the bus if work wasn't shut anyway (school).

I have to say, I was without a car for several days when the head gasket went, and it was a funny feeling...everyone said I was much more relaxed. I felt it too..no worrying about petrol cost, idiots on the road, nothing. Very odd.

If public transport was cheaper, I'd consider using it for work and the car at the weekends...but then, we pay so much for owning a car, I'd feel I wasn't getting my moneys worth. Not that I do anyway - is my money going on roadcare? Doesn't seem like it.

I'm looking at the £700 electric mopeds, and cheap electric assist cycles that could take the knee destruction out of hills...it's tempting! Walking or cycling is so much more satisfying and I find it quite relaxing.

Cycling up hills recreationally should not harm your knee joint at all. If you feel pain behind the kneecap when walking downhill or climbing stairs etc. that might suggest your patella is maltracking, basically the kneecap is not sliding in the groove of the femur (thigh bone). Usual cause is an imbalance in the quadriceps (thigh muscle) - often the outer part is stronger than the inner part. Sometimes there is weakness in the abductors (side of bottom) or tightness in the adductors (inner thigh). Easily diagnosed with a basic posture assessment and simple exercises to resolve the issue.

niksyg

I have to say that reading all the posts on here has put a smile on my face! It's great to read so many positive stories about people making changes to their lives that not only reduce spending but make them happier!

OH is a mechanic and LOVES cars, so I feel it my duty to spend as little as possible on my car and reduce emissions to even us out a bit...my excuse to get out on my bike really! I bike to the train station, leave it there, train to another town to work then walk from that station to my office. I always feel so fresh and ready to start the day, plus I don't feel guilty if I can't do extra exercise that day because I know I've done plenty!

We have 2 cars at the moment, but will def look at getting rid of one in the next year or so...Getting rid completely just wouldn't be an option...not with a petrol head in the family! At least I save on servicing and repairs as I don't have to visit rip off garages!!

Hurrah for everyone who walks and cycles...and I def agree that the biggest and best piece of advice is it doesn't matter how you look - WEAR TRAINERS! When I see women tottering along in high heels and think that they are paying silly money for the gym when I can power past in my comfy trainers and not pay a penny to get fit and also enjoy the fresh air, it makes me chuckle!

newlywed

rach wrote: »

I think I can help you a bit too. My job is to get people fitting more walking into their everyday lives. I'd echo what fire fox says above but say that 10 000 is a lot to aim for at first, we find it puts a lot of people off. That figure would also include all the walking you do in the day - including at home, not just out and about!

I agree - although I am fairly healthy, I am by no means fit and have discovered that on an average day at my desk job (and driving the 5.5 miles to work) I walk about 2,000 steps

I tried to increase this up to 10,000 steps and found it was just too much for me too quickly. Even a 3 mile walk which took me 45 minutes at a fast pace would only clock up a few thousand steps.

I recently read a book which suggested finding out your average steps and then setting a goal of walking an extra 2,000 steps on 5 days a week and gradually building up your exercise. This has been working much better for me and I'm not nearly so tired


As for giving up the car, unfortunately I can't do that completely due mainly to time restraints - two buses and over an hour to get to work and over an hour back plus stepkids to pick up and drop off virtually every day. When we had no car for a few months, it was costing us about £100 more a month for the buses and taxi's than all the car costs (petrol, insurance, car tax, mot included).

We did walk the 5.5 miles to work in the snow.... but I wouldn't have managed to walk back again

However, I am determined to use the car LESS and move me butt more Partly for weight loss, fitness, health reasons and partly to save on money costs and environment.

[Deleted User]

I use a bicycle everywhere I can as walking is much too slow. We hardly use the car and spend only about £20 a month on diesel, which includes longer distances. My dh usually comes with me when we I cycle and we manage to get in rides of about 25 miles, maybe 3 times a week as well as daily shopping. Walking gives me hip ache but cycling no pain at all, just nice rosy cheeks

Ahhh now to the heart of the matter: I gave my car to my dd and bought a superb electric bicycle last july 2008 and have now done 1200 miles on it. I can use as much or as little electric power as I wish, depending on my strength, the hill incline etc. It works by giving me a push when I want it to ie up hills (lots of them around here) and if there is a strong headwind. The power only comes into play on the pedal strokes. It is truly a wonderful way to get about as my dh is a serious real cyclist and can do it all and more, without a battery. It means I get out with him as well as doing all the shopping etc.

I think nothing now of a 24 mile round trip to deposit a cheque or of carrying 12 x 1 litre cartons of milk from tesco in my panniers

Weight is coming off steadily and enjoyment is boundless. I couldn`t do it without the security of the battery but I get 45 miles on one charge, which costs pence

[Deleted User]

re bikes: don`t use off road (knobbly) tyres as they stick to the road and make cycling hard work. Get all terrain tyres

qwiksave

Another family that have given up our car - 3 years ago. Our car sort of died on us and never got replaced - for financial and environmental reasons. We are lucky enough to live just walking distance from a large town and our children's junior school is just a 5 minute walk away! For supermarket shopping, we use local shops where possible (supporting the greengrocers, butchers, fishmongers) and use either paniers on hubbys bike or one of those shopping trolleys (a trendy version).

If we need to see relatives or go out for a day/weekend away we hire a car. Sometimes we go by train (we went on holiday to Bournmouth last year on the train) and occasionally, bus. We also love cycling as a family, when the weather is nice. I do a lot of walking which I'm sure has contributed to keeping my weight down.

If it is at all possible, I say, go for it - for your health, your financal health and the health of the planet!