living without a car

eve13_2

Ive never had a car and never will. Holidays with two toddlers from rural surrey to Ullapoolin Scotland was an adventure of trains and buses. a year later we went cruising on Loch Ness, after that we went to aviemore. Nearer to home they would walk the 5 miles to their grandparents every sunday. Shopping is an art, you know exactly how heavy a load you can manage for 2 miles. I worked locally, 12 miles away, a walk and train journey away. Even now my kids are in their twenties the love of walking still dictates our lives. I now work in the evenings (still bus and trains) the day used to walk through life, not to hurry. I can see the M25 as I walk along the North Downs- I pity the slow crawl of cars as I actually overtake them by foot! With all these extra houses being built in the South East I think this might be a very good time to give up the car because the roads are going to be hell!

jud!th

over a year now

We went on holiday to the South of Brittany, camping (in our own tent), by train, which was brilliant.

Our daughters (4 and 21 months) are great walkers.

My in-laws are on their second attempt of trying to give us a car - but we don't want one!

I'm a convert...

Our 4-year-old was in trouble with her nanna and grandpa when they came to stay for sitting in their car saying 'cars are bad for the world' though:rotfl:

J
x

Fozz

We have not had a car for 10 years now, and although I do occasionally miss it in the summer when it would be lovely just to head out into the country for the day, most of the time we manage fine. My daughters would like us to have a car, and I must admit that I do sometimes feel guilty that I can't give their friends or my workmates lifts home.
We live in a town with a good bus service, and can get to see family easily on the bus. I find that I tend to use different shops for different items, and usually combine shopping with walking the dog! She has got used to waiting outside shops for me, and I only buy what I really need because I have to carry it home. I'd just load up the trolley if I had a car, I used to shop like that when we had one before.
I think on balance I'm happier without a car, we could only afford an old one anyway and I'd be worrying if it would pass the MOT or break down on me.

chezmonster

We are still doing ok with out a car. We took the children to Chessington world of adventures to day. We hired a car for the day and on the way home went to the cash and carry to stock up on washing powder and other heavy items. The car cost just £28 for the day and was much cheaper than going by train.

PasturesNew

It is all down to where you live, what transport you've got available to you locally - and at what cost (a taxi 3 miles at 2am cost me £15 two months back). Also where you work.

Where I used to live it would have been possible to catch a bus to the nearest town. 1.5 hours from home to office door, except quite often the buses back would have required me to really leg it out of the door either right on time - or even half an hour early, depending on the work hours.

Where I live now public transport is marvellous and gobsmackingly cheap (£3/day to go anywhere!!!). But pubs shut at 12 and the last bus goes at 11.20. Which is a bit crazy ... and miss that bus and it's £10-15 home... when you've only had 3 cokes to drink all night! Also no good for the bar staff to use the bus to get home.

Again, working, I am now temping. Which means as I have a car I stand a better chance of being offered work out of town because most other temps might live in/around town and not drive.

Everybody's situation is different.

TimothyEBaldwin

I failed my driving test 3 times, and a few years ago I brought a Brompton folding bicycle. I've had no problem taking it on buses, trams (Manchester, Sheffield and Brussels) and most trains. The only trains that I would have had a problem with are Talgo sleeper trains, however if the saddle and left hand crank is removed it will fit in even those.

I've taken once when a train was late - arranged and paid for by train operators. My parents have given a lift home a few times when my bike was broken. I have had no problem bringing shopping home on my bike.