living without a car

jud!th

Still enjoying it - clothes fit better and better, enjoying time with children, meeting lots more people walking to and from places than I would if we jumped straight in the car.

Me being poorly (cold, temperature and dizzy) for a few days has made us want a car, tbh, but we've taken taxis, asked for and been offered lifts, and it's been fine.

BUT our biggest car-free issue atm is how to get home to Leeds from our parents south of London after Christmas. 2 children (we've got car seats at our parents') pushchair, luggage for 5 days, plus Christmas presents. How would you do it?

Judith
x

martinpike

Have you investigated 'one way hires' with the car rental firms?

jud!th wrote:

BUT our biggest car-free issue atm is how to get home to Leeds from our parents south of London after Christmas. 2 children (we've got car seats at our parents') pushchair, luggage for 5 days, plus Christmas presents. How would you do it?

Judith
x

Ken-Dodds-Hairy-Knodule

jud!th wrote:

How would you do it?

Train most likely.

I'd probably check freewheelers or similar too, would make it a little easier.

jenna.nostyle

I sold my car a few months ago and haven't noticed the difference- I just realised that I was using it for journeys that could easily be done on public transport.

I always used trains and busses for long distance travel because I hate driving a long way and although getting around in my city takes a little longer than it would by car, I don't have to pay crazy car parking rates (Around 30 pounds a day so a big no no for driving to work where the only car park access we have is to the main city car park)

Plus my work place have a car share scheme and a bike loan system.

tim_n

unfortunately my workplace is around 20 miles away from my home. Fortunately I live next door to my boss, and we carshare. This is doubly convenient as he has a parking space at work and we alternate driving to share the cost. I find this very convenient, however would love to cycle to work instead.

So please, please cambridge county council stick in some good old fashioned cycle paths down the stretches of new road. The country roads are too narrow and the local A-road is suicidal.

Oh and public transport costs are a joke (£8.90 for an hour train ride that takes me due west then south east when I only need to go north, 2 changes). Guess what? no bus either. And I work for the railways and get no blooming savings :- (

tim_n

jud!th wrote:

Still enjoying it - clothes fit better and better, enjoying time with children, meeting lots more people walking to and from places than I would if we jumped straight in the car.

Me being poorly (cold, temperature and dizzy) for a few days has made us want a car, tbh, but we've taken taxis, asked for and been offered lifts, and it's been fine.

BUT our biggest car-free issue atm is how to get home to Leeds from our parents south of London after Christmas. 2 children (we've got car seats at our parents') pushchair, luggage for 5 days, plus Christmas presents. How would you do it?

Judith
x

Post the presents home. Kids in pushchair or walking and roller case for the luggage. You'll be sitting for most of it and just think of the fun playing eye-spy...

gromituk

tim_n wrote:

unfortunately my workplace is around 20 miles away from my home. Fortunately I live next door to my boss, and we carshare. This is doubly convenient as he has a parking space at work and we alternate driving to share the cost.

If people just car-shared one day a week, think of the reduction in traffic.

I find this very convenient, however would love to cycle to work instead.

You might consider getting an electrically-assisted bicycle. If you could charge it up at work (range is in the order of 30 miles), you'd be able to get there and back. They're expensive, but you could get your employer to join one of the schemes subsidising bicycle purchase.

So please, please cambridge county council stick in some good old fashioned cycle paths down the stretches of new road.

You might want to join something like Cambridge Cycling Campaign to help achieve such aims.

tim_n

gromituk wrote:

If people just car-shared one day a week, think of the reduction in traffic.You might consider getting an electrically-assisted bicycle. If you could charge it up at work (range is in the order of 30 miles), you'd be able to get there and back. They're expensive, but you could get your employer to join one of the schemes subsidising bicycle purchase.You might want to join something like Cambridge Cycling Campaign to help achieve such aims.

I would, but stupidly I put 'cambridge' where I should have put chelmsford =D


Ooops!

gromituk

Well join the Chelmsford Cycling Action Group then ;-)

sandieb

I haven't had time to read all this interesting thread and apologies if I have posted this earlier but recommend the following lift share website for regular or one off lift sharing:

http://www.liftshare.org/