You don't have to live in the deepest countryside to need a car!

vroombroom

we have a car between us (mine). Its used to get to work and back (probs around 5 miles each way, we work on the same industrial estate), there are buses but I'm pregnant and lazy so its more convienient.:D

I'm also a carer to my grandma who lives 11 miles away - 20 mins in the car, 2 hrs on a busy and I go there 3/4 times a week so help clean and get her shopping. I'm not a big fan of lugging shopping on the bus, then walking half a mile from the bus stop to her house.

I love the freedom having the car - getting the dogs in the back and heading to the beach or heading further up the coast to go camping etc.

But before I moved into the house, bus routes getting to work were essential in case the car broke down x

podperson

I'm sure no one is saying that cars can't be more convenient - would never deny that sometimes when am waiting 20 mins on a bus in the pouring rain then have envied the car drivers But think the question raised was whether a car was an absolute necessity - and while it may be for some people then a lot of people who seem to see it as a necessity could probably manage without one if they had to. I believe the thread was raised in response to a poster who was in debt and seriously struggling with their outgoings - but when it was suggested that she get rid of her car to save money there was general outcry and people posting that was unreasonable for her to be expected to manage without one.

GobbledyGook

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

When I used to have to travel between sites at lunchtime I'd eat my lunch in the taxi or go without. You have to be flexible.

My employers, legally, have to schedule me a 30 minute break. They have to make sure you have (in theory) enough time to have the lunch break then travel.

Actually having that 30 minutes for lunch is altogether another story as I mentioned earlier. If a Head Teacher or Teacher, or even a parent wants to speak to me then it is the lunch that goes. By the time you've spoken to the HT at both schools, travelled, been asked a question or two by other people you pass on your way in/out of buildings most days you get time to have a pee on your lunch 'break'.

Going without anything isn't an option for me due to medication I take, but it's normally a grabbed sandwich eaten on the move. There's certain very few occasions where the 30 minutes is taken sat down with a nice lunch and a magazine. :rotfl:

[Deleted User]

We live somewhere with no public transport (nearest bus stop is 7.5 miles away and train station is 20 miles away). We have a car each as we both need them for work, buying food, getting to the doctors etc. It would not be possible to live where we do without a car as there are no local facilities or local shops (unless you count the postbox as a facility). Taxis are also expensive. I recently had to go to my doctors and then the hospital. As I was ill I could not drive. It cost me £22.00 to get to and from the docs and £70.00 to get to and from the hospital (yeap £70.00).

Yes, we chose to live in the middle of nowhere as we like it and because this is where we could afford to buy a property. It is not possible to move nearer to where we work for financial reasons and also because we both work in different places and there are not that many jobs around here. If everyone supposed to move out of the rural areas into more urban areas for work? If so then the demand for housing and public transport in those areas with better public tranport would just get worse.

So, yes we choose to have a lifestyle that requires two cars. However, we don't fly, we don't have children, we use very little water, are are planning to have solar panels fitted when we can afford them to reduce our electricity usage. We also grow a lot of our own food. Many of these things (particulary flying and having children) are more polluting (in terms of carbon footprint) than running a car. When we can afford to work less than it may be possible to reduce our car useage, but not at the moment.

Oldernotwiser

piratefairy wrote: »

I must admit I have skipped a few pages in the middle of this thread, but I have to disagree with those who say that most people should be able to function without a car.
For work, I live in the same town, so I can cycle when I have nothing else to drive to before / after. However, some days I drive because I volunteer at two different guides units, one is 20 miles away from my town, and there is no public transport option between the two after 6pm. The other is 12 miles away, and again, no public transport option back to my home afterwards.

But, if you didn't drive, you'd volunteer at different Guide groups or even with different youth groups. Much of this thread has been about making choices.

nickyhutch

podperson wrote: »

I'm sure no one is saying that cars can't be more convenient - would never deny that sometimes when am waiting 20 mins on a bus in the pouring rain then have envied the car drivers But think the question raised was whether a car was an absolute necessity - and while it may be for some people then a lot of people who seem to see it as a necessity could probably manage without one if they had to. I believe the thread was raised in response to a poster who was in debt and seriously struggling with their outgoings - but when it was suggested that she get rid of her car to save money there was general outcry and people posting that was unreasonable for her to be expected to manage without one.

I do see your points. One man's necessity and all that, though. I view my car as a necessity because without it, my family life would be severely damaged. I'd be out from 5.30am to around 7pm, just to go to work. Where do I fit in all the stuff that makes life good?! When do I discuss my son's school day/problems/high points/homework with him? When do I go to see mum in law (20 miles away)? When do I get to the gym/swim? When do I get any housework done? When do I watch some TV/read my books/go to the cinema? Come on, I need some TIME to do stuff I LIKE as well as go to work!

nickyhutch

Oldernotwiser wrote: »

Much of this thread has been about making choices.

Exactly. My choice is to have a car, carry on doing my job rather than pack it in and find one local to me, and therefore have time to do stuff I want to do as well as go to work.

TooDee

nickyhutch wrote: »

On the bus, you can't call in the shop for a pint of milk, pick your child up from his friend's house which isn't on the bus route, drop in to see elderly mum-in-law, set off when YOU want, leave when YOU want, go the way YOU want. I can expand my learning if I want by listening to the radio or audio books. I don't have to listen to what Chantelle got up to last night with her boyfriend or what Tyler thinks about Torres' transfer to Chelsea. I don't risk whiplash or bashing my teeth on the seat in front every time the driver slaps the brakes on. I don't have to stand in the rain waiting for the late bus/train, getting me and my work stuff wetter and wetter. I don't have to ring my boss to say I'm going to be late, again, because the bus hasn't turned up, or the train was full.

I'm sorry - I like spending time how I want to spend it rather than sat on a bus or walking for a bus or waiting for a bus.

• I work right next to a shop so don't need to pop in anywhere. Food shopping takes a bit of planning but its not hard.
• I don't have kids, like i said before though if and when I do I don't see this being a problem. They will go to the village school and there friends will live around here to. Its what I did when I was younger and had a full and happy childhood running around fields and getting buses to mates places when they were older.
• The buses are every ten or twenty minutes so I do leave when I want to.
• I don't listen to anyone elses conversation on the bus, unless i want to
• I've only ever felt at risk of injury once or twice on a bus. Generally the drivers are really safe and a bus is alot bigger than a car so I know where i'd rather be saftey wise.
• Yes I do have to stand in the rain sometimes but every sunny day stood waiting for a bus cancels out 100 rainy ones. Esspecially when the black birds are feeding off the bushes like they were this morning. I'm also very aware of nature and my suroundings as i'm out in it. I also find I don't need to have the heating as high as i'm more tolerant of cold no doubt from standing around in the cold. Some more money saved there.
• I've had to call my boss maybe 3 times in the past few years to say i'm going to be a little late and thats been becuase of accidents that i'd have encountered if i'd have been driving. I've had two snow days yet a girl who lives 15 minutes walk away tried to swing a snow day when i'd travelled all the way in by bus. Luckly i'm her boss so got to tell her to stop being so silly
• I like spending my time how I want. Like i've already said its no longer for me to get to work on the bus than it is by car.

You clearly are never going to change your mind and guess what neither am I. I just wish some car drivers would look twice at there journeys and think maybe there is an alternative. I get a double decker to work and its never more than half full. If some of those car drivers that sit in the same traffic as us on the way to work joined us on the bus we'd all get there in half the time.

I'd also love bus services to be imporved, I can't get to a town about 4 miles away from me without getting a bus all the way into the city and back out again. I'd love to see everywhere connected by bus one day but for that we'd need a real demand and unfortunatly its not there yet.. but hopefully if cars keep getting more expensive to run...

MrsE_2

This morning I had to be at another office for 9am.

To use public transport I would have had to leave at 6.23am.

Walk to village,
get bus 1
get bus 2
Short (9 minute) walk.

Get train 1 into London.
Get train 2 out of London in slightly different direction.
Get train 3.

Long walk (23 minutes).

By car I was able to get in for 8am, as I needed to do some early work. This would have been impossible by transport & I would only manage it by leaving the night before:rotfl:

Finishing at 16.45, I would have had to walk, bus 1, walk, bus 2, walk, train 1 into London, train 2 out of London, walk, bus, walk, get home just after 7pm.


Tomorrow, I have to be at a different office (much nearer). I would need to leave at 6.44 am.

Walk
Bus
Walk
Train 1
Train 2
Walk
Bus 2
Walk

Return, leave at 5am, home at 7.03pm

Walk
Train 1 (into London:eek:)
Train 2 (out of London)
Walk
Bus
Walk

Thursday, I'm local - only 3 buses:j

Thats why I need a car;)

nickyhutch

TooDee wrote: »

• I work right next to a shop so don't need to pop in anywhere. Food shopping takes a bit of planning but its not hard. I don't live next to a shop.
• I don't have kids, like i said before though if and when I do I don't see this being a problem. They will go to the village school and there friends will live around here to. Its what I did when I was younger and had a full and happy childhood running around fields and getting buses to mates places when they were older. me too. SOme people don't have that luxury.
• The buses are every ten or twenty minutes so I do leave when I want to.Lucky you, They come when they want in my village.
• I don't listen to anyone elses conversation on the bus, unless i want to If it's very loud, one has to.
• I've only ever felt at risk of injury once or twice on a bus. Generally the drivers are really safe and a bus is alot bigger than a car so I know where i'd rather be saftey wise.Depends where you are. Some people aren't that confident.
• Yes I do have to stand in the rain sometimes but every sunny day stood waiting for a bus cancels out 100 rainy ones. Esspecially when the black birds are feeding off the bushes like they were this morning. I'm also very aware of nature and my suroundings as i'm out in it. I also find I don't need to have the heating as high as i'm more tolerant of cold no doubt from standing around in the cold. Some more money saved there.
• I've had to call my boss maybe 3 times in the past few years to say i'm going to be a little late and thats been becuase of accidents that i'd have encountered if i'd have been driving. I've had two snow days yet a girl who lives 15 minutes walk away tried to swing a snow day when i'd travelled all the way in by bus. Luckly i'm her boss so got to tell her to stop being so silly Lucky you, again. Buses round here aren't reliable.
• I like spending my time how I want. Like i've already said its no longer for me to get to work on the bus than it is by car.Lucky you, it is for me.

You clearly are never going to change your mind and guess what neither am I. I just wish some car drivers would look twice at there journeys and think maybe there is an alternative. I just wish some people stop being so judgemental and holier than thou when they are looking at people who choose or have to use a car.I get a double decker to work and its never more than half full. If some of those car drivers that sit in the same traffic as us on the way to work joined us on the bus we'd all get there in half the time.

I'd also love bus services to be imporved, I can't get to a town about 4 miles away from me without getting a bus all the way into the city and back out again. I'd love to see everywhere connected by bus one day but for that we'd need a real demand and unfortunatly its not there yet.. but hopefully if cars keep getting more expensive to run...

Can you not just accept that you and I have different lifestyles and therefore different transport needs? I'm not slating you for using a bus - just saying that it mostly wouldn't be practical for me, so you have no need to slate me.

When I said "you" in that last post, I meant "one" rather than you personally.