Could you (or do you) manage without a car?!

[Rebaby]

Inspire me! (Or tell me i am nuts )

We have to get rid of our car as it failed it's MOT and would cost more than it's worth to have it fixed up. We are sick of scraping all our pennies together and buying old bangers that cost us a fortune to insure and run every month only for them to conk out or fail their MOT's a few months down the line. OH is going back to university in a couple of weeks to retrain and so for the next 3 years we're going to be pretty skint. In theory getting rid of the car saves us £250 per month in running costs.

I basically only use the car for work (3 days per week) and visiting family and friends (who all live miles away ) OH doesn't use it as he doesn't drive!

Shopping is done locally or online.

I only live approx 13 miles from work but the direct buses from where we are don't run at the time i need (i'm a shift worker) so getting to and from work is going to be a real pain in the arse. A taxi each way would cost a bomb i reckon

We're thinking of getting a push bike to share between us...

Are we crazy?!

All thoughts and suggestions (or offers of a spare car we could borrow ) very welcome!

ETA: We have a baby (obviously!) and a dog if that makes a difference?!

 

[faun]

We did a year car free for very similar reasons it was a pain but nowhere near as bad as i thought it would be i just got very fit by walking and cycling everywhere. We did borrow the MIL's car a few times for day trips out with the kids as we found public transport can't always go where you want.

 

[AppleBlossom]

I'm terrified of driving, I did driving lessons for 2 years and failed 2 tests because I panic at everything that wasn't a quiet straight road. Even if I wanted to I couldn't afford to start lessons again never mind buy a car, tax it, put petrol in it etc. I either walk, get the bus or every so often someone will give me a lift.

 

[Ju_bubbs]

I coulndn't, mainly because my kids go to school 5 miles away, and there are no buses in that direction and I coulnd't afford taxis! Tho saying that.. I used to walk that 5 miles almost daily before the kids started school and I was carless, but I woulnd't do it if I could avoid it! It's mostly uphil, and I had a newbon in a baby carrier, a 2 year old in a buggy, and then I'd always end up carrying my 4 year old as he'g get tired half way up the first hill
So I suppose based on that I COULD manage if I really needed to, apart from having to get the soon to be 4 children ready to leave the house by about 6.30 and walk 5 miles, by the time they got to school they would be ready for bed!! lol

 

[moomin_troll]

my oh drives but hes in the army so goes away alot. my family are 24 miles away and dont bother helping me and i manage just fine when ohs away, the main thing i struggle with his shopping but seen as u do it localy or online n thats fine.

as for work would u be able to get a earlier bus and then just wait around or dont buses run at all when u need them?

it will be hard work but can be done as alot of people dont drive

 

[Celesse]

We don't have a car (or the necessary driving licences). I've never found it a real problem.

Do you have to get a direct bus or could you get an express into town and out of town? I usually get a direct bus to work, but on bank hoilday's I need to do a 2 bus journey cos of the times of the direct local bus.

 

[xJG30]

I couldn't do it personally. I had to go 5 months with out a car and in the end I just kept hiring new ones as I hate to rely on others.

 

[rosie5637]

i've never had a car and although i probably would learn to drive and get one if i won the lottery i'm not bothered really.

i walk everywhere and get the occasional bus day to day.

i get the train to visit my mum or go on days out.

its not really that hard it might just take a little more planning thats all.

 

[jenny_wren]

i couldn't cope without one ​

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I do. I can see how cars are useful but people are to reliant nowadays and I feel this may become a problem in the future!

My kids school is just over a mile away so I do 4 miles a day, will be 6 on Monday. People ask how I stay slim. Go figure lol.

Its proven children that walk to school are more alert and its good parent/child bonding time too.

You dont even need a car for shopping now lol just get it delivered.

I walk or ride my bike everywhere. If we go on holiday we get the train. If I go into the city I ride my bike and then get on ferry.

I am also nervous of driving but I dont really NEED to and in this day and age I dont feel like its a good time to become reliant on a car.

My kids dont miss out, we still go on lots of days out and manage to get anywhere we want without a car. I dont think anyone could never cope because we would just have to!

 

[jenstar]

I work shifts too and so does my hubby. I couldn't do without my car. Getting to and from work is the only thing I REALLY need it for and don't do many miles apart from that. I personally wouldn't fancy cycling 13 miles home on a freezing morning after a hard night shift... but it could be done.

You could get a scooter for your commute- easy to insure.

In my work there is a noticeboard for lift shares, usually its 4 people who live near each other taking turns driving but if you were unable to drive when it's your turn you could maybe pay the others.

 

[dani_tinks]

If I lived in a big town or city.. I could and would.
Not pratical for me here though, living in Cornwall it's quite tricky without a car to get about. I really do live in the middle on the countryside so I need my little Punto to get around

 

[Ju_bubbs]

If I lived in a big town or city.. I could and would.
Not pratical for me here though, living in Cornwall it's quite tricky without a car to get about. I really do live in the middle on the countryside so I need my little Punto to get around

I'll 2nd that!! I went to London a couple of years ago, and was absolutely amazed at the amounts of buses/tubes that leave and arrive everywhere! Round here you have to wait hours inbetween buses and then they only go to limited places!
At my old house a few miles down the road, there was one bus out of the village, and one bus back into it a day lol!

 

[dani_tinks]

Yeah Ju it's rediculous, I really can't stand the public transport down here! Its late and then it's full of whiney people anyway.. not a very nice way to get around. But even if I had to rely on buses and trains.. I still couldn't.. buses don't come down our lane lol!

 

[Ju_bubbs]

well yeah.. I live in the middle of town now and its still about a mile to the nearest bus stop i think, and the train station is the other end of town which is 2-3 miles away.. bit of a kerfuffle with 4 kids and a large dog

 

[Abz1982]

I have recently just got a car after 18 months car less and I am not 100% sure what is better to be honest. As yes, car takes you places, but it costs to! I am paying nrealy £500 a month for the privalage of the car!

My bus pass was £58.............

We did use the shopping online a lot - it was ok, but we are sad and like the supermarket.

It was a pain for getting to the horses though as I would have to get a lift to them wiht my boss, then the bus at a certain time or my dad drove me back. Now I can do as I please.

 

[juhesihcaaa]

I go to school 40 miles away and my hubby works about 20 miles away.
We couldn't give up either of our cars. We also have a truck for hauling stuff but we use it rarely.

As far as the cost of maintaining a car, what kind of cars do you buy? We have a 93 Ford F150(the truck), a 96 Toyota Corolla and a 96 Honda Accord. The truck is only semi-reliable but seeing as we don't depend on it, we don't care. The Corolla and Accord have never broken down. The only issues we've had have been self-inflicted (My hubby hit a deer in the Accord, he also slid into a guardrail in it on ice and the Corolla had a tire blow). The Corolla cost us $500. It's not much to look at but it gets the job done. The only problem I have with the Accord is that it's a 2 door which is gonna be a pain when the baby comes. Our insurance on all three of the vehicles is only $70 a month for both of us.

We couldn't live without our cars.

 

[coz]

wev also just had about 18 months of no car, it wasnt too bad for us as we are on a tram line here which is easy and thats how i get to work but we really missed just popping in the car for a day out and the winter was the worst as it can be a bit far to walk to some of our family and friends too allthough on the plus side it has kept me very fit with the all the walking, we ended up buying another car last week and im really hoping its good to us xxx

ps i also keep thinking is it worth it as they cost so much to run and my partners insurence is about 130 a month which i cryed at when i found out but we was renting a car every 6 months to see my family in devon 3 and half hours away so that was costing us in the long run x

 

[Midnight_Fairy]

I live in a rural-ish place too and I manage. It can be hard but I like the fact its eco friendly. I think things will be harder in the future if we rely on cars to much. I dont hate cars lol but most journeys people make are under 5 miles- easily ridable or walk able x

 

[Ju_bubbs]

I live in a rural-ish place too and I manage. It can be hard but I like the fact its eco friendly. I think things will be harder in the future if we rely on cars to much. I dont hate cars lol but most journeys people make are under 5 miles- easily ridable or walk able x

Even if I didn't have a car.. I really wouldn't walk anywhere, I'd have to find lifts, the narow windy roads with no pavements are dangerous enough just for an adult tbh, not even worth considering with 3 children a baby and a dog! lol