Life without a car

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I haven’t got a car, but I live in a place with good public transport. If that’s not convenient, I use taxis. Taxis are much cheaper than having a car, and you don’t have to maintain or park them.

Cars can be very convenient, of course, but they need attention and upkeep. I could afford one, but just don’t want the trouble. It does depend where you live, though. In rural places, a car is invaluable.

I have 2 friends who manage very well without a car. They both live in areas with good public transport and plentiful taxis.
I have neither!
I have 2 pieces of advice:
1. If you are still OK to drive, then do so occasionally. Hire a car, or have yourself put on one of the family's car insurance and take it out for a spin. If you find yourself in need of a car, you've kept up your skills.
2. Get to know a local taxi firm and use them regularly. In many areas taxis get used for school escort work and are difficult to book at certain times. If they know you, they are more likely to be sympathetic.

Where I live it is almost impossible to get to a hospital appointment before about 10am because the buses have been cut (and the connections don't work) and the taxis aren't available. Thank goodness for the kind volunteer drivers.

PS: I have another friend who lives in a rural area (better served than mine, but not very good) who had to give up her car. She recommends:
lightweight walking boots / supportive shoes to walk to connections
a backpack or healthy back bag with:
water, emergency chocolate, reading material, waterproof, and a pashmina which can double as a warm scarf or covering
make sure all transport & taxi 'apps' are on your smartphone and make sure it is charged with plenty of credit!

Interesting thread, I’m thinking of doing the same when I retire (three years to go ?) as I need mine to do home visits. We’ve got reasonable public transport links and taxis in our small town, and I’m really keen to find out more about a new local car club. Maybe you have something like that near your home, GGJ?
Much better for the planet ? ☺️

Great tips there, Nannarose!

there was a discussion on MN about being annoyed at middle-aged people who had moved to a place 30 mins walk from bus.
they assumed neighbours would give them lifts.
which annoyed the neighbours.
no disability/lack of finances involved, they just preferred not to drive, nor cycle.

I did make this choice , was okay with it at first. Not so happy now

I had to sell my lovely little Ford Ka teo years ago as I needed the money to pay a couple of big red bills, and selling my car was the only way I could raise the money. Fortunately I live in an area that has a reasonable regular bus service and now I'm an OAP, I have a bus pass which saves me the cost of bus fares.

Looking at the price of petrol, though, I'm glad I no longer have a car to pay out for - not just the fuel but servicing and maintenance also.

I can travel by bus accompanied by my two small dogs and also to do my grocery shopping; but the disadvantage of being without a car is when I need to visit my elderly Mum who doesn't live in the same town as me. A round trip by train to visit Mum, with taxi fares from the station to her home and again back to the station, costs around £30 a time which is the same as a week's grocery money .

is your mum able to contribute to that cost of visiting her ?

I don’t think I could manage without a car, despite being on a good bus route it’s quite a hike to the bus stand and across 4 lanes of fast moving traffic. Both DD’s live 25 miles away - half an hour on a good day, but hours by bus and £40/50 by taxi.
I dare say I’ll get a more modest car, possibly hybrid at some point, as each round trip costs me £11 in diesel.

I love the freedom of having a car. Yes, I probably could save a bit, if I used public transport. But, if I wanted to visit the children, it would take me 2 bus changes. Besides, I usually visit after kids return from school, have tea with them and then return home about 8p.m. In Winter it gets dark and I don’t fancy waiting at bus stops late at night.
I don't drink, smoke or eat out often. My car is my luxury.

When Dad had to give up his car they used public transport and often used taxis even for quite long distances. It worked out far cheaper than running a car.

I dread the day when/if i have to give up driving.
I love the freedom of getting up and deciding to pack a picnic/flask of tea and were off.

My grandchildren are an hour's drive from me. It would be the best part of a day's journey by public transport.
However, if I had to give up the car, I would take a taxi to the rail / coach station, and again at the other end (or be picked up). That would take me about 3 hours in total.

I live in the same area that I was brought up in, and buses were regular & reliable.

I too dread the day I have to stop driving, it’s my independence but circumstances change and we have to adapt.. However if you have a good bus service it makes life easier. the money you save on running a car can pay for taxis for journeys not on bus routes. Sure you will adapt to living without your car and just think what you are doing for the environment.

I get travel sick in buses, and a taxi, one way from the railway station, 4 miles away, charges £15. I think we have the most expensive taxis in the country. I will stick with my car for the moment.

Grandma70s

I haven’t got a car, but I live in a place with good public transport. If that’s not convenient, I use taxis. Taxis are much cheaper than having a car, and you don’t have to maintain or park them.

Cars can be very convenient, of course, but they need attention and upkeep. I could afford one, but just don’t want the trouble. It does depend where you live, though. In rural places, a car is invaluable.

Totally agree. When I downsized prior to retirement, I found a new job, and then a flat near bus routes and a good rail link, that would make giving up the car easier.

We built a house, 12 years ago, in a village on a good bus route, and I thought it would stay that way as we are between 2 towns (small by some standards, but they both act as local hubs), one of which had the admin centre for the local council. So I thought we'd be OK.

Now we have 3 buses a day - theoretically to take folk to and from work, but they are unreliable, and one in the middle of the day that is very unreliable. Anyone with a job locally can't afford to rely on buses, and anyway, as many of the jobs are shift / casual, the timing doesn't work anyway. Only students use them, and the council say 'no-one wants to use the buses'. Well of course they don't!

Plus side, lots of folk cycle.

GagaJo, never had (or wanted) one - and happy so far. Living in London, I've often wondered why so many folk here bother with them. I get stuff delivered and go about using cabs, trains and buses -or cycle and walk. I make full use of my freedom card, save money, and avoid all that endless bother:

Finding somewhere to park
Having to return to that spot
Tax, insurance, servicing, Mot, maintenance, cleaning, petrol, depreciation, replacement etc. etc.

All those things have never crossed my mind, let alone bothered it. Getting about 9and walking the dog)

whoops - (and walking the dog) have been good exercise too - so I'm fit and slim without gym membership!

Our friends both had cars but the husband decided to share a car on retirement it was a bad idea. My husband would know not even to suggest it I will drive and have my independence until it’s not possible. I do use public transport occasionally but it’s not convenient most of the time.

Redhead56

Our friends both had cars but the husband decided to share a car on retirement it was a bad idea. My husband would know not even to suggest it I will drive and have my independence until it’s not possible. I do use public transport occasionally but it’s not convenient most of the time.

Same here Redhead56 The once my H mentioned it I told him it would be his car that went. Not mentioned since.

When my mother gave up her car in her 80's she had to rely on taxis - no buses near her - or friends and family. she hated the lack of independence. Taxis were very hit and miss, in spite of ordering them for a specific time they frequently did not arrive on time. When she became wheelchair bound and could only use wheelchair suitable taxis the problem was far worse.

For me the convenience and independence of having a car at my disposal outweighs the expense. It may well be different if I was in a different financial position.

Hetty me too never ever had a car my mum and dad never had a car nor either sets of grandparents So I guess we ve all managed our lives perfectly well
My free bus pass can take me anywhere I want to go and my cycle takes me around locally most of my driving friends have given up around 75 a few still drive but I never ask for lifts
All my children and most grandchildren have cars apart from the two youngest