Non driver??? How do you manage

[Ned Senior]

Hi all,
Considering getting shut of das auto
My thinking is to get a local bus/rail pass to use instead
Train stops 100 yards from my home plus I am easily at a main bus route with 5 minutes or so wait for a ride.......
How do you non drivers get on?
Is it fine and dandy?

Cheers

Ned

 

[nvingo]

My aunt and uncle have been non-drivers their whole (80+ years) lives.
Apart from the walk to town, they rely on drivers*

*bus, coach, train, family, friends.

 

[shahedz]

I guess it's easier to get live without a car
. I used to hate he weekly grocery shop now with online shopping it would easier than ever.

 

[Rasczak]

I couldn't image not having a car. Using public transport is all very well but you are entirely dependant on its running times and destinations.

 

[DIYlady]

How frequently do use the car at the moment and what for. Why not try putting the keys away for a month and not driving anywhere before deciding

 

[Beany31]

I'm a non driver. Always lived in walking distance from public transport for uni, and now work in London so commute from Kent and can't afford the luxury of a car and travel. I get on just fine and never really felt the need for s car

 

[Hillskill]

Got my license at 35 years old. It's been like a new existence since havin the freedom to go anywhere, anytime. You'd be insane not to keep some sort of runaround handy imho.

 

[LV426]

Originally, it took me a longer than most to get around to taking a driving test. Thus, for the early part of my life, I was totally a public transport user. Despite having had a car for many years, I can and do still use PT. Perhaps that early experience was a factor. What I'd say is this:

a) in your case, as you describe, it could hardly be any more convenient for you to use trains and buses
b) the key is to know what you can and can't practically do and either limit yourself to those parameters (like - go shopping in the town that's on your rail route, rather than wanting to go to the other one that isn't - etc) OR use a taxi.
c) The money you will save vs. running a car will pay for a good few cab fares when PT just isn't working out. It will also pay for you to rent a car for your annual two week trip to Devon (or whatever similar circumstances you may have).
d) there is no risk of being nicked for drink-driving or similar.
e) It's not final, is it? You can always go back if you can't make it work out.
Go for it. Give it chance to settle in - say a year or so - and don't be reluctant to hire when you really need one. And add up the total costs vs. running your car with tax, insurance, fuel, maintenance, depreciation etc...

 

[mij]

Give it a go for a month as DIYlady said, also consider a small bike like the folding Brompton (also look at electric versions) and look into car sharing schemes.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

Splitting hairs, maybe, but you're not a 'non-driver'.
You just won't own a car.
If you need to drive, you can.
I cannot fathom how anyone can go their whole lives not learning to drive, that blows my mind.
Totally relying on public transport/friends/family and not being able to at least borrow or hire a car seems old-fashioned in the extreme, borderline selfish.

 

[mij]

Splitting hairs, maybe, but you're not a 'non-driver'.
You just won't own a car.
If you need to drive, you can.
I cannot fathom how anyone can go their whole lives not learning to drive, that blows my mind.
Totally relying on public transport/friends/family and not being able to at least borrow or hire a car seems old-fashioned in the extreme, borderline selfish.

I have family who live in central London who have no need for a car at all, everything is local with plenty of public transport including bikes, depends on where you live I suppose.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

I have family who live in central London who have no need for a car at all, everything is local with plenty of public transport including bikes, depends on where you live I suppose.

Never the need to drive?
How do they manage going to the likes of B+Q etc?
Just don't go, or handcarry tins of paint/bits of wood on a bus?
Not owning a car I can fathom, never having to drive I just can't.

 

[mij]

Never the need to drive?
How do they manage going to the likes of B+Q etc?
Just don't go, or handcarry tins of paint/bits of wood on a bus?
Not owning a car I can fathom, never having to drive I just can't.

Taxis, Mini-Cabs, Van+Driver for hire (some by the hour), there are lot's of alternatives and they are also saving a shed load of money as being a car owner is not cheap.

 

[FZR400RRSP]

being a car owner is not cheap.

It's as cheap/dear as you want it to be.
Parking permits aren't something you can control the cost of, I grant you, but the car you choose and the subsequent running expenses are entirely down to you.
Perfectly feasible to run a car on a shoestring budget.
Needn't be a banger either, you can lease a small new car for £25 a week.

 

[imightbewrong]

I can see not needing a car for the daily grind in London, but we would be scuppered without a car for holidays, days out, seeing the grand parents etc

Not many castles or Country parks have train stations

 

[Egg White]

Never the need to drive?
How do they manage going to the likes of B+Q etc?
Just don't go, or handcarry tins of paint/bits of wood on a bus?
Not owning a car I can fathom, never having to drive I just can't.

indeed - and the pleasurable things like going away for the weekend or even a day out etc...

 

[FZR400RRSP]

Can't recall who it is I follow on twitter, I have a feeling it's Danny Baker.
Anyway, born and bred Laaaaaandoner who has managed to live without driving for XX years, but finally realised how restricting/restrictive it is and learned to drive recently.

 

[imightbewrong]

I cannot fathom how anyone can go their whole lives not learning to drive, that blows my mind.

My gran never even took a test. Didn't stop her driving for nearly 70 years mind

 

[mij]

It's as cheap/dear as you want it to be.
Parking permits aren't something you can control the cost of, I grant you, but the car you choose and the subsequent running expenses are entirely down to you.
Perfectly feasible to run a car on a shoestring budget.
Needn't be a banger either, you can lease a small new car for £25 a week.

Add the deposit and fuel costs and it is a fair bit more than £25 a week.

 

[qwerty321]

My gran never even took a test. Didn't stop get driving for nearly 70 years mind

My Dad told me of a similar story. A woman who got to around the same age but never passed her test. When she was finally stopped she told them it doesn't matter because her eyesight is deteriorating and she doesn't need to drive any more!

 

[imightbewrong]

My Dad told me of a similar story. A woman who got to around the same age but never passed her test. When she was finally stopped she told them it doesn't matter because her eyesight is deteriorating and she doesn't need to drive any more!

Well to be clear, Gran did have a license

 

[FZR400RRSP]

Add the deposit and fuel costs and it is a fair bit more than £25 a week.

Of course there are other costs, but they're not astronomical.
Not compared with public transport/taxi/man-with-a-van costs.
No deposit if you buy a cheap car, and even cheap cars soldier on forever these days (my mother's Micra would barely scrape a grand yet soldiers on year after year).
How much is a tube pass or Oyster card?
I was £12 a day for a tube pass only when I was down the other week/s.
I'm aware driving around London isn't practical, that's not really my point.
My point is owning a car on the side needn't be expensive.

 

[SBT]

I don't drive anymore, you soon get used to life without a car.
It's either a taxi or a lift if I'm going anywhere. I also don't have any shops within walking distance but that's not a problem these days with internet/deliveries.

 

[mij]

Of course there are other costs, but they're not astronomical.
Not compared with public transport/taxi/man-with-a-van costs.
No deposit if you buy a cheap car, and even cheap cars soldier on forever these days (my mother's Micra would barely scrape a grand yet soldiers on year after year).
How much is a tube pass or Oyster card?
I was £12 a day for a tube pass only when I was down the other week/s.
I'm aware driving around London isn't practical, that's not really my point.
My point is owning a car on the side needn't be expensive.

But living in central London means they don't have to travel much at all, almost all they need is right on their doorstep so the travel costs you refer to are rarely needed.

 

[imightbewrong]

But living in central London means they don't have to travel much at all, almost all they need is right on their doorstep so the travel costs you refer to are rarely needed.

But what about the sheer effort if they want to go somewhere outside zone 6 - with stuff? Presumably they design holidays etc around being near a mainline station / airport.