Life without a car

[Paulwirral]

For the first time in adult life I'm facing life without a car of any description for a few weeks
New car was ordered a while ago and the delivery date was put back a couple of weeks but I'd already sold my pick up so now I've no transport apart from a mountain bike .
I never realised how much I took being able to jump in a vehicle and use it for granted .
I'm lucky in respect of I live in a town centre with good public transport service and I don't have a "proper" job as such but I can't believe how many times I've walked to the key hook looking for car keys , I've even walked outside when I couldn't find them expecting to find them in the ignition only to remember I've only got my feet to rely on .
I can use the wife's car on an evening to do whatever I need but it's a little odd not having the luxury of my own transport .
Has anyone else ever experienced this ?

 

[Marlon]

Interesting question. I have had a car from the age of 17 when I passed my driving test. I can't remember not having one. There have been times when I commuted using busses and trains when working in Liverpool, but that was my choice due to exorbitant city centre parking fees. Mmmm - I've always had a car since passing my driving test 37 years ago.

 

[sars]

Like you once in between cars, though just for a few days, had to get the train/bus to the dealers to pick the new one up.

 

[Angie4m]

I've had to live a whole year without a car (I did have one but wasn't allowed to drive it) and at the time I didn't live in town. I lived out in the countryside with very sparse public transport.

I managed, it changed my life and although I love my cars and yes they are great to jump in when the weathers the way it is today, I now would rather walk where I can whereas before I'd drive anywhere and everywhere even if it was in walking distance.

Health benefits too. I lost quite a bit of weight, 7 stone in 6 months which I've managed to keep off ever since (6 years now). If I went back to my old ways, it certainly wouldn't be that way.

Yes cars provide freedom but not having one is not always the end of the world.

 

[Paulwirral]

I always use the bus to Chester or Liverpool from where I live , nothing to do with the parking as the wife has her own allocated space outside the liver building , the bus is just easier and takes ten minutes more real world time , not to mention if you miss the return one you can go for a beer or two while waiting !
I'm still missing a bloody car though , I thought it would be a doddle , I can't even begin to imagine living in the country .
Never mind , only a few weeks of it :thumbsdown: I'm just hoping I don't run out of cement on my building project at the back of the house , I'm going to look an idiot rocking up at the builders merchants with a wheel barrow :lol:
I do tend to walk everywhere local when possible , but even yesterday I thought as I'm not busy I'll go to Tesco for the shopping , then realised I couldn't carry everything we needed so I'll wait until she gets back . Daytime tv is rubbish by the way :thumbsdown:

 

[Angie4m]

I've a Tesco 500 yards from me and I always end up with arms like a chimp as I buy way too much and doing a big shop is a great reason for me to take the car a long drive as I go to a store miles away.

Yes, Daytime tv is crap. It's been horrible weather here today and I'm currently contemplating a run in the rain just to get me out the house. Plus running in the rain when it's warm is lovely.

If it's only a few weeks, hopefully you'll survive

 

[Paulwirral]

Here's another thing I'm struggling with , it's hot and sunny here , I'm working in my back garden , I can't possibly drive anywhere so why do I feel guilty looking at an alcohol free beer to wash my lunch down with , being alcohol free it wouldn't make any bloody difference anyway !

 

[Wildfire]

Hmmm.. Aside from holidays no, actually. I've never been without a car, granted some of those times it was a TVR Griffith and not entirely appropriate, but these days I see it more as a toy than a means of transport. I have always had the luxury of some sort of transport, although these days I tend to take the (motor)bike if I can.

 

[buzyg]

Yup done it a few times. Didn't own a car until I was 27. Mrs G and I to ride every where on our push bikes :wink:

Then was in between cars for several months about 16 years back.. I had a co-worker living over the road, so no issues really. Plus I got my push bike out again. Didn't catch a single bus during that period or since, (hateful things). I'd rather walk.

 

[RickRob]

Here's another thing I'm struggling with , it's hot and sunny here , I'm working in my back garden , I can't possibly drive anywhere so why do I feel guilty looking at an alcohol free beer to wash my lunch down with , being alcohol free it wouldn't make any bloody difference anyway !

I was going to write that doing without a car won't hurt for a few weeks. Then you mentioned the alcohol-free beer. If you need a car to get some proper beer, the please accept my sympathy for the life-changing event that being carless has caused. :lol:

 

[Paulwirral]

Here's another thing I'm struggling with , it's hot and sunny here , I'm working in my back garden , I can't possibly drive anywhere so why do I feel guilty looking at an alcohol free beer to wash my lunch down with , being alcohol free it wouldn't make any bloody difference anyway !

I was going to write that doing without a car won't hurt for a few weeks. Then you mentioned the alcohol-free beer. If you need a car to get some proper beer, the please accept my sympathy for the life-changing event that being carless has caused. :lol:

I drink the alcohol free stuff on a weekday , but now there's no driving liability I've just discovered the delights of Tesco home delivery , see you in the gutter :lol:
I'm joking obviously as I can walk less than a minute to my local cocktail bar and any number of restaurants , so I'll be on the bar floor as I'll not make it to the gutter

 

[Smartbear]

Yup done it a few times. Didn't own a car until I was 27. Mrs G and I to ride every where on our push bikes :wink:

Then was in between cars for several months about 16 years back.. I had a co-worker living over the road, so no issues really. Plus I got my push bike out again. Didn't catch a single bus during that period or since, (hateful things). I'd rather walk.

Similar to myself buzy, didn't pass my test til 25 as I was motorbike mad (still am a bit) life would be harder without a car, bikes aren't nice in the winter months
Rob

 

[85genius]

I've got 2/3 at the moment

My Z which is actually at a bodyshop so I can't actually use but 2 I can an slk hire car which is being picked up tomorrow and a kia "cee apostrophe d" hire car that I've got until I get my Zed back... Not had this many car keys since I was at uni and playing at being a car dealer

 

[Taz]

passed my test at 17 and i don't think i've ever had a day without a car

i recently went on a bus, thats a weird experince

 

[Paulwirral]

passed my test at 17 and i don't think i've ever had a day without a car

i recently went on a bus, thats a weird experince

Your the same as me , I've always had at the very least a car and pick up truck all my life .
Once you get used to the bus there's no going back , our express service to Liverpool has free internet and leather seats if you score the right one . They do a week pass for us for £13 , it costs £2.40 a day for the tunnels , £3.40 if you don't have a tag , then you've got parking on top ,
That said , I do insist on a taxi back if we stay out later in town !

 

[Mr Tidy]

I feel for you, OP!

I also passed my test at 17 (40 years and 3 weeks ago) and have never not had access to at least one car and/or a motorbike or two ever since!

But just over 10 years ago I wasn't allowed to drive for a month and was signed off work for medical reasons - never realised until then quite how far away the local shops were! Mind you I had time to walk to them, and the doctor had recommended exercise anyway. :lol:

Hope you get your new wheels soon!