Giving up the car completely?

[growingvegetables]

Are you actually going to save money? The extra cost of train fares, buses, mates petrol money, higher maintenance costs on bike could add up to the same as your car costs over the course of a year.

I don't think I spend anything like £715 a year on "train fares, buses, mates petrol money, higher maintenance costs on bike".

Why £715?

Drivers can now expect to pay £715 on average for a comprehensive car insurance premium, compared to £600 this time last year.

And that's before I'd have put a pennysworth of diesel in the tank, or replaced an indicator light cluster.

The really expensive bit of travel for me (being carfree) is hiring a van to shift kids around the country - but these have never been trips I'd be able to do with a car anyway.

 

[Accy cyclist]

I've been without car for 4 years now. There are a few things that feel really limiting:

• Getting things home from DIY shops
• Picking something up via trade/sale forums, e.g. freecycle
• Taking rubbish to the tip
• Taking vacations anywhere requires renting a car
• Getting to a hospital in the middle of the night means taking a cab

I've often thought that if i gave up the car and an emergency needing hospital treatment came up, i'd be stuck but there are 3 taxi firms around here, all operating 24/7. If i had to get to the hospital i'd call them. Ok they might take 3 or 4 minutes to get here but the speed they drive at would make up the lost time. I don't think i'd like to drive/do an emergency dash to the hospital anyway.

 

[TrishE]

I just ride to the hospital, been 5 or 6 times in the last two months, though I suspect its a tad further for you, my ride is some 10 miles there and likewise back if no detours.

Yes too far for me. I've tried it the roads are horrid too or I would commute to work missing out the train part

 

[Shut Up Legs]

If you didn't use the bike as much your costs would be lower as things would last longer in time terms as is it getting less use in the same period. For example now I commute I go through two sets of pads, two chains a year and a service. Previously before i started commutting I would be lucky to need a new chain.

Which is my point, exactly. I do long distances on the commuter bike, and it's still heaps cheaper than a car.

 

[classic33]

If you didn't use the bike as much your costs would be lower as things would last longer in time terms as is it getting less use in the same period. For example now I commute I go through two sets of pads, two chains a year and a service. Previously before i started commutting I would be lucky to need a new chain.

I used to go through at least two chainsets & drivetrains a year(cheaper replace the lot than just the rings). This from wear & tear.

I've never had a car, so will never miss one. For larger items, I've had four wheels and pedal power for the last Ten years.

 

[classic33]

If you didn't use the bike as much your costs would be lower as things would last longer in time terms as is it getting less use in the same period. For example now I commute I go through two sets of pads, two chains a year and a service. Previously before i started commutting I would be lucky to need a new chain.

I used to go through at least two chainsets & drivetrains a year(cheaper replace the lot than just the rings). This from wear & tear.

I've never had a car, so will never miss one. For larger items, I've had four wheels and pedal power for the last Ten years.

 

[Saluki]

I would love to be car free but living where we live at the moment, it's just not an option. The first bus that would take me to work leaves here at 10am. Not helpful for a 9.30 start. Getting Hubster to clinic would be problematic too.
If I were to return to Norwich, with sensible busses etc, then I would most likely be car free.

 

[Biff600]

Most of my work is abroad, therefore I need my car to get to the airports.

I enjoy riding my bike, but that's where it ends, it's an enjoyment, not a necessity. When it becomes a necessity, that's where the enjoyment ends.

 

[annirak]

I've often thought that if i gave up the car and an emergency needing hospital treatment came up, i'd be stuck but there are 3 taxi firms around here, all operating 24/7. If i had to get to the hospital i'd call them. Ok they might take 3 or 4 minutes to get here but the speed they drive at would make up the lost time. I don't think i'd like to drive/do an emergency dash to the hospital anyway.

That is precisely what I've done. There are at least 3 taxi firms near me and they arrive within 10 minutes even at 2 am. They also drop you off at the front door, so you don't have to faff about with parking.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

Most of my work is abroad, therefore I need my car to get to the airports.

I enjoy riding my bike, but that's where it ends, it's an enjoyment, not a necessity. When it becomes a necessity, that's where the enjoyment ends.

I don't fully agree, its my sole transport at the moment, I am quicker than public transport to many areas I have to go, a car would be an advantage with large items but its not an issue at the min.
It depends how often you travel abroad and how far the airport is, taxi's are an option ( I don't know if you pay for parking or get dropped off)

 

[Biff600]

I don't fully agree, its my sole transport at the moment, I am quicker than public transport to many areas I have to go, a car would be an advantage with large items but its not an issue at the min.
It depends how often you travel abroad and how far the airport is, taxi's are an option ( I don't know if you pay for parking or get dropped off)

I usually go from Heathrow, which is approx a 200 mile round trip, and I spend about 4 months of the year out of the country (18 trips since April last year).

Not only that, I use my car for my weekly trip to Tesco's, and me wandering around the aisles in me lycra would put the population off it's dinner !!

However, I bloke I work with now and again passed his car test when he was 17, had a car for 3 weeks and hasn't driven since, he's 64 ! But then he does live in London, where 'normal' life is a bit more accessible (frantic, but accessible)

 

[screenman]

When my kids were young I often thought we were the only parents with cars, we would often be taking other people kids out for trips to clubs, parties, etc. It took a while to figure these people just thought it was other people job to transport their kids about and that they did indeed own cars. A 25 mile each way trip for the things listed and often further was not unusual, so a late night party would be a 100 miler at not convenient times.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

I usually go from Heathrow, which is approx a 200 mile round trip, and I spend about 4 months of the year out of the country (18 trips since April last year).

Not only that, I use my car for my weekly trip to Tesco's, and me wandering around the aisles in me lycra would put the population off it's dinner !!

However, I bloke I work with now and again passed his car test when he was 17, had a car for 3 weeks and hasn't driven since, he's 64 ! But then he does live in London, where 'normal' life is a bit more accessible (frantic, but accessible)

I drop into the local Aldi just for coffee, I don't give it a seconds thought. besides who gives a fig what other thinks how you look like, no-one has every mentioned how I look, nor ever heard a remark in passing (either that or I am getting deaf in my old age)