do you drive

[dibnah]

I had to go to the hospital yesterday for a consultation regarding having my wisdom teeth out, they have imparted no extra wisdom to me so there coming out. Anyway like most of the country yesterday it was very wet, but I did not have my son with me so I decided to walk the three miles in the rain to the hospital. I never think anything of it as I have never had a car or even learned to drive. I did have a job years ago when I drove tractors but that is the extent to which I have added to the already cogested road system. Today I walked to my mothers another three miles approx, when I arrived there were some distant relatives, visiting for christmas, and inevitably the question comes up again Where’s your car? don’t you drive? and the worst one you are stupid not to drive. Then I have to answer another round of questions to see if I am lazy,scared or even setting a bad example to my son.

Last week on the way back from the shop I saw two women talking in the middle of the road, both dressed in, I guess, identical nurses uniforms disscussing work. Nothing strange about that you may think, however they then said ’see you later’ to each other, walked into there drives, got in a car each and drove off down the street, one behind the other????

Now I must confess that my wife does drive and enjoys it, so I can’t preach about pollution and so on. We have a decomissioned postal van which we are doing up into a camper, but thats another post. Many people would say that then it is easy not to drive and it’s more about lazyness than ethics. However I do all the shopping, visit my mother who is disabled as I’m a registered carer and we go together every three weeks to the super market to get tins, cleaning products and chilli sauce. Also my wife works as a riding instructor and has a horse of her own so is out the house alot, even if I did drive we would possibly have to have two cars for me to actually have any time driving. I think that this allows me to say that I can continue to be a non-driver without being considered lazy.

What I object to is that as a non-driver is that you are considered as if you are lacking an essential skill, yes it is true that the design of todays towns and cities are all designed around the car but they are also catering for a certain lifestyle that I’m not part of. I know there are people who consider me lazy ,most are in my family, but they don’t see that I do more physical activity when walking than they possibly do in a week driving. I get great joy walking or cycling I can stop and enjoy something and be off again befor most people have found a parking space. I also feel that it is important to experience a certain amount of precipitation and sunlight direct to your skin rather than from a windscreen.

I also want to say something on public transport as I feel that it is unforgivable when people decide not to use it in favour of sitting alone in a car. However other than trains I never use our local bus service as I feel that it’s too expensive I want to support it but refuse to pay £1.50 to travel two miles.

I will admit there are times when I think if only I could drive but I think that they are no more frequent than wishing to be on holiday or winning the lottery. If somebody wants to give me a lift and it’s raining I’m not stupid but equally if it’s raining and there is no offer I will still go out, and no not just to the pub. I’m glad I don’t drive and proud that I can still get out and about without relying on other people.

[Boots]

Wow - that's a good post. Very thought provoking.

My car is sitting down at the dam at the moment, where it stopped very possibly for the last time. Actually... I just realised that during the break in the rain, I looked up and my kids and I marvelled at how our dam had expanded up the dam inlet to cover our driveway, which it has never done before...

We were cheering at the time.

... but I have just realised, I don't remember seeing the car!

Or the Pump! Bloody ell... ok, calm down Boots... It will be daylight in an hour and I will just check then. Everything will be ok.

Now, where were we?

Walking. In the rain. Yes. I am very impressed with your attitude actually. I think it's admirable. I find it a bit hard to process calling a walker lazy, but some folks think they have some endeniable right to pass dumb judgements. So we might just let that go.

When my car died the other day, I have to admit to a few hours feeling heaps stressed. I was feeling a bit like my legs had been cut off or something, as I have at least half an hours drive to a one horse town and nearly two to anything with a supermarket. I still have my bike, but with the school holidays just kicking in I was overwhelmed with visions of bored, restless and irritable teenagers making my life a living nightmare cos I can't get them out of the house, unless I do double ferry trips.

I don't know what miles are, but they sound long...LOL. I think maybe cars have become a bit of 'must have' for many of todays consumerised families. A bit like TV's. Gone are the days when many people make choices as you have, folks just seem to go along with the unwritten rule that we NEED this or that, if we are alive.

Good on you, I reckon. If you don't need it, then why have it? And if you enjoy life without it, and don't have all the hassles that come with it either. Sure seems like a good way to live to me.

Well, dawn has broken and I can see the car [thank Goodness]. Don't need that polluting my dam! I'd swear it has moved, but surely not. Can't see the pump though, so better wander down and pull it out, I think. Ran it dry the other day, so thankfully there is no fuel in it.

Do whatever makes ya happy Dibnah. As my 85 year old gran's been saying for at least 30 years... we never know how long we're here!

[The Chili Monster]

I've never learned to drive either, Dibnah.
Whenever I tell people this, they stare at my atennae.


I'm not lazy or frightened of the idea of driving. Nor have I refused to learn for ethical reasons.
Quite simply, I never got round to it.
I've always got where I've needed to get. On time. (No parking wars with the neighbours for me, no spending ten + minutes each morning looking for a space).
Oh yes, I don't have driver's legs (you know -that affliction that car owners have where they drive to the corner shop just because they can.)

[Shirley]

If I lived in a town with a decent public transport system there is no way I would drive... above all things I HATE IT!!!!!

When I did live in town I did walk lots of places... but people were always astonished when I said that I'd rather walk than get the bus... personally I couldn't see the point of standing at a bus stop waiting in the rain when I could be making progress (and saving money) by walking to the next stop... and then the next, and the next. The only thing I didn't like about it was the traffic fumes on the busier routes.

We are not as 'out in the sticks' as Boots is... our nearest corner shop is 5 miles away.. the nearest town with a supermarket is 20 miles away... I'm still on the supermarket free month at the moment so we won't be doing our christmas shopping at T*sco.

When I lived near Brighton (CM) I would far rather walk the 10 mins or so across the bridge to the train station and hop on the train... if your public transport is there... USE it. It's much easier.

[Magpie]

Me neither - my OH does drive, but drives away to work each day, so we would need two cars, too. My children moan about it occaisionally - we home educate, so it means they get to do a lot of walking too!

it seems to run in my family, my Mum was in her 50's when she learned, my sisters in their mid 30's, my Nana in her 50's, and my mid-40 year old brother only has his motorbike license.

Don't often miss having it, only when the children moan really!

[Magpie]

Forgot to add - I too have encountered people who see it as a character flaw in me, not sure why really. I'm not sure they think I'm lazy, probably just crazy, especially when they get to know my views on other things...

[legendaryone]

I too have never got around to learning how to drive
I use my pedal bike all the time, you would be surprised what you can carry on one
Other parents are always surprised when i take my child to their house or i go to collect theirs, that i haven't used a car, i only have to it it once as after that they always bring and return my kids.
My two lads are partially sighted and will never be able to drive a car so it is good for them to see that you can have a "normal" life without a car. They are also very fit for all the walking they do.

[Wombat]

Well, I derive but don't own a car!

I drive a company car though so I suppose I don't count.

My father drove a car when they lived in Queensland, but when they moved to Sydney (around the time I was born) they never had a car since.

I suppose my problem is it would take me 2 hours to get to work by public transport (I live and work on different train lines) and 20 to 25 minutes by car. Bike is a possibility but i need to be fitter to do that!

Nev

[monkeynuts]

I didn't learn to drive until my mid 30's. Before this I walked everywhere...had no choice, two kids, one in a wheelchair most of the time... the other standing on the back of his brothers wheelchair surrounded by shopping.

Nowadays we need 2 cars as OH works 45 mins drive away and nearest public transport is around 3 miles away. I love driving but now I think about it, I miss walking....and I'm very unfit!!!

[pomegranate]

I drive, have been since I was about 12. I started by driving round the paddocks and then got my licence at 18. The car is my only means of mobility as I had polio as a child, my legs ceased to function a life time ago walking is not an option.

[red]

afraid we do drive - himself works about an hours drive away - but does work at home part of the week. Now we have moved into a village with shops and everything - I drive less - can go to local shops - and work at home when not doing the home ed thing.

public transport is pants around here.. and they are cutting back on rail services... as it is. - so if we want to go to the swimming pool, or well see anything outside of a small radius as my son has a physical disability, then its the car.

We have a decomissioned postal van which we are doing up into a camper, but thats another post. .

ah good on you. we converted our own van. in fact I just wrote a page on it here

[Altica]

yes we drive, we live in the suburbs, but the bus takes over an hour to get to work, while driving takes 10 mins. I HATE driving though, I only drive if I absolutely have to, the rest of the time I leave it to the other half. I'll walk if I can, or take the bus.

I always thought it was funny how people wouldn't go swimming at the beach cause they were scared of getting bitten by a shark, but then they would drive home again. Which is more likely to kill you?

[Merry]

I can drive - in that I`ve passed my driving test - but I don`t drive `cos I haven`t got a car. I haven`t had one for 25 years now.
When I was a full time teacher I was responsible for the non-exam age 15/16 kids, lovingly called my roughnecks and loonies.
One of them once asked why I came on the bus to school. When I told him I hadn`t got a car he looked thoughtful for a bit then said,
"I`ll get you one, what sort do you want?"
Knowing his recent history of `taking and driving away` I had to be really firm and convince him that I didn`t really want one - honest!
Bless!

I`m now in possession of that most precious bit of plastic - a bus pass!

[2steps]

I can't drive, never learnt. I have always walked or cycled everywhere or get the bus sometimes. when we lived in london I used the underground sometimes too. When I do our 'stock up' supermarket shop for tins, flour etc I often get a taxi home as it's too much to carry but thats only once a month at the most.

I agree that people look at you like your crazy when I say I don't drive and don't really want too. I enjoy walking

[Millymollymandy]

I passed my driving test 1st time when I was 17 but have never owned a car. I drove my mum's car when necessary but then had a period travelling then living in London when I never drove. Tried to get back into it but I gave that up as a bad job because I was just terrified trying to drive in London.

I haven't driven for about 16 years now and the thought of driving scares me silly. I don't even particularly like being a passenger in a car, and have no idea of road rules/marking etc any more.

Yup everyone thinks I'm wierd/strange/crazy for (1) not driving and (2) being scared to drive.

I do however have a chauffeur ; it is necessary here in the countryside. He drives too fast though.