Could You Have Kids and No Car?

I suppose it depends on

where you live - very rural or town

how many kids

how often you use the bus

cost, bus fares v car running cost and initial purchase

When mine were small many moons ago I had to use a car because I lived in a very very small rural village with no bus.

I live just a short walk from the bus stop but I rarely use the bus. We have an excellent bus route where we live but I've only taken my son on the bus twice, when I absolutely had to. For me it is definitely much easier having the car, especially when you need to do the weekly food shop, although I suppose that can be delivered. I don't use my car often but I would struggle without it.

When my children were younger I had a car and would use it but I also enjoy walking so it was a mixture of both. I have four children and don’t remember getting on with all four at one go!

I don’t drive and will never learn kids need exercise and walking is best rain or shine. I walk mine to school which is just under a mile yes could get bus but no walk it refreshes your mind and theirs for a day at school.

It must be very difficult without a car but I guess some folks have no choice . Either though not being able to drive or being able to afford to run a car .

I suppose we just have to cut our cloth ....?

I passed my test in 2018 when we had 2 children and it was the best thing i ever did. Although my other half drove then it just makes things easier me having a car. We now have a 3rd child and i couldnt imagine not having a car and having to walk everywhere with the pushchair. It just makes life easier

I think when your partner doesn't drive either is hard. I feel like we have to rely on others all the time. If I want to take my child to a farm I need to take a taxi. I think with one is still ok but with 2 a car would be important.

There isnt really one answer to this and depends upon a lot of things like where you live, their ages etc

When ours were young and we used to walk everywhere hoping that it would encourage them to use the cheapest method of getting around, it's better for your health too.

I've never had a car so I wouldn't know i do hate getting the bus with a pram so I do try to walk everywhere if I can

Many people do it though it makes many a circumstance easier. For me I couldn’t at the moment though I do like to walk places too.

I cudnt live with out my car before kids and defo couldn't now. When i was younger I lived in Newcastle there was buses and trains everywhere and they were cheap, I then moved to live in South Devon and busses were so expensive and few a far between so I had to drive there's also soo many hills

Ive never learnt to drive and am quite happy taking the bus but then we have a good service ideal for my workplace and the city centre. When my son was younger my wife really did need the car. These days she only uses it for work - and even then she'll probably walk in the summer

I couldn’t drive when my son was born, hubby had the car anyway so it didn’t make any difference to me at first. Luckily some of the places we had lived had easy access to buses and ran quite frequently.

I learnt to drive when I was 21, lived in a village that bus frequented every 2 hours. Had to plan in advance to get to the nearest town to meet friends and family.

Don’t regret ever learning, it’s great freedom. Used to share the car over the years with hubby but when my job took me 25 miles away I needed the car and then hubby couldn’t get to work (different start times etc and distance away) we bit the bullet and got a second car. Don’t get me wrong it’s brilliant have two cars now, and my son will also gain the use of my car when learns to drive next year.

We do live in a very small village, hardly any busses and closest small towns are 15-20 minutes away so no access to really useful public transport.

I would find it hard with no car I have 3 kids. Last time I tried to get a bus turned out I was at wrong bus stop

I think you can, my Mum didn't drive and she had 3 of us, it's easier with a car but not everyone can afford to run one or have chosen to cut down on their carbon footprint.

I know that when you use public transport you are more active because you have to be