What do you MEAN you don't drive?!
If you've ever expressed shock that someone doesn't drive just because they're of a legal age to then- incredulous fuckrags, listen here.

I am 23. I do not drive. I walk everywhere or get the bus part of the way if time and distance dictate. Sometimes I'll cadge a lift if someone is going my way anyway. For my bus ticket I pay about sixty quid a month and that gets me most places I ever need to go. Anything else dealt with ad-hoc, but rarely.

CONSEQUENTLY I pay neither:

MOT fees
Petrol/Diesel costs
Road Tax
Car Tax
Insurance
Upkeep of sodding car
RAC or similar

I don't have to really pay much attention when on the bus, I can read, listen to music, knit if I so bastard well please. I can have a little sleepy.


....now who's the mug?


/rant over, length and width not really a problem due to being ladytype.
( Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Mon 5 May 2008, 1:40, 22 replies)

Agree completly
It means I can have a nap to and from work. With bus lanes, it's faster too...
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Mon 5 May 2008, 1:48, closed)

I get this too,
occasionally accompanied with the prediction that "I will eventually", as if it's something everyone should aspire to.

Living in London, I really don't see the point in owning a car, rarely being more than a minute's walk from a bus stop or train station.
( benryves Now I'm radioactive! That can't be good!, Mon 5 May 2008, 1:49, closed)

Fuck yes,
this gets my click.

I don't drive either, and I'm 21. This is clearly a reflection on me as a person.

But the thought of paying so much money for a car, and for running it, I wonder why people bother. Public transport is fine.
( Thinker, Mon 5 May 2008, 1:58, closed)

for people
who live in the city where public transport access is ample, you wouldn't need a car.

For those who live a little way out from the city who need cars to get around because the public transport infrastructure is well below par, yes, reasonable question.

How does one without a car do the shopping though? Do you only buy what you need every day or something?
(brotagaia, Mon 5 May 2008, 2:05, closed)

brotagaia
I live in a town in an area which has it's more than rural parts- my bus ticket gets me within a three county area, pretty much.

Also: shopping. I live about 300 yards from tesco, and about half a mile from the market and the best butchers in the world.
( Captain Wow currently being a cunt in Infamous, Mon 5 May 2008, 2:08, closed)

I know exactly what you mean...
I'm 38 and I don't drive. I can, but I choose not to.

I cycle to work, or I take the metro/bus.
Supermrkets are within walking distance of home.
Longer journeys, I take the train - with free wifi(!) or time to snooze.
I'll hire a car every now and again, if I need to make a specific journey that's awkward by train.

What really stumps people is if you decline their offer of a lift. They imagine that taking the bus is like some form of obscene torture, but it's very useful 'me' time.
(french, Mon 5 May 2008, 2:16, closed)

While I agree that
you don't *have* to drive in order to be a normal person, it's very hard for some people to do normal things without their own transport. The town I used to live in is only 12 miles north of the centre of Bristol (and only 5miles from a regularly serviced suburb of said city) but the buses are only one an hour (if that) incredibly expensive and unreliable.
There's no train station (ta Dr Porter) and no bus link to Gloucester. If you don't have a car, you ain't going anywhere fast.
Also, the bus route's only available course goes within spitting distance of the M4M5 interchange and as such enjoys a twice daily jam.
Practicality for people with limited spare time = car.
If I lived in London, I wouldn't have to own a car.
(tweebianmonkey Should be known as Widget, Mon 5 May 2008, 2:18, closed)

@brotagaia
Thats exactly what I do. Two bags of shopping and a large backpack carries quite a lot as well, particularly if they're the nice big bag for life ones. It's a decent workout as well.
(Potty Jag har smör i min rumpspringa, Mon 5 May 2008, 2:21, closed)

i only ask
because although I don't live in a remote area, the area I live in is quite spaced out and I don't live within walking distance to a supermarket, nor do i have enough spare time to wait around for the "come once an hour if you're incredibly lucky" bus service, and the train doesn't stop anywhere near a supermarket either.

I would find it incredibly difficult without my car.
(brotagaia, Mon 5 May 2008, 2:41, closed)

truth!
i always get hassle going into clubs (i'm 25) on the rare occasions they ID me because i don't have a driving license or passport. i dojn't drive and haven't been abroad since i was a wee'un with my school on some temp passport group dealio. they're always like 'whyv don't you have these documents? you MUST have em! i usually ask if they have a fishing license. they're like 'no, i don't fish' yeah? well i don't drive or travel fuckwit! lemme in.
(UppityDamnPrimate LET'S OPEN THIS F*CKING PIT UP, Mon 5 May 2008, 5:30, closed)

YES!
thank you.
*click*
i love reading on a bus. can't do that whilst driving.
unless you like car crashes, i suppose.
(charlottebronte stalking through the moors, Mon 5 May 2008, 8:42, closed)

Absolutely!
Click!

I passed my test in 1991 and didn't drive for at least another 7 years simply because I didn't need to. The amount of times I got comments of disbelief just because I didn't feel the need to fit in with the majority. I own a car now because my job requires one but I still don't use it unless I have to.
(Taunting Lunatics Belming at you since, Mon 5 May 2008, 9:54, closed)

...
I wish I had your strength.

Very noble of you!
(oneltrchardonnay, Mon 5 May 2008, 10:43, closed)

You are.
I learnt to drive at 26, having refused to do so for the above reasons. That's what I kept telling myself at least, I now drive a convertible sports car like a twat and as a result come home every night with a massive grin that I never had when I had to use the bus or cycle. Then, I arrived late, sweaty and with aching arms from carrying shopping. I love my car. It's small and does reasonable MPG, I drive for fun, even if I lived 60 seconds walk from work, I'd walk, but I would still own a car.
(menashem, Mon 5 May 2008, 12:09, closed)

I drive
But I don't particularly enjoy it. However, I'm glad I learned when I did, and if I didn't I'd be fucked when it comes to getting to work - to do so on public transport would involve a three hour round trip and one change of transport.

However, when I spent four years working in the centre of Newcastle, it was great as I could walk to the railway station and get the train into town.

If I could get public transport to work now, that doesn't involve a 90 minute journey to travel 16 miles, I would. But for now, it's back to the car for me.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Mon 5 May 2008, 12:36, closed)

You must be some eco warrior.
Here, here. The look of disgust on their face when they ask you what you drive, and you indicate that you don't. They always think there must be a reason as well; heaven forbid you just aren't that interested in owning a car. Getting around sans car really isn't as difficult as car owners make out.

I do drive now (aged 25) but learning was the biggest chore of my life. Cooped up in the confines of a 1.2 new Mini with some pedantic dullard who would occasionally spout earnest bullshit like "in the right hands the car is a means of tranveying [sic] you from A to B; in the wrong hands it's a wild animal."

There’s a particularly patronising ad on the radio at the moment going on about not speeding/drink driving etc, because if you lose your license you’re just a kid again, which is pissing me off at the moment as well.
(Plymski, Mon 5 May 2008, 13:05, closed)

^^ In fairness
they're making the point that if you get done for DRINK driving, you're just a kid again as you will often lose your job as a result.
( Madam Marlboro wonders if you've found her yet, Mon 5 May 2008, 17:12, closed)

I know...
I didn't learn to drive until I was 27 - I lived in London, there was no need. In fact, I only took my test because my Dad died, and no-one else could take over his car payments. Having said that, I now live in rural bliss, and could not imagine being without my car...
My girlfriend doesn't drive - never wants to either - and she gets people reacting like she has just admitted to raping babies when she tells them!
( bentalls In my head, I am a ninja, Mon 5 May 2008, 17:58, closed)

YOU DON'T DRIVE?!

( mictoboy shitting in your cunt since, Mon 5 May 2008, 21:33, closed)

I don't drive
But thankfully one has one's own chauffeur to drive one around the public amenities.

Now, really must dash, have a polo match to attend. What what?
(pacman_40 Pocket Kleenex: for the wanker on the go, Mon 5 May 2008, 22:45, closed)

I've just got my first car
after waiting as long as humanely possible before learning to drive, mainly for environmental issues, but also because I've never needed to and I don't see the point in something that costs both me and the environment greatly when there is no need.

so I'm 22 now and about to start a new job in the middle of nowhere. it was either learn to drive to do the 30 mins drive every morning or grin and bear the 2 and a half hour public transport commute.

I chose to learn to drive
(Katzilla Follow Me! @Kat_Zilla (I don't promise funnehs), Wed 7 May 2008, 11:46, closed)

I didn't get a car til I had kids.
Up til then I always got the bus, so I can see your point.

Having said that, CARS FUCKING RULE!

I strongly advise getting one quick before they make them illegal/far too expensive/electric/autopiloted. Even if it's just for the experience.
( Smallbrainfield, Wed 7 May 2008, 13:40, closed)