Will you miss the car?

Azura Skye · Post by **Azura Skye** » 22 Aug 2008, 14:53

I'm 24 and I don't drive... well, I know how to - I've just never taken my driving test... I'm starting to wonder, will I ever need to?

emordnilap · Post by **emordnilap** » 22 Aug 2008, 15:14

Azura Skye wrote:I'm 24 and I don't drive... well, I know how to - I've just never taken my driving test... I'm starting to wonder, will I ever need to?

Welcome AS.

Yes. Take and pass the test. Get the licence. In fact, the more types of vehicle you can drive, the more prepared you will be. You don't have to own a vehicle, just how to work 'em.

fifthcolumn · Post by **fifthcolumn** » 14 Jan 2009, 05:43

I won't miss my car because I upgraded.
I just bought a big SUV that gets 14 miles to the gallon.
I expect that in less than two years time I will buy an electric commuter.
In the meantime I'm having plenty of fun, knowing that if the doomers are right, my immediate surroundings will boom back on the gravy train and if they're wrong, well that won't upset me either.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » 14 Jan 2009, 09:47

I have a driving licence, but don't have a car. For me, the private car is one of the worst aspects of modernity; it dominates and distorts much of modern life. Many people have become absurdly reliant on it.

I imagine that were the oil price to keep rising under a Tory government, fuel taxes would be lowered indefinitely. But at some point deep recession and rising petrol prices would make it unaffordable for the vast majority of the public. I don't look forward to the recession (part 2), but I'll welcome a return to life on a more human scale.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 14 Jan 2009, 10:49

How does the tarmac know to transmogrify itself into something soft because your falling from a scooter rather than a bigger bike?

I can't imagine bare elbows, knees and sandals hold up to well to tarmac at 30mph.

I know gloved (proper ones) hands dont stand up well against tarmac at 5mph.
I got about 20 mpl (90mpg?) on my 125cc scooter and I drove like a maniac.

Geographical Mobility leads to social mobility, if easy transport goes out the window, so does easy employment.

Ben · Post by **Ben** » 14 Jan 2009, 11:21

DominicJ wrote:Geographical Mobility leads to social mobility, if easy transport goes out the window, so does easy employment.

If geographical mobility slumped presumably we'd have to have more localised communities; many things provided close by that are currently provided some distance away. So, in theory, lots of new local job opportunities.

Post by **clv101** » 14 Jan 2009, 11:35

DominicJ wrote:Geographical Mobility leads to social mobility, if easy transport goes out the window, so does easy employment.

Not sure I agree with that, since WWII geographic mobility is increased dramatically, especially over the last 10 years but social mobility hasn't improved similarly. There is evidence that it has decreased over the last decade - just as car ownership has increased a lot.

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 14 Jan 2009, 11:53

If geographical mobility slumped presumably we'd have to have more localised communities; many things provided close by that are currently provided some distance away. So, in theory, lots of new local job opportunities.

In theory, but if this was 1809 not 2009 99.99% of us would have a choice of working in one of three local mills, 5 local farms, or joining the army/navy.

I can work anywhere within a 50sqm area I just worked out.

Not sure I agree with that, since WWII geographic mobility is increased dramatically, especially over the last 10 years but social mobility hasn't improved similarly.

I'd disagree.
50 years ago I'd work in the factory down the road from my house

There is evidence that it has decreased over the last decade - just as car ownership has increased a lot.

Hence my opinion of El Gordo

Ok, its not a hard and fast rule, but, the further I can travel, the more potential jobs I have to choose from, the more choice I have, the better job I can get.
If I had to work within 5 miles of my house, I'd be lucky to earn £14,000 a year.

Sand Dancer Nick · Post by **Sand Dancer Nick** » 14 Jan 2009, 19:34

I have to work from Bristol as does my wife, and we both use one car to get from Newport - job market our side is pretty grim. Public transport by us: don't ask. If we were to use the train we would have to get the bus first, then the fares on the always-late trains increased and theres never anywhere to sit. Then theres the journey the other end at Bristol to workplaces. So we have to rely on the car, at least while we have jobs.

OK, so in a way I will miss the freedom it provides, certain things I won't miss are idiot drivers who cut you up at roundabouts(I've been tempted to carry a "realistic-looking" toy gun to put the wind up these would-be boyracers but sod's law someone will call the police and CO19 SWAT officers will pull me over, drag me out of the car and I'd be arrested, so thats a silly idea, but worth a vent about), traffic jams, roadworks, the M5 every summer Friday being clogged up by BMWs towing caravans . . . and I have to drive a truck at work too so I get to see more idiocy on the roads!!!

And oh yes, OAPs who drive at 20mph . . . 'I've been driving at 20mph for THIRTY YEARS and will never go faster!!' . . .

. . . and you still haven't got anywhere mate!!

JohnB · Post by **JohnB** » 14 Jan 2009, 19:52

Sand Dancer Nick wrote:the M5 every summer Friday being clogged up by BMWs towing caravans . . . and I have to drive a truck at work too so I get to see more idiocy on the roads!!!

And oh yes, OAPs who drive at 20mph . . . 'I've been driving at 20mph for THIRTY YEARS and will never go faster!!' . . .

. . . and you still haven't got anywhere mate!!

Those BMW driving tuggers are a pain, as after they've clogged up the motorways, they clog up the caravan sites that I live on, and I can't always go where I want to. I drive almost everywhere at not much more than 40. I rarely get stuck in a queue, but cause loads of them

. Roads are for travellers, not impatient maniacs in a hurry

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 14 Jan 2009, 20:27

I narrate my drive to work and back.

Its shocking some of the words I find uses for.

eatyourveg · Post by **eatyourveg** » 14 Jan 2009, 20:39

Not if I take careful aim.

PS_RalphW · Post by **PS_RalphW** » 14 Jan 2009, 22:11

Collected my new car yesterday. Larger and more thirsty than the previous one, we might end up burning an extra barrel of oil each year!

Seven seats or loads of boot space. The wife loves it, now she can take an entire second family from the village on jaunts. A great boon to her social life. I haven't even sat in the driver's seat yet... she would definately miss it.

Post by **adam2** » 19 Jan 2009, 15:05

I would not miss the car that much since I dont drive.
I would however miss taxis, which are pretty much the same thing.

Unless the world ends though I doubt that taxis will vanish, but they will probably become a lot more expensive.
Electric or horse taxis are possible.
I would buy an electric tricycle now except that everyone would laugh at me!

DominicJ · Post by **DominicJ** » 19 Jan 2009, 15:13

I've heard lots of very bad things about electric scooters, mostly battery issues, and I suppose a trike could a lot more batteries.