People over 30 who don't drive

stoneill

stoneill wrote: »

In my experience -
Older people who don't drive:
Expect to be driven.
Expect you to work on their time schedule.
Don't share expenses.
Think it is no problem to be pick up/dropped off at any place at any time.
Do not calculate return journey time into their timescale.
Think that traffic does not exist.
Expect parking right outside where they want to be.

And if none of this happens for them then it is your fault!

Younger people are more grateful for the lifts.

(You can draw the dividing line between younger/older where ever you want)

Depends on whether they've "retired" from driving or have never driven.

The retired are very understanding.

torres9kop

A guy at work in his mid 30's dosent drive. Hes a bit of a tight arse. Never has money on him and always bumming lifts to work, football etc. Hes on good money but the way hes so tight wud suggest he would hate to fork out on car petrol insurance tax etc. Just dont get why people are so miserable when it comes to money

jackiebaron

torres9kop wrote: »

A guy at work in his mid 30's dosent drive. Hes a bit of a tight arse. Never has money on him and always bumming lifts to work, football etc. Hes on good money but the way hes so tight wud suggest he would hate to fork out on car petrol insurance tax etc. Just dont get why people are so miserable when it comes to money

Time for you to change that username, Chelsea-boy :pac:

torres9kop

jackiebaron wrote: »

Time for you to change that username, Chelsea-boy :pac:

I know, carragher still has that 50 million in his back pocket

Azureus

I dont see any problem with people who dont drive, but I do think its quite important to know how/have a licence. Its not that difficult or expensive and gives the the option of that freedom if your circumstances change.

Im 22, dont drive but know how and am in the process of getting my licence. I have no intention of getting a car, I live in Dublin; public transport does me just fine-it just wouldnt be economical for me to drive right now, but at least I'll be able to should this change in the future. I dont get why some people dont bother getting off their ass and learning at least.

Poor Craythur

I've decided to learn how to drive. Need to save up a bit first. But yes, I will start learning within the next few months.

Still don't think a car is a requirement, but can see people's point about it being a good skill to have.

Tonyandthewhale

I don't understand people over 30 who never learned how to sail. Sure you can get by relying on ferries and planes or even rowing but you never know when your circumstances might change and you might have to sail somewhere. I mean what if you have kids? Everyone should learn to sail as soon as you turn 17, even if you never own a yacht.

bullets

I'm 35 and cant drive and I am slightly ashamed of it.
I never had any interest and still dont.


I live close to work & town, I cycle to work and back and have zero interest in just taking a spin in a car to go for a drive to relax etc.

I understand fully all the reasons why I "should" or "Have" to drive, like "freedom" and all the other reasons people have already outlined but its never been enough to give me the urge to go out an learn.

I do feel the pressure to lean, and I get nagged to death from friends/family but for some unknown reason to even myself just cannot find the urge to actually get out there and do it, my only motivation at the moment is I cant get to my local gun range which is a 2hr drive in the middle of the county, other than that I would never even consider learning. I do from time to time feel a pang of guilt or shame from not learning but its bloody difficult to motivate myself.

I'm a terrible terrible back seat driver, if I am a passenger in a car I will notice everything that the driver might be doing wrong, I get road rage in a car from being a passenger and get annoyed with the way others are driving when I dont even know how to drive myself..

What really really annoys me is the amount of Bad drivers I see on the roads. People on their phones, people acting the ejjit in cars, eating using their knees to steer, shaving, putting or lipstick while driving, people driving dangerously, people constantly breaking the rules of the road as if it was a normal thing to do. I see lads in work in their 20's with their music blazing where they may go out in a group and use 2-3 cars to goto lunch as a group and they mess about by speeding up, slowing down, speeding up and Playing on the roads with each other which I dont find funny or amusing at all while
they seem to get a laugh out of it.

I hate it when people take driving a car as something trivial. The amount of people killed or injured on the roads, and even the amount of accidents like little tips/collisions
and people get too relaxed while driving in their car being
over confident assuming they are good drivers. People that constantly feel the need
to go as fast as they can, braking suddenly and abruptly, people that just HAVE to overtake everyone
and cant be happy at going the speed limit, and complaing they were only going a little over the limit when they get caught, people who go out of their way to warn everyone where speed traps are as if
they are doing people favours to avoid getting caught breaking the law.

If I did learn how to drive I would never want to be like
a lot of the drivers I see on Irish roads, am pretty sure its
something that would cause me stress rather than causing me to go off and relax for a nice country Sunday drive.

~B

niallb

I was nearly 30 when I owned my first car, though I knew how to drive.
I cycled everywhere when I was living in Dublin, and didn't have any kids,
so had no need of one.

Not such an easy option now, and there is NO useful public transport in the area I live in
that can be accessed without a car.

MarcusFenix

Driving >>>>>>>> public transport
=> you >>>>^10 them lads who don't drive

Big Nasty

I think the issue is those who 'don't need to drive' beacuse of where they are living / ease of public transport or whatever, then realising at age 30+ when they have a kid on the way that they need to get the finger out. Problem is it's a lot harder at this age than at 17.

seamus

Look, here's a number of things you can do with a car that you can't do with walking, a bike or public transport:

- Go to a supermarket and buy a load of stuff. On your own.
- Take a 20km journey door-to-door in 20 minutes.
- Visit more than one shopping centre on any particular day and still be home in time for lunch
- Buy a large item (TV, washing machine, etc) and bring it home on the spot.
- Make a long journey on your own timetable.

Plus more. I'm a stickler for independence. I hate busses. I hate having to rely on other people to determine when and how I arrive at places. This is why I cycle to work and why I usually end up being the one who drives when a group of people are going somewhere.
I honestly cannot fathom how people are happy to get busses everywhere. They seem to suck so much time out of your day, in addition to sucking your life and soul away. A typical journey on a bus is,

- Walk 10 minutes to bus stop
- Wait 10 minutes for bus
- Take 30 minute journey
- Walk 10 minutes to destination.
- Repeat for return trip.

The same trip by car is

- Drive 20 minutes to destination
- Drive 20 minutes home.

A car is by no means an essential for anyone - everyone can survive without a car, without exception, we adapt. But the time and hassle savings that a car brings, and most importantly the independence it gives, are entirely worth the cost of it. A car lets you do almost anything on the spur of the moment. You can't really do that without one.

I don't necessarily find it "odd" that someone over 30 doesn't drive, but I do find it "odd" in the extreme that anyone could possibly prefer using public transport over having their own vehicle.

smokedeels

I live in Dublin, the bus and rail services do me fine, I can grab some sleep in the morning, read a book and listen to music. The local shop is a 10 minute walk from my house and the city centre is 35 minutes on a bus.

I've no interest in driving, it doesn't appeal to me in the slightest and I don't have a need for a car.

I'm 25, but I imagine I'll be using public transport in 5 years time.

Big Nasty

smokedeels wrote: »

I live in Dublin, the bus and rail services do me fine, I can grab some sleep in the morning, read a book and listen to music. The local shop is a 10 minute walk from my house and the city centre is 35 minutes on a bus.

I've no interest in driving, it doesn't appeal to me in the slightest and I don't have a need for a car.

I'm 25, but I imagine I'll be using public transport in 5 years time.

Well say you have kids in 5 years time and you need to be able drive then - do you think it would be easier to learn now or then?

veryangryman

torres9kop wrote: »

A guy at work in his mid 30's dosent drive. Hes a bit of a tight arse. Never has money on him and always bumming lifts to work, football etc. Hes on good money but the way hes so tight wud suggest he would hate to fork out on car petrol insurance tax etc. Just dont get why people are so miserable when it comes to money

Stingy thread is THAT WAY

---

>>

smokedeels

MCMLXXV wrote: »

Well say you have kids in 5 years time and you need to be able drive then - do you think it would be easier to learn now or then?

I've no interest in having children.

edit: I understand situations change, but my point would be that public transport suits my lifestyle, if my lifestyle changed (i.e kids) then sure, I'll concede that my attitude to driving could conceivably be altered.

but my point remains, that for a large number of people personal transport is not a necessity.

veryangryman

seamus wrote: »

- Go to a supermarket and buy a load of stuff. On your own.

+1

You actually save money by being able to do a big shop in one go which (slightly) offsets the costs of owning a vehicle. Never used to spend over €30-40 on groceries before i got a car. Now theres practically no limit. Can fill the boot (and by extension, the fridge/freezer) in one go.

Also easier to shop around. Added to the time saving and not having to sit beside people you dont know makes it a good choice.

Alas the government know this carrot on stick appeals to the public and slap so much tax on using it knowing that nobody will give up their car. Very few go from car to no car at their own choice barring major financial issues

seamus

I also forgot to mention that I hate few things more than having to ask someone for a lift. I could never see myself going to a wedding (for example), getting a train to the station and then bumming lifts off people to churches/hotels etc all weekend.
There's a reason it's calling "bumming" lifts

smokedeels wrote: »

I live in Dublin, the bus and rail services do me fine, I can grab some sleep in the morning, read a book and listen to music. The local shop is a 10 minute walk from my house and the city centre is 35 minutes on a bus.

Just as a matter of interest, what do you do for those times that you need to get something which is too bulky to carry?
What about when you need to go to the arse-end of nowhere for a party/wedding/funeral/etc?

niallers1

Yawns wrote: »

It could be down to this OP.


They don't want to?

I mean who cares if that guy is 33 and doesn't drive. Maybe he failed his theory test(s) and doesn't want to admit it as he'd be the butt of jokes down the pub, maybe he thinks the public transport is better and cheaper than a car. He'll be more right about this if FG get in and higher the vat and everything else...

Jesus didn't drive and he turned out ok, ah well , sort of..


Learning to drive is like learning to read or write these days. It's a necessary skill to have.

MonicaBing

Im 35 and tried to learn to drive 10 years ago, made mistake of having bastard ex teach me to drive. This consisted of him haraunging me and yelling and dramatically pushing the invisible break so as a result im left traumatised! Would love to learn to drive tho..so basically i just have to man up!:o

AnonoBoy

niallers1 wrote: »

Learning to drive is like learning to read or write these days. It's a necessary skill to have.

Well that's an overstatement.

I don't drive and yet here I am, gainfully employed and doing quite well for myself.

Not driving hasn't held me back in life one bit.

smokedeels

seamus wrote: »

Just as a matter of interest, what do you do for those times that you need to get something which is too bulky to carry?

Like what? I've carried items like guitars, amps and a large cage for a chipmunk on public transport with no problems.

seamus wrote: »

What about when you need to go to the arse-end of nowhere for a party/wedding/funeral/etc?

National train/bus, then local bus service, admittedly the service gets poor for the more remote areas, but it's doable.

If it's a large event, like a wedding, then a mini bus is usually arranged anyway.

Tonyandthewhale

niallers1 wrote: »

Learning to drive is like learning to read or write these days. It's a necessary skill to have.

Learning to drive is indeed a necessity in today's world, if you're a bus driver or a taxi driver or you race cars for a living.
Otherwise it's by no means a necessity (although it might be considered advantageous depending on your personal priorities and preferences).
Even in Ireland you can get by largely relying on public transport and walking (especially if you live in a town or city).
Better yet a bike will afford you all the independence of a car along with ancillary benefits such as improved health/cashflow (I concede that neither of thse options are for everyone but neither is driving).

A cargo bike (or even a normal bike equipped with child seat plus rack and pannier set) will allow you to ferry you kids around and do the groceries. My touring bike has a grocery capacity of 80l-100l whereas my cargo bike can carry well over 200l, which is comparable to the boot space in a small car.
As for getting to an out-of-the way wedding, most places in Ireland are less than a days bike ride away from anywhere else in Ireland and it's certainly possible to put a bike on a bus or train if you're feeling lazy.

seamus

seamus wrote: »

Look, here's a number of things you can do with a car that you can't do with walking, a bike or public transport:

- Go to a supermarket and buy a load of stuff. On your own.
- Take a 20km journey door-to-door in 20 minutes.
- Visit more than one shopping centre on any particular day and still be home in time for lunch
- Buy a large item (TV, washing machine, etc) and bring it home on the spot.
- Make a long journey on your own timetable.

Plus more. I'm a stickler for independence. I hate busses. I hate having to rely on other people to determine when and how I arrive at places. This is why I cycle to work and why I usually end up being the one who drives when a group of people are going somewhere.
I honestly cannot fathom how people are happy to get busses everywhere. They seem to suck so much time out of your day, in addition to sucking your life and soul away. A typical journey on a bus is,

- Walk 10 minutes to bus stop
- Wait 10 minutes for bus
- Take 30 minute journey
- Walk 10 minutes to destination.
- Repeat for return trip.

The same trip by car is

- Drive 20 minutes to destination
- Drive 20 minutes home.

A car is by no means an essential for anyone - everyone can survive without a car, without exception, we adapt. But the time and hassle savings that a car brings, and most importantly the independence it gives, are entirely worth the cost of it. A car lets you do almost anything on the spur of the moment. You can't really do that without one.

I don't necessarily find it "odd" that someone over 30 doesn't drive, but I do find it "odd" in the extreme that anyone could possibly prefer using public transport over having their own vehicle.

If it's an occasional journey, use a taxi! For the once or twice a year drive into the country, just hire one, it will be far cheaper and less stressful than owning and running a car.

Forest Master

Tonyandthewhale wrote: »

A cargo bike (or even a normal bike equipped with child seat plus rack and pannier set) will allow you to ferry you kids around and do the groceries. My touring bike has a grocery capacity of 80l-100l whereas my cargo bike can carry well over 200l, which is comparable to the boot space in a small car.
As for getting to an out-of-the way wedding, most places in Ireland are less than a days bike ride away from anywhere else in Ireland and it's certainly possible to put a bike on a bus or train if you're feeling lazy.

Seems like you're trying to convince yourself you don't need to drive rather than us!.

Two scenarios that point out flaws on your system (referencing your bolded parts above):
1) You have a newborn baby and need to get lots of groceries - normal everyday responsibilities of a parent. Talk me through it. Where is the baby while you're putting stuff in your trolley? A newborn is too small for the baby trolleys, BTW. Are you wheeling a buggy & a trolley? Or would you put the baby in a car seat, and put the seat in a cargo bike? What if it's -2 degrees outside? You'd feel safe driving on dark wet icy roads with a newborn baby stuck to your bike? It's not practical, no matter how much you try to convince yourself "you'll be grand with just a cargo bike to ferry them around". So many variables! And add a toddler into that mix too, and you're far from equipped to perform your duties as a parent if you cant even take the 2 kids to the shop! Yeah - a cargo bike with 2 babies, 2 baby seats, a buggy, groceries, changing bags... all in bad weather. Definitely no hassle, eh?

2) Let's say you live in Dublin, and need to be at a wedding in the arse end of Kerry at noon. You're saying cycling is no hassle? Took this guy 2 days. Takes 5hrs to drive - no hassle, no sweat, and without being a sucker. It's a bit sad that you're trying to hard to convince yourself that everything is just as easy on a bike! I like cycling - I cycle all the time - but at my own leisure, and in nice weather - so it's enjoyable. I don't cycle out of necessity.

Glowing

Deleted User wrote: »

If it's an occasional journey, use a taxi! For the once or twice a year drive into the country, just hire one, it will be far cheaper and less stressful than owning and running a car.

My car is a source of enjoyment for me, and looking after it is a hobby - I love driving, and I love the freedom it gives me, - nothing stressful about owning it tbh!

Edit: I also love cycling but don't try tell me it can replace my car! my free time is precious and I don't want to waste it cycling down the n11 in winter!

seamus

Deleted User wrote: »

If it's an occasional journey, use a taxi! For the once or twice a year drive into the country, just hire one, it will be far cheaper and less stressful than owning and running a car.

But it's even simple things. The local shops are a short walk for me; 10 minutes there, 10 minutes back, at an easy pace.
But very often I'll be in the middle of making dinner and realise I need something. In the car, there and back in less than five minutes.

It would be far more expensive for me to get a taxi every time I wanted to take a trip that wasn't into the city centre than to run my own car

Cantona's Collars

Had neighbours that didn't drive,the place was like a taxi rank.Even the shortest journey costs €6 and they used up to 5 cabs a day.They also used one of their friends as a free taxi.They don't talk anymore after one too many requests to be driven around.That just smacks of laziness.
I was lazy about learning when I was younger but work meant I had to learn and quickly,got to the stage with work situations that I can drive just about anything,once the initial nervousness etc. is gone there's no stopping you,I'd never depend on public transport again as you're at the mercy of their timetables and the lack of freedom would be a killer.

Like it or not,the car is pretty much an essential part of life these days and even if you don't own one at least know how to drive just in case a situation arises that you absolutely have to drive a vehicle.

ilovefridays

my ex who was 28 didnt drive, he had no interest in learning. he didnt see the point and the hassle of getting a car and paying insurance, tax, petrol and all that goes with it, when there is public transport, where you can just, get on and pay, they bring you where you wanna go and you get off, end off.

but funny how he'd always ask me for lifts to his mothers house (cos it was raining), drop him off at work in the mornings (cos it was too cold to walk from the bus to work) which was a little out of my way, or drop him to the pub , or he'd 'miss' the bus alot so he'd come back to the house saying he'd missed it and would i drop him to whever it was he was going

In the end i told him to 'get the boat'

MazG

seamus wrote: »

- Go to a supermarket and buy a load of stuff. On your own.

This ^ was the biggest reason I missed having a car when I was living in Sydney. I hired a car a few times to make trips etc, and the public transport was pretty good. But boy, did I hate lugging my shopping from coles!

CiaranC

seamus wrote: »

I don't necessarily find it "odd" that someone over 30 doesn't drive, but I do find it "odd" in the extreme that anyone could possibly prefer using public transport over having their own vehicle.

Really?

Im 32 and prefer public transport to using a car.

Its far, far cheaper.
I dont have to pay to park in the city.
I dont have to worry about tax, licences, insurance, NCT, maintenance, penalty points, ****ing VLC certs and endless, endless time consuming bureaucracy.
I can go for a Jar after work or whenever I like. I like drinking beer.
Noone ropes me into driving them around the place or doing "favours" for them.
Walking into the city for a night out or into work provides at least a bit of exercise..
I dont have to worry about it being stolen or damaged.

I have a car and its sitting outside, dunno if it even starts.

Ive lived in cities and small towns all over the world and have kind of got used to not having a car. Im as addicted to not driving now as I was to driving back when I did use the car.

Greyfox

I'm 30 and have never had any interest is learning how to drive, I see owning a car as a riddiculous waste of money. I live close to the city centre and can't understand why so many city people are happy to get ripped off for insurance, tax, petrol, parking and don't have a problem sitting in bad traffic.

It's different if you live in the country but in Dublin I can get everywhere important to me without any hassel and in a reasonable time, I have never felt the "need" for a car. In any case if I did feel the need I know plenty of people I could get a lift off and sure even if I had to get the odd taxi it's still quite cheap compared to the cost of owning a car

Gordon

CiaranC wrote: »

Really?

Im 32 and prefer public transport to using a car.

Its far, far cheaper.
I dont have to pay to park in the city.
I dont have to worry about tax, licences, insurance, NCT, maintenance, penalty points, ****ing VLC certs and endless, endless time consuming bureaucracy.
I can go for a Jar after work or whenever I like. I like drinking beer.
Noone ropes me into driving them around the place or doing "favours" for them.
Walking into the city for a night out or into work provides at least a bit of exercise..
I dont have to worry about it being stolen or damaged.

I have a car and its sitting outside, dunno if it even starts.

Ive lived in cities and small towns all over the world and have kind of got used to not having a car. Im as addicted to not driving now as I was to driving back when I did use the car.

This. Apart from the car outside.

I could count the number of times I've really needed a car on one hand, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. I've moved flats in Dublin and Athens via public transport, carrying TV/Computer/dishes (took quite a few trips though!) Plus, the amount of money I've saved over the years will be a fair penny.

It's something I'll consider if I have a family in the future, but as a free bachelor, I love not having a car break down on me, cost a hefty tax bill/insurance bill, repair work bill, parking hassles, road rage, etc etc

Strange that there are people out there angry with people not wanting to drive, although if it's solely down to the lazy lift bummers then I'd be annoyed at that too. It's my lifestyle choice not to drive, I don't expect, or ask someone else to drive me anywhere.

Tonyandthewhale

Forest Master wrote: »

Seems like you're trying to convince yourself you don't need to drive rather than us!.

Two scenarios that point out flaws on your system (referencing your bolded parts above):
1) You have a newborn baby and need to get lots of groceries - normal everyday responsibilities of a parent. Talk me through it. Where is the baby while you're putting stuff in your trolley? A newborn is too small for the baby trolleys, BTW. Are you wheeling a buggy & a trolley? Or would you put the baby in a car seat, and put the seat in a cargo bike? What if it's -2 degrees outside? You'd feel safe driving on dark wet icy roads with a newborn baby stuck to your bike? It's not practical, no matter how much you try to convince yourself "you'll be grand with just a cargo bike to ferry them around". So many variables! And add a toddler into that mix too, and you're far from equipped to perform your duties as a parent if you cant even take the 2 kids to the shop! Yeah - a cargo bike with 2 babies, 2 baby seats, a buggy, groceries, changing bags... all in bad weather. Definitely no hassle, eh?

2) Let's say you live in Dublin, and need to be at a wedding in the arse end of Kerry at noon. You're saying cycling is no hassle? Took this guy 2 days. Takes 5hrs to drive - no hassle, no sweat, and without being a sucker. It's a bit sad that you're trying to hard to convince yourself that everything is just as easy on a bike! I like cycling - I cycle all the time - but at my own leisure, and in nice weather - so it's enjoyable. I don't cycle out of necessity.

You can get a sling to carry a baby, you see them all the time. You can also get fold up buggies that you can carry in a cargo bike. Or wouldn't a simple car seat fit into a trolley.
It's also very rarely minus 2 in this country but a cargo bike can include an enclosed cover that will keep small children out of the elements. Also, ice is dangerous in a car too, just harder to get studded snow tyres for a car although I think I'd prefer to take the bus if it was really icy and I was carrying kids, just as I wouldn't like to drive a car (because it's dangerous with them too). So yeah, no problem, I've carried two adults on the back of my cargo bike as well as a but-load of stuff, two kids couldn't be that much hassle with a bit of planning (and planning does tend to go hand in hand with having kids).

As for getting to a wedding in Kerry, I don't actually know anyone in Kerry so I can't imagine having to go there for a wedding but I do have the option of putting my bike on a train or bus and riding from the station which for someone who doesn't like driving or even being in cars is much more "no hassle, no fuss". Having said that, the most direct route from Dublin to Castleisland is 276km which is a manageable day's ride in my book.
Your argument here seems to be that it's more arduous to cycle to drive, but not if you love long cycles and hate long drives. It's all a matter of priorities and you can't seem to fathom that some people's are different to your own. I'm not trying to convince you to give up your car or even that your life would be better without a car, I'm just saying that a car is not an absolute necessity so there's no need to call me a sucker or "a bit sad".

Gordon

seamus wrote: »

- Go to a supermarket and buy a load of stuff. On your own.
- Take a 20km journey door-to-door in 20 minutes.
- Visit more than one shopping centre on any particular day and still be home in time for lunch
- Buy a large item (TV, washing machine, etc) and bring it home on the spot.
- Make a long journey on your own timetable.

- I do it every week.
- I don't make 20km journeys.
- I don't have the need to visit more than one shopping centre, even one is too many.
- I bought my 27 inch iMac and took it home on the train, carrying 10 minutes at both ends of the journey. I got my sofa delivered.
- I plan my journey and fit my schedule around the transport timetable, just like you would if you were flying somewhere.

Compton

bus wan.kersss :L

Metallitroll

shblob wrote: »

wusss ban.kers :L

do you see, what i did there

maninasia

CreepingDeath wrote: »

I've no problem with women who refuse to drive, it's for the greater good and all.

Men who refuse to drive, and are over 30 are strange.
I know a few indirectly.

I reckon they're either
a) lacking in basic hand-eye coordination
b) worried they will get too angry with road rage
c) afraid of doing it wrong and causing an accident

Haven't bothered reading through but I can give you a few reasons

a) Epilepsy
b) Bad hand-eye co-ordination due to Aspergers type syndrome
c) Banned from driving
d) Nervous disposition/phobia

I'm sure there are more common reasons too such as expense, no interest in driving etc...

vampire of kilmainham

i have a driving licence and have had cars in the past i dont bother now though as im in dublin most of the time and use public transport which is not that bad i also have a commercial helicopter pilotes licence but dont own a chopper well their a bit expensive anyway...:eek::eek::eek::D:D:D

seanybiker

Some people drive and others don't. Second I was old enough to get a license I did. My brother is 34 and never drove in his life and he is getting on grand. He goes all over the country with no problems at all.

evercloserunion

When you have to make yourself feel superior because you drive a car you've really run out of other options haven't you?

If you live in a city I find it hard to see how learning to drive would be worth it. Granted there are times when it would be more convenient to drive yourself but unless you live in the back arse of nowhere it's hard to justify pumping thousands into buying a car and insurance. It's time and money I don't have. Down the country, of course, it's a different story.

CiaranC

Gordon wrote: »

- I don't have the need to visit more than one shopping centre, even one is too many.

What 30 year bloke does this, honestly? When I shop, i buy small amounts of really fresh produce daily from the butchers/bakers/grocers etc, prepare and eat it. Maybe if I turn into a fifty year old aul one Ill feel a sudden urge to start doing a "weekly shop" in a Nissan Micra

seamus

CiaranC wrote: »

Really?

Im 32 and prefer public transport to using a car.

I find it "odd" because I can't fathom handing over that level of control to someone else.

But then I'm a control freak

I dont have to pay to park in the city.

I rarely park in the city myself and I honestly don't mind paying for parking. The return bus journey would cost nearly €5 anyway, so I consider €6 or €7 in parking to be worth the price of choosing my own timetable

I dont have to worry about tax, licences, insurance, NCT, maintenance, penalty points, ****ing VLC certs and endless, endless time consuming bureaucracy.

It's actually not all that much hassle tbh. Most things can be done online. I haven't had to set foot in a tax office and deal with the bureaucrats in years.
But your point is valid.

Walking into the city for a night out or into work provides at least a bit of exercise..

For me, walking into the city takes 2.5 hours. So it's just not feasible

I dont have to worry about it being stolen or damaged.

That's what insurance is for. Tbh I actually don't worry about these things at all. It's only a hunk of metal.

Gordon wrote: »

TStrange that there are people out there angry with people not wanting to drive, although if it's solely down to the lazy lift bummers then I'd be annoyed at that too. It's my lifestyle choice not to drive, I don't expect, or ask someone else to drive me anywhere.

CiaranC wrote: »

What 30 year bloke does this, honestly? When I shop, i buy small amounts of really fresh produce daily from the butchers/bakers/grocers etc, prepare and eat it. Maybe if I turn into a fifty year old aul one Ill feel a sudden urge to start doing a "weekly shop" in a Nissan Micra

I'm 28 and I bring a car load of stuff home every week for me and my wife. Buying stuff on a daily basis means you have to go to the shop on a daily basis

I do understand that for plenty people car is not a big deal. If I lived close enough to a city/town centre, wasn't married, my family either lived in another country or 10 minutes down the road and I generally had no reason to do a lot of travelling, then my car would probably get little or no use.

As it stands, I'm 4km from the nearest town (and 10km from Dublin City), I have family spread all over the province, a home to maintain with "stuff" a dog who likes to be brought places for walks and a bus service which comes once every 45 minutes (once every 90 minutes on Sundays).
I could survive without a car but I would see my family & friends a lot less and I'd spend half of my life travelling around on & waiting for vehicles driven by somebody else.

I imagine most people are the same and have convinced themselves that they can't survive without a car hence why people who don't drive are seen as "odd". The number of people living in a city centre with no regular need to make long journeys would be quite low indeed.

CiaranC

Fair enough, as many have said if you live in the sticks you need to drive. Ive no interest in living anywhere other than the middle of Dublin myself, as far as Im concerned Ireland turns into some weird quasi-third world country as soon as you get 10kms out from the GPO.

All my transport costs come to a whopping €46.23 a month. Thats about half a single tank of petrol for most people. I can see the LUAS stop from my apartment and my phone tells me when the next one is due. There really is no loss of "control" using public transport in Dublin City.

Taxis are abundant and even if you use them a couple of times a week you are still saving money on owning a car.

The number of people living in a city centre with no regular need to make long journeys would be quite low indeed.

Theres about half a million people living in the city centre, no?

dolphin city

Forest Master wrote: »

Yes; I'm assuming everyone hates waitign in the rain, cold, damp, & wind and being stuck on a clammy train or bus standing in a cramped environment. Stupid assumption?

yes, it is terrible - especially when the bus gets so packed that you have to sit on the roof with all the luggage. :rolleyes: get a grip

dolphin city

spottyelephant wrote: »

People who don't drive, have their own reasons and that's fine.

People who can't drive (and can afford to have learned), lack ambition or drive, if you'll pardon the pun.

can we this this post the award for most nonsensical post of the thread.

dolphin city

spottyelephant wrote: »

Anything that has stopped progressing, that reaches the proverbial glass roof; anything that doesn't excite or have exciting moments to move towards; anything that does not provide new experiences or skills to the person; anything that plods along day-in-day-out; anything devoid of any ambition and the person is 'just content'.

I believe that not being able to drive severely restricts people's movement and capabilities in life and in most cases would indirectly lead to a life of the above.

Based on your persistance here, I feel like you feel like I'm saying you have no ambition or drive. I would like to clarify that I really am not, I would also like to clarify that I'm not being drawn back into this now, again!:P

I hope it keeps fine for you. :rolleyes:

seamus

CiaranC wrote: »

I can see the LUAS stop from my apartment and my phone tells me when the next one is due. There really is no loss of "control" using public transport in Dublin City.

Because you can see the LUAS, which is the only remotely reliable piece of public transport in the country.
Each to their own though. Like I say, even if I lived right beside a LUAS station, I would likely still have a car to get me to the places where LUAS doesn't reach. I consider the €1,500/year that a car costs to run to be worth the time saving when I drive directly to my destination, on my terms.

Taxis are abundant and even if you use them a couple of times a week you are still saving money on owning a car.

Again, distance-dependent. If I was to get a taxi 3 times a week, that would be €60 a week. That's how much I spend on petrol in a month

Theres about half a million people living in the city centre, no?

Indeed, but how many of them have no need to travel outside of the city centre on a regular basis? Granted plenty of them would have would be from inner-city areas and would have no need for a car, and likewise there would be plenty of foreigners with no need for a car. But there are also a lot of Irish city dwellers from outside of Dublin or from the outer reaches of Dublin who need to be able to leave the city zone on a regular basis, on their own timetable.

dolphin city

seamus wrote: »

Because you can see the LUAS, which is the only remotely reliable piece of public transport in the country.
Each to their own though. Like I say, even if I lived right beside a LUAS station, I would likely still have a car to get me to the places where LUAS doesn't reach. I consider the €1,500/year that a car costs to run to be worth the time saving when I drive directly to my destination, on my terms.
Again, distance-dependent. If I was to get a taxi 3 times a week, that would be €60 a week. That's how much I spend on petrol in a month
Indeed, but how many of them have no need to travel outside of the city centre on a regular basis? Granted plenty of them would have would be from inner-city areas and would have no need for a car, and likewise there would be plenty of foreigners with no need for a car. But there are also a lot of Irish city dwellers from outside of Dublin or from the outer reaches of Dublin who need to be able to leave the city zone on a regular basis, on their own timetable.

ah but that's where you are wrong - you are not really driving on your terms are you.

CiaranC

seamus wrote: »

Because you can see the LUAS, which is the only remotely reliable piece of public transport in the country.

Yeah, thats why I live on the line. Like any city, you evaluate where the best transport links to and from employment and entertainment zones are and live there. in Dublin thats on the Dart or Luas lines, both of which are cheap and quick and service huge parts of the city.

Again, distance-dependent. If I was to get a taxi 3 times a week, that would be €60 a week. That's how much I spend on petrol in a month
Indeed, but how many of them have no need to travel outside of the city centre on a regular basis? Granted plenty of them would have would be from inner-city areas and would have no need for a car, and likewise there would be plenty of foreigners with no need for a car. But there are also a lot of Irish city dwellers from outside of Dublin or from the outer reaches of Dublin who need to be able to leave the city zone on a regular basis, on their own timetable.

Not everyone lives your suburban lifestyle, though it does seem to be hugely common here. I suspect some of this is a hangover from the celtic tiger era when people bought gaffs everywhere and anywhere. Though Im sure it appeals to some, I cant imagine living 4kms from the nearest town at this point of my life.

There are hundreds of thousands of us who didnt buy into that and are more mobile urbanites who rent where it makes sense for us to live and move when required. If Im too lazy to walk, a bus into the city for me takes about 3-5 minutes depending on traffic. A taxi runs about 7 quid. If I need to travel out to Tallaght for the football or see my family, I hop on the LUAS. I can have a couple of pints and meander back at my leisure.

Having grown up in the suburbs and having lived in various cities around the world I know which I prefer. European style living is the way forward for me. Id love to be able to leave the car outside fully taxed, insured and NCT'ed to use once in a blue moon, but its just a ripoff here to do that.