Car vs Cab

Six months after an inattentive colleague of Postman Pat ploughed into my beloved convertible and wrote it off, I have been continuing my little experiment on assessing whether I need a car at all. No doubt my answer will be a surprise to many of you as, for me, it is a definite no.

Nothing new

Not having a car isn’t something that is especially new to me. I didn’t have one until after the birth of my second child and nor did I have one while my eldest took his engineering degree. The cost of running my car went to his accommodation fund instead.

The difference was that then I was fit and walked or cycled everywhere. I preferred moving about this way and often arrived more quickly, relaxed and refreshed through the exercise and fresh air.

Now, sadly, things are very different. On a good day, I can manage twenty or so minutes and am exhausted thereafter. On a bad day, I won’t make it out the house. Fortunately, the latter is rare and even with limited mobility, one needn’t feel cut off from the world.

Taxis and me

With only one exception, I’ve found taxis to be the perfect solution to my predicament. (I once rashly tried to book one during the school run – no chance!)

The drivers are always courteous and sometimes very kind. My app allows me to track their progress and I seldom wait more than five minutes for one to arrive. Not having to find a parking space near where I need to go nor dealing with rage fuelled drivers is a great relief. It’s rather like the luxury of having one’s own chauffeur.

The downside is the expense. At about £6 per ride, it is not cheap. But I have found a way to minimise expense without any undue suffering. Here’s how.

Fuel efficiency

There is nothing like a potential £12 day’s travel cost to focus the mind. So, just as I would try to use my oven efficiently when cooking, I use taxis in the same way. Next week, I have a blood test at my GPs near the town centre. While I’m in the vicinity, I shall get some banking done and my hair cut.

Yesterday, friend came to visit from London and my helpful driver did a U-turn at the station, allowed me to pick her up and continued on to our destination at the art gallery. Thanks Gary!

Mix and match

Of course, there is no need to use taxis all the time. With bus fares at a ridiculously low price (£2 in East Sussex) it makes sense to put this in the mix. Whilst I may use a taxi to get to an appointment on time, I might well use the bus for the return journey. Without a time constraint, buses really are rather good.

I also try to blend a walk with a taxi. My art teacher’s house is just within my capabilities and she will revive me with a delicious coffee when I get there. Since most other forms of exercise are beyond me, this gives my muscles and heart the workout they need.

Share

How often do you watch the traffic and see just one person sitting in the car? Most of the time.

Of course, it isn’t possible always to take others, but equally often, it is. Without doubt it can be a little more time consuming and the passenger needs to be punctual, but when it works, it reduces traffic and gives the driver company.

If you are not able to return the favour of driving, most folks are happy to be bought a coffee or, on a longer drive, to have you pay the petrol. Either way, you both get where you need at a reduced cost and with someone to talk to on the journey.

Many cities and towns (far more than I thought, since I found one locally in Seaford) have car sharing options. You go on an app, like Hiyacar, book it for a set period of time and return it when you’re done. It is a very economical service starting at about £5 per hour and a perfect solution for a big shop or trip to family. For anyone living in a city with prohibitive parking restrictions, or no need for a car full-time, it really is a great solution and one that I hope will catch on.

Ready for a challenge?

Though I would probably not suggest going without a car if there is only one in the family, I would certainly suggest trying this if you have two or only use yours occasionally.

Calculate the annual cost of running your car including repairs, Tax, MOT and insurance. To be completely accurate, you should also include depreciation. Divide it by 52. That gives you the weekly cost. Take that money out in cash and keep it separate from your wallet/purse. Every time you need to go somewhere, take the cash and use it to transport you. (Not needed if you are happy to cycle or walk.) Where possible, consider a car or taxi share or other public transport if convenient. At the end of the week (or even better month) calculate what, if anything, you have saved and balance this against any convenience lost. Only you can make that calculation.

For me, my weekly cost, without depreciation, was about £37. (At 20 years old, my car was not depreciating any further.) I never spend anything close to that and can’t say I’ve found being carless inconvenient.

It only takes a week to see if doing without a car is a realistic option. I’m well aware that most people think being without one is a kind of death. It’s not. If anything, it can be liberating not to have to worry about petrol, parking and car repairs.

With climate change literally raging out of control and the cost of living continuing to spiral, a little lateral thinking in regard to our transport needs will do us all good.