Any Non-Drivers ?
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Category: General Chat
Forum Name: General Chat
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URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=35622
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Topic: Any Non-Drivers ?
Posted By: yermasyada
Subject: Any Non-Drivers ?
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 9:44pm
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Hi all,
Just wondered if anyone is like us, whereby neither partner drives? Neither my hubby or myself can drive. It's not that we just don;t have a car, we've never learned how to 
The look on people's faces when we tell them is priceless LOL Anyhoo, just wondered if there are any other non-driving couples on the forum, who wanted to share tips on how best to get around NZ using public transport 
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Replies:
Posted By: julz85
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 10:05pm
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i personally dont drive , my partner does . but before he came around i was a solo mum with no car so i just bus and walk everywhere , even now i bus to my daughters preschool , drop her off , then walk to my work from her preschool ( all in the cbd ) , its ok at the moment because even tho shes walking she still sits in her pram , i can imagine it getting quite hard when she wants to miss independant and walk everywhere because i do walk resonably long distances . the biggest mission i found ( before my partner came along ) was doing grocerys with no car and a young baby , its near impossible without calling a taxi or relying on family or a friend . ------------- http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: kiwi2
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 10:43pm
| I think I just had the priceless look. lol. How do you do it? Sorry I aren't much help am I. |
Posted By: RedHeadDuck
Date Posted: 06 September 2010 at 11:26pm
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I think I just had the priceless look too, lol!
Thats a good point Julz, how do you do your grocerys?! |
Posted By: minik8e
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 12:09am
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One of the AN mums didn't drive either, nor did her husband. They bought a car after their DS was born because they moved out of the CBD and he needed it to get to to work....but they biked everywhere!!! And have a seat for their DS on the bike. They took backpacks for groceries etc.
I take my hat off to you...I could not be without my car!! |
Posted By: AmyMack
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 1:53am
Hi, I dont drive either but my husband does and I get around most of the time via busses and trains, I definately agree that trying to do groceries without a car is hard 
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 7:15am
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LOL I know it's really hard for some people to get their head's round. If you always had a car, it's almost impossible to imagine life without one.
Re groceries: I shop at the supermarket, green grocers, delis, farmers markets and fish market. When I bought my pram, I made sure it had a large basket underneath. MB, P&T and the like are useless for me. I can fit heaps under there, and I just walk (very easy as I live in Devonport) and catch the ferry/bus if need be. I shop about 3 x per week. We chose where we wanted to live, based on the necessity of walking everywhere, so Devonport is perfect. If we lived in the county, obviously we'd have to learn to drive. Not having the expense of a car is great, and walking's good for the soul
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Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 7:51am
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Hehe I don't drive, DH does, but we live in a small community so the car barely gets a run. Our butcher, farmers market and supermarket are all in easy walking distance, as is the video store, dance studio, chemist, massage therapist, library, doctor, baby store (new, yay!) haberdashery, bank etc etc. We shop fortnightly in the next community across to though.
Hopefully I'll be driving by Christmas -------------  http://lilypie.com"> |
Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 9:29am
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I don't drive but Dh does. I walk/train/bus everywhere. BUt we do live 10 mins from the mall.
I too have a pram with a BIG basket lol For groceries we bus/train to the supermarket do the shopping and DH picks us upon his way home. Millimoo you're right walking is so good for your soul and not enough people do it nowdays. Dd is starting to be able to walk longer distances and can make it to the train station ( 1.5 km away) In the next few months i'll be going for my licence but we'll still only have one car so not too much will change. Julz have you tried online shopping ? |
Posted By: phantom_1
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:10am
Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't drive  .
My other half does and with baby on the way I really should get my restricted (had my learners for 9 years now). I just have never felt in control of the car when learning so feel like I shouldn't be behind the wheel. We live in Dairy Flat so getting places with a pram will be difficult though I will get a front pack so peanut & I can walk to the bus stop & go shopping if we want. We can't afford 2 cars anyway so will manage the best we can. |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:33am
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Wow nice to know I'm not alone!!
I don't drive but DP does! Tbh (naughty, naughty) he is only one his learners but has been on it for a few years now just hasn't got round to sitting his restricted yet. Anyway we don't have a carseat for his car so I bus or walk everywhere! Groceries I do that with my mum as she gets hers at the same time and enjoys taking Lily too! I catch the train if I need to as sometimes, depending on where I am heading; it involves a bus and a train ride plus some walking! I have my P&T for really long days with lots of walking. I have a smaller stroller for buses/trains if I'm not doing too much. I do plan to get my license, it's just a matter of picking up the road code and reading it lmao! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: nicca
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:34am
| Both my partner and I drive so may not be much help but as far as the travel NZ without a car question - Naked Bus do really cheap ($1) fares. In the south Island there is also inter city and from Chc north they have the trains. There are also a few other local bus companies but probably not much help if you are in the North Island |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:43am
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Phantom, I felt like that for ages when trying to learn to drive. I never felt like I was cut out for driving and was really nervous whenever I tried.
It was only after 2 winters stuck at home with 2 children (I found it easy enough busing with just DD in wet weather etc) that I felt it was necessary to commit to learning to drive. With plenty of practice comes confidence. I've been driving for a year and a half now and while I don't think I'll ever be someone who enjoys driving, I do love the independence and sanity that being able to get myself places gives me. I can't really fathom the idea of neither of us driving. I think that it is so ingrained in us to have a car and drive everywhere (esp in Auckland!) that you just do it as a matter of course. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:47am
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Lil_Nic, you can learn the road code online!
I was hopeless with trying to sit and study the book but found it way easier to learn all the questions and answers online. I spent about 2 weeks doing them over and over again and passed with 100% 
Edited to add: http://www.nzta.govt.nz/resources/roadcode/ - Linky doodle ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: monikah
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:50am
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I drive but DH doesnt. he has a motobike though so gets to work and stuff no probs. means he cant do groceries or take the kids anywhere though. we are moving to sydney soon though and wont have a car at all so having a bit of a panic about how we will cope entirely on public transport ------------- 
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 10:53am
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Snap! How do you do it. I grew up in Akl and went for my drivers licence as soon as I turned 15 can't get around that city without it. Wellington seems better served by public transport as DH didn't get his till he was 25. Think I'd go crazy if I only had Feilding shops to play with. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">   [/url] Angel June 2012 |
MooCow wrote:Posted By: clover
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 11:05am
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Priceless here as well!!
Can't imagine not being able to jump in my car and go anywhere I want.... Although, I'm sure if I had never driven it would just be normal and Devonport is a perfect location for not having a car. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: HoneybunsMa
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 11:42am
I didn't drive till about three year ago so still pre DD. But I used to pick and choose where we lived based on transport etc. It was harder when working hospitality and finishing at 1am buses don't run that late. So I used to wait for DP to finish work and we would go home together.
Groceries I used to bus/walk to and then taxi home, couple of times we have walked home with them this is pre us having a car. I have been known also to have a craving for ice cream early hours of the morning when countdown was 24hrs and walked down there. DP has had a car for years so generally if we wanted to go somewhere we could, if I wanted to go somewhere then I had to plan caused many a fights between us as he'd get in and go and I'd sit at home twiddling my thumbs as our friends are all over the place and if I wanted to go see someone then it had to be a day trip and it would cost me twice as much as him. Like I said caused fights lol Now its the other way round I have the car, and his is out of action. He uses the spare car in my family to get to work though so I can have mine and don't have to go get him early hours. I used to walk everywhere and now I don't! So lazy compared should get out there more ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 12:00pm
LOL I actually think that the public transport in Auckland is great, when you look at how spread out the area is. There's no point trying to compare it to somewhere like London, as we just don't have the same population to justify the cost of such an extensive transport system. Don't get me wrong though, there are heaps of improvements that could be made. I'd love the trains to run to the North Shore for example. I've been in Auckland for nearly 4 years and have been all over on public transport. I think I've only been in a taxi about 6 times 
Flake... where do you live? I'm always keen to find other small communities which have plenty of local ammenities in walking distance. PM me if you'd prefer 
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 12:27pm
I agree, especially now that they've opened the Northern busway, it takes about 10-15 minutes to get to the city from our place on the Shore. Heaps easier and faster than driving sometimes! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 12:41pm
You'll be fine, the public transport there is great!! DH drives and we own a car but we only use it on weekends to get to places that would be hard to get to on public transport (ie not many in Singapore) and we're using it a bit more now that I'm getting close to the end of my pregnancy too. TBH it's more "normal" here not to have a car than to have one, so I don't feel any pressure or get funny looks from people which is nice! We chose our house based on it being close to transport links - trains for me and buses for DH and also close to a main road for taxis if we need them. I do a monthly shop for all the "big" stuff and get it delivered and then shop locally for fresh fruit, veg and fish. I take the pram or we have a "granny trolley" as well which is good for buying drinks from the local supermarket if we have a party
I've been home to NZ without DH a few times. With DS it was harder getting around in bad weather. I had forgotten how infrequently buses come in Wellington for example! And it's hard staying with family who live out in the burbs and drive everywhere when all you want to do is walk! When we move home I would like to live close to a bus route and shops, library etc so that I don't need a car during the week for routine stuff. I do plan on learning to drive when we come home but I can't imagine just driving everywhere because I've never done it! ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 12:57pm
Cool.... whereabouts on the Shore are you? I tend not to head north very often, but we're looking to buy a house, and Devonport is still sooooo expensive :s So keen to check out other areas. |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 1:27pm
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Also a lot of planning, so I look up times and things online so I don't get to the bus stop and realise I missed it by 5 mins have to wait an hour iygwim!
I must admit Wellington has pretty good public transport despite the frequent news of trains being down and what not! Taxi's, while they're an expensive way to travel, if you organise in advance they can come with a carseat for your baby/toddler/child. If you want to travel around NZ I would probably recommend the train tbh. You could bus but imo it wouldn't be as comfortable? Plus would take longer. I definitely would love the freedom that comes with driving but it's such a huge responsibility and you have to be on to it all the time. Buses in Welly are usually about every 30mins unless it's the weekend where it's about every hour. Some places are less frequent. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 2:30pm
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Oh yes, totally agree... you've got to be organised and plan ahead when possible
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Posted By: kellie
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 3:24pm
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I never learnt to drive either. I am glad to see Im not the only one. ------------- 
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Posted By: TheKelly
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 3:43pm
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I only started driving about 2 years ago, so for 25 years I walked or bussed every year .
Now all I can say is thank Fark I have a car, I love being able to just drive every where, I used to walk half and hour to work and back and while it gave me plenty of time to think , Im able to think plenty while driving too. I couldn't handle not having a car ------------- 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 3:55pm
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We're in Sunnynook.
It is a pretty middle of the road sort of suburb, lots of young families and older people, we really like it here. It was so good when I couldn't drive as we're just around the corner from the local shopping centre, so had the supermarket, Dr, dentist, pharmacy etc all within walking distance. ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: caliandjack
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 4:32pm
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How did you get your baby home without a car?
Havn't lived in Akl for a while guess public transport has improved. It was ok for getting into the city, getting across town took ages. I once had to catch the bus from where I lived in Balmoral to Henderson it took over 2 hours by the time I got into the city and out again. By car its a 20 minute trip. Now that we're moving to Hobsonville I wouldn't be without my car, my friends and family are too spread out it would take all day to get anywhere. I amazed how many of you live in Akl and don't drive. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow"> [/url] Angel June 2012 |
Posted By: RedHeadDuck
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 4:52pm
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I have to admit now I have the pram I'm learning to walk more I even went up town when it was wet the other day! a huge achievement for me. But there is NO way I'll be giving up my car though, lol. My parents live 45min drive away, IL's 20min drive away, so I still drive a lot.
I walk more now than before baby cos i don't have to carry stuff. If I only need a few things from the supermarket, I'll walk now, whereas I used to drive for a bottle of milk It's easier being able to put things in the pram.
Although I have a P&T, tempted to get the bags that can go on the sides so I can fit more. My nappy bag takes up most of the basket!! |
Posted By: yermasyada
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 5:01pm
Home birth 
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Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 7:11pm
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I have a nappy bag that attaches to the handles of My P&T because it used to take up all the space in the basket!
If I want to catch the train anywhere I have to either bus into town or catch the bus for a 5 min ride to the next suburb and then train to town and get on another train to go to the Hutt or Porirua way. But I can catch a bus from the next suburb to Porirua but not the Hutt. Tbh that's all I wish they would improve because it is a tad isolating living out this way! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: RedHeadDuck
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 8:17pm
| Lil Nic what kind of nappy bag do you have? |
Posted By: blossombaby
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 8:29pm
i dont drive dp does tho (sometimes to fast 4 my liking!!!) tho it annoys him sometimes picking me up dropping me off etc he is pretty good!! haha have never found the need to get my licence easier/cheaper for me to get bus to work etc. tho with bubs coming i think i best sort it out over summer - i do know how to drive i just don't have a licence
have really good and handy and regular transport where we are tho. couldnt cope if we both didnt drive .. that would drive me crazy!!!!! |
Posted By: High9
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 8:39pm
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Blossombaby DP gets annoyed sometimes about having to drive me places to drop me off and pick me up, sometimes asks for petrol money which I guess is fair lmao.
MC I have 3 lmao... But I either use my P&T one forgot the name of it or this Babylove bag sorta like a handbag in terms of shape but not stylish or anything (this one has domes that you can clip it over the handle. I have been thinking about getting a back pack because tbh I never need the insulated pockets on them and it would be easier to chuck Lily's nappies etc and change of clothes plus my wallet etc in there and have more space on/in the pram. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 07 September 2010 at 8:40pm
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We have a nappy bag that attaches to the handles as well, it's a Skip Hop with the extra little clips so the bag doesn't dangle down to the ground if you hang it over the back of the pram. It's great!
We also have a hook that velcro's around the handle bar and I can hang shopping bags off that if I need to as well. ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: flakesitchyfeet
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 8:50am
LMAO! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> |
Posted By: Nutella
Date Posted: 13 September 2010 at 12:18pm
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It would drive me nuts not being able to drive but then I came from a small town so needed to be able to drive to go anywhere decent and then now where we live is the sticks so if I don't want to go stir crazy I need to be able to get out of the village if I want to.
Makes a difference if you live in a big city, and at least if you wanted to, you can get about. Or a town big enough to have decent shopping. I don't think you would be able to see much of the country if you tried going on the trains because pretty sure they only go up the centre of the north island so not a lot of detouring there...would have to do buses...personally I couldn't think of anything worse travelling long distance on buses, especially with kids. One other reason I have my licence, the times I have gone on buses long distance to visit my folks (uni days, didn't have a car) were crappo, one time the bus got a flat tyre in the gorge, the driver left the tv on for us to watch coz it took ages for a person to come to us, then the person left after fixing the tyre....bus driver tried starting up the bus...flat battery lol! I was so not happy coz I was stressed out from studying for exams lol.... ------------- 
 Oct 11
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