Need a car? What? Need a car? Why

[EndDiddlyaism]

Just looking at the great photos of Dublin and I didn't notice one overweight person. Another poster noted how green it was, with people walking and cycling.

A recent conversation I had with another parent in the wee girl's class. The guy is a recent immigrant form the Philippines and he and his children would walk everywhere when the lived there. He's doing a pretty low paid job here and all his wages are going on keeping his car on the road. I suggested he got rid of the car and he replied that he needed it because of the kids.

I hear this all the time. Why do people need cars if they have children. My parents and most of my uncles/aunts didn't have cars. There were 5 kids in my family, living in Glengormley but going to school well down the Antrim Rd (about 3 miles away or so), we all had our hobbies which required us to get to clubs and venues and never once did I wish we had a car.

Certainly in Belfast, the difference in traffic when children are off school is astonishing.

Why is the car deemed so necessary?

Not everyone lives in a city, or even a sizeable town.

We live in a rural area and the majority of kids here are as fit as butcher's dogs, way fitter than 'in my day' back in the seventies

There are so many opportunities available now with GAA Football, Hurling, Rugby, Gymnastics, Basketball, Karate, Soccer, Judo, Ballet, Irish Dancing, Handball, Athletics, Tennis, Badmindton, Golf, Sailing, etc (not to mention art, music, drama etc) all available within a 10-12 mile radius. There is no way that you could allow the kids access to these opportunites without the auld mo-mo in this neck of the woods.

[ibis]

I've never owned a car, but am now considering one as my son hits school age. I've always lived in city centres here and there so the one time I had cause to drive daily in Germany, I was lent a car by the boss whenever I needed it.

The thing is that it just makes it easier to be active with the kid and live a little more remotely than when I was single. I'm considering moving out a bit more rurally as he grows up.

He won't thank you for it...