Why I Stopped Caring About Cars After Moving to Britain #expatlife #cultureshock #shorts

As a Brit, I remember a work trip to New Jersey. We could see the restaurant and bar we wanted to go to from our hotel, but there wasn't the physical means to walk to it. We had to Uber to go around a couple of roads.

Mandy I really am not one to judge by appearances but I just have to say how much healthier you look, the walking everywhere is obviously doing you good. I've visited with friends in New Jersey where the ocean is literally at the end of their road but they would never dream of walking there, they go most days to exercise the dogs but exercising themselves just doesn't seem to occur to them 🤔. Keep it up and keep enjoying the little discoveries that opens up to you ❤

We sold our car last year after importing it from the UK to our now home. We really don’t need it. It sat in a car park for months on end, venturing out for its annual mot. Public transport is superb where we live. We do more walking. Even supermarket shopping, we walk and use a granny cart. Holidays aren’t a problem , we book taxis to and from the airport to get to our vacation venue.

I remember in the '80's one of my American colleagues being so amazed by the public transport. She was always taking off somewhere for her long weekends as shifts allowed and the week off between night shift weeks. She would get on a bus or a train, set her alarm , sleep while travelling and then explore. She saw more of the UK in two years than I had in 20 years. She had never been into walking, hiking or hill walking but joined us. While she was here she lost almost three stone.

In some counties (Lincolnshire, for example), you really need to drive. Essex, if you have the time, you definitely don't need a car.

We are certainly way less dependent. I think I would miss driving through the countryside to 'eccentric' destinations, or to secluded beaches. I would struggle to maintain an allotment without a car but, you are quite right, cars are much less essential here.

You'll have a shock at the rigour if you need to take a driving test in the UK, or anywhere else in Europe for that matter.

Saves loads of money for other stuff and it’s more sociable

I didn't need a car until i moved out of London, and even then it was so i could do the food shop. I live more rural now so I rely on my car.

I've never needed or wanted a car. Edinburgh has excellent public transport.

I have two cars. I live in an area with good public transport. I often go for days without driving.

A huge bonus of going through your daily life without taking a car out is that you can always bump into friends and have a pint or five to catch up.

Mandy, are you going wild in the country where, according to a song, snakes in the grass are absolutely free 😁 Driving isn't the problem, but parking is 🙄🇬🇧🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

You have to get your licence as you say in case of emergencies but the public transport here especially in the big cities and towns is more than adequate.

My advice. Get your driving licence sooner rather than later, then its done. Your daughter will be driving soon. Once its done, its done.

I lost my licence nearly 3.5 years ago (stroke and eyesight) after owning a car for 30+ years. The only thing I miss is riding my motorbike but I'm happy on my feet, bicycle, buses/coaches and trains.

From England 🇬🇧. I'm retired and never learned to drive. Never needed to.

In a car we don’t talk to people so public transport is always a win glad you are out there in the community 😀

I'm British and don't have a car. I had some driving lessons in my 20s, but didn't take to it and never took a test. I'm 65 now and have managed my whole life without a car, although I often get lifts from friends and family. The nice thing about bus travel is that you can talk to people. One of my best friends was someone I originally spoke to on a bus.

And for those of us who don’t/ can’t drive, in an em there’s always taxis.