Families PDF Print E-mail

There is no doubt that parenthood means responsibility. It seems most people think that responsible, caring parenting means owning a car. But are they right?

Five good reasons for not owning a car

  • Children who regularly walk to school, then learn to cycle, and use buses and trains, become fitter and healthier, than their car driven peers.
  • And they become more independent at an earlier age. A 13 or 14 year-old brought up in this way can get around town on their own – and even have the confidence to go on inter-city trips without parents.
  • The walk to school is an opportunity to talk to the smaller child and for the family, or for neighbouring families on the same route, to bond together. Likewise, the day out by bus or train, the family cycle ride, the holiday journey by train or bus can give a family a different quality of time together.
  • By going car free you save on average between £40,000 and £100,000 over 20 years of parenting. This could be a great deal of help when it can cost £30,00 to get a young person through university.
  • You also save something in the order of one tonne a year in CO2 emissions.

You may say you can have both: have a car but make sure children get the exercise, use buses, go on trips out by train. The reality is that if the car is outside the door it becomes the default option "why do we have to walk, mum, can we not take the car?" And that way you save little or no money.

Practical advice for whatever stage your family is at:

Families with Babies

Families with Primary School Children

Families with Secondary School Children

Please also see the Students or First Job sections

As well as advice we give you the opportunity to ask questions and share your knowledge with others in the same boat as you.

We also discuss some big decisions that may only occur once or twice for you, but when you make them they may have a major effect on the travel options that you have for many years to come: such as where to live, the schools to send your children to, the jobs you take and the hours you work.