The stuff you cart around with children may change as they gradually carry more themselvess, but you need to give consideration to the back-packs and bike panniers you need for the daily trips to school, days out and holidays.

The walk to school is not just beneficial to the health of the child (and to your health). It provides the opportunity for the child to talk to you, meet other children, and for you to get to know other families. But you may have some big decisions to make:

Can you coordinate your search for a home to live in, and a primary school for your children, so that they are within a kilometer or so of each other? In London that should be possible, but you need to think about it as soon as you start planning to have a child. Can you as a parent or family plan your work life so that someone is available to the walk the child to and from school, until they are about seight or nine? One good solution is to share escort duty with another family, but there are many other work-arounds. Remember that in London children are free on the buses until they complete their schooling and free to go on trains up until their fifth birthday. The Family Railcard can be exceptionally good value for days out and trips away, costing just £26 for 1 year or £65 for 3 years it gives you 1/3 off adult fares and 60% off kids' fares (2009 prices. Find out more at www.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk.

Your decisions may mean some sacrifices – but it is worth it in the time you get back to spend with your children and the knowledge that they are living a more active life. With the right combination of walking, cycling, public transport use, car club or taxi use, and with sensible decision making on where you live, on schools and on leisure activities, you can save a considerable amount of money by living car free. And you will probably spend less time traveling overall.

Help going car free

Carting stuff around: For information on back-packs and other solutions

Cost: Further discussion of cost considerations

On cycling: the bike-seat is ideal for one to four year olds, and trailer-bikes for five to ten year olds. The trailer bike - a bike with a one wheel attachment, handle-bars and pedals for the child - is especially useful for dropping a child off at a friends house and then collecting them in the evening when they are tired. Read more about bikes, bike-seats, panniers and trailer-bikes. See below for cycling safety.

Health and safety: Read about regular exercise and avoiding obesity. Nearly all the London boroughs now provided subsidized on-road cycle training training, and many primary schools run cycle training classes,find out more about cycle safety.

The time factor: Check out London Cycling Campaign's cycle routes and Transport for London's public transport journey planning

Impact on others: Find out more about road danger, pollution, congestion and quality of community life, and on reduced child independence (articles coming soon). Why not read more about the dangers of car dependency or get to grips with transport carbon emission (coming soon)

We always welcome you to share any information that you may have for other families or seek the opinion of others on our Community Forum