A baby means a buggy, nappies, change of clothes, food supplies, toys... And your relatives or close friends may live awkward, or great, distances away. At this stage in their lives many people buy their first car. But you don't need to travel that road.

Its natural for parents to worry that a small child on a bike, or in a buggy at a bus stop late at night may look exposed – but the level of risk is tiny and certainly no more than the risk of accident if in a car. Without a car you build exercise in you life and before long into your child's life. Car dependency means that a great deal of self-discipline is needed to walk your children to nursery or primary school every day.

This is the most financially challenging time in your life. Extra housing costs, feeding and clothing your baby, childcare, and maybe a reduced income as one partner may change their work arrangements. So we suggest investigating the car club membership option, rather than car purchase. See what a car club has to offer and how you can save around £3,000 a year, or £60,000 over 20 years of parenting. The savings are of the same order for non-car drivers who use the occasional taxi.

Bikes are extremely time efficient for short journeys in London. For example, it takes about 15 minutess to get from the south of Streatham to Brixton. Much quicker than by car.

Public transport usually takes considerably longer than the car. But on a journey you can gain time by reading, or you can talking to your fellow traveller – especially important with children, and you get exercise on the way to the station or the bus stop. We need to build up our mental maps of London and the different ways you can get around – a bit like the trainee taxi driver 'doing the knowledge'.

But of main concern to many parents are the issues of carbon emissions, climate change and the world children will inherit. If you live and work in London and don't drive, take holidays within Western Europe by public transport and bike, you are unlikely to exceed a half a tonne per year and are likely to stay within your sustainable carbon ration. Whereas the average car emits about 2.5 tonnes CO2 a year, add to this public transport and air travel by family members and you are likely to exceed the total sustainable ration by one to two tones a year on transport alone (so not even counting your domestic carbon footprint).

Driving a car has an impact on the limbs, lungs, lives and liberty of other people – more so than any other form of surface transport.

Help going car free

Carting stuff around: for information about bus and train-friendly buggies, back-packs and child cycle seats

Health and safety: Read about regular exercise and avoiding obesity and find out how to cycle safely with children

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