Survive without a car?

chubchub · May 2010

I'm a first time (almost) mom and have a question. I live downtown and live less than 2 miles from work (as does my husband). We have been here for 2 years and never owned a car (we use zipcar if we need to go to the burbs) and have never really seen a need for one. However, now with a baby on the way, do you think we'll be able to survive? I'm assuming people do it, but I just don't know anyone... Thoughts?

JJ1973 · May 2010

I think there are pros and cons, like everything else. There are tons of family in the city who don't really have the option or luxury of having a car, and they do just fine. It just takes them more time and certain trips are much less convenient. I don't think I'd be able to pull it off (I just like the freedom cars allow, my family lives at a distance, etc.), but it seems doable.

CTJourney · May 2010

I think you will be fine without a car, especially since you are already accustomed to not having one. My friends that live in the city have an 18 month old and they do own a car, but the almost never use it.

You can probably just see how it goes after you have your baby, and if you find that you need a car to get around then you can get one at that time.

egsquared · May 2010

We live in the city and have a car, but I think you'll be ok with out it. You can just keep using zipcar when you need it. A good friend of mine lives in NYC and they don't have a car. She even posted a real cute video of them brining their new baby home in a cab (in her carseat of course!).

chubchub · May 2010

Thanks, I definitely think we're goign to try to do without one (especially since parking in my building is uber expensive), but that was the one thing I wasn't sure about (bringing home the baby), but I guess you can install a carseat in a zipcar (for some reason my baby brain didn't think of that so I had images of me either walking home or bringing it on the bus! haha).

orienae · May 2010

Also, just an fyi, there are car seats for toddlers that are collapsable and meant for families that have to take cabs for transportation; but they can't be used until baby is older, so when they out grow their infant seat. But having said that I would think you would want a snap-n-go or similar so that you can easily have the car seat if and when you need it.

dieselmonkey · May 2010

we don't have a car and use Zips when we need to get around. it's not a big deal. i've even done it by myself w/o my DH to help with the carseat. the only time we use a car is to get to the Pedi or do bulk shoppping at Costco. otherwise, we walk everywhere.

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