Ask HN: Do you live w/o a car (outside the US)?

7 points by da02 ↗ HN
What city do you live in?

Has it ever been a problem not having a car?

20 comments

[ 3.2 ms ] story [ 50.4 ms ] thread
Gave up my car in Vancouver. (Used the money I saved on rent, and moved downtown where I walked everywhere.)

Now, I live in London, England. I bike everywhere or use the Tube.

I haven't owned a car for 29 years and have lived in Vancouver off and on for 24 of those. Having said that - our transit system is really quite disgusting and I am seriously thinking that 2012 will be the year of the car for me.
Nice, France. No.

(Also true for where I've lived before: Berlin, Zurich, Prague.)

I live in Tokyo. Public transport is very extensive here, though quite crowded. Many people don't own cars. I'd say most single people don't. I used to commute by bicycle in my previous job.

It's rarely a problem not to have a car. Doing groceries can be slightly inconvenient, but I often order online anyway.

If you wanna travel by car you can always rent one.

I used to commute by car in Sao Paulo and it was really stressful. When I choose the next place I'll live, one of the most important factors is whether I'll be able to live without a car.

No car. Simply because the upfront cost was too much, fuel just keeps getting higher and public transport/walking has been completely adequate.

Only time I've needed a car is when moving house, but even then a hired Van has proven far more useful than a car.

Also parking in Brighton (UK) is an absolute nightmare, residential permits cost <£150 a year, and that's after the queue for getting one.

Zurich, Switzerland. Public transport is very good. With the car-sharing company Mobility it's easy to book a car by the hour if needed. That plus normal car-rental for longer trips comes out cheaper and more hassle-free than owning.
No car. I live in London. Zipcar etc. work well.
No. Currently in Milan, Italy. Yes, previously in Aarhus, DK and Amsterdamn NL.
No car. London
Melbourne. Combination of bike and public transport (good overall but there are some deadzones.). Also fair few temporary hire car are around the city and surrounding suburbs
Oslo, Norway - No car, easy to walk everywhere, great transport, and city bike system.
Amsterdam: no car. Ede (more, well, rural): definetely.
No car, Berlin.

Never had a problem in the city. Holidays are a different story (I like to visit remote regions in the alps), but then I can rent one. When I visit other cities, I go by train or plane.

Munich, no car.

It has never been a problem so far: public transport is quite good, decent bike infrastructure, a handful of car sharing and car rental companies with a lot of stations, lots of groceries.

No Car. Edinburgh, UK. No problems so far.
Bangalore. no car.

But I have to admit that I always feel like getting one because all the tech events happen on the other side of the city and I spend a lot of time travelling to these events.

No Car in major cities of India .
Bangalore. no car. Public transport is not bad.
I moved to Toronto (from Melbourne Australia). Use to be obsessed with cars. When we moved we sold both our cars and I love not having to drive anymore. It helps that the public transport is a million times better in Toronto than back home.