Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

Hi all,

I've been checking out the BE site for a while and have found the tips very helpful while I have been here in Oz.

I am looking to settle down in either Sydney or Perth after a stint of travelling and really do like the feel and atmosphere of Perth but wanted to check with residents it is essential to have a car to get anywhere in Perth?

I've found it is more sparse than Sydney but wanted to see if others survive without a car here? I personally do not want to go through with the process of buying a car if I can avoid it.

Any help is much appreciated. :)

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

yes

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

Yes and no.. Trains here are very good. To get to the main areas it's no problem. But outside of that and I wouldn't be without my car! Had to get a train to KwinanA Station daily, and the place is about a 5 to 10 minute drive from the station via 80 to 100km/h roads. Walked once, took the best part of an hour and I was walking down some fast roads with no footpath (pedestrians not allowed but turned a blind eye as I needed to get to a client!) It simply isn't walkable, and the bus takes approx an hour from the station ontop of the 30mins to get there, and still doesn't get you all the way there. Taxi was 20 dollars each way station to work and back, so all in all a 50 dollar commute to work!

It works out cheaper with car finance, insurance and fuel! And I get to work ion 30mins rather than 1.5 or 2hrs or so! Plus, out of hours it grinds to a halt, busses to a concert I was headed to ended at 7, and we were waiting ages for a train home, the one there didn't stop at the station we wanted!

It just depends on your situation but I wouldn't be without my car :)

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

If Sydney and its hinterland is anything to go by then I'd say its probably essential to have a car in Australia.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

If not wanting a car you would be better off in Sydney,depending on where you resided there. I have a friend there who doesn't even drive and gets along fine.
Even a former NSW state leader did not drive. Saying that the former mayor of Subiacco, a fairly upmarket close to city burb,also never learnt to drive, so it can be done.

I had no car the first years in Perth as don't like them and can hire something really nice on trips away where then it is a bit of a treat.
Finally did buy a car and sure enough became lazier not long after even though don't use it to anywhere near the extent most locals do.

So the long and the short of it is if you live in the inner city as I do public transport suites most purposes but say to visit other suburbs say to see friends then a car certainly makes life easier.

It should be noted that Perth has the highest car useage in Australia. I can clearly see the massive build up in vechicle numbers in recent years in my area. Problems ahead if better planning not put into place.

I cycle as well and used this as my mode of transport to work. Worth getting a bike if you do come but the roads are dangerous to use when unable to navigate on cycle paths.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

If your work is near a train station and you work standard office hours, public transport is fine and in my experience quicker than driving on some routes. The suburbs are fairly well-covered with buses that connect to trains. However, if you want to go anywhere else, any other time, you may well be stuffed. Where I used to live, the last bus back to the suburbs was at 7pm and the buses just didn`t connect with the shops. If I wanted to go to the major shopping centre on a Saturday afternoon, I could either spend 10 minutes shopping or wait for the bus that came 50 minutes after the shops shut. I used to walk a lot of the time. You can get around not having a car or by living near to shops/bars or shopping online, or getting taxis if that suits your lifestyle.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

You could manage, if you lived in an inner suburb, worked in that suburb or the CBD, and if your leisure activities were city-based. I didn't drive for my first two years in Australia and just about managed, but I hated relying on others for transport when going outside the city, eg on bushwalking or camping trips. You can end up spending so much money on taxis, or wasting so much time hanging around for buses or trains.

If I wanted to live in Perth without a car, I'd choose to live somewhere like Subiaco or Claremont, where there are several food shopping options, not far from the CBD, King's Park, the river or the coast, and where there are buses and trains to get to these things. I'd also look at Cottesloe, Mosman Park and Nedlands (no train at Nedlands). These areas are also flat, so good for cycling and walking in the heat. Inevitably, though, you would want to learn to drive if you can't already, get a car and become a real Perthite:unsure:.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

Thanks for the suggestions and comments.

I have lived in Sydney for 6 months before and was fine without a car there as it was easy to track the transport system online and on my phone.

Have heard real issues with the merging of lanes in Perth but being from London I would have no problem cutting people if needs be :)

For work it wouldn't be an issue as I would likely be living near the CBD in either city it's just more if I wanted to go anywhere else on the weekends/evenings but as I say the comments have been very helpful and will soon make a decision on where to go...cheers guys :thumbsup:

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

Mergin isnt an issue at all as long as you let people get on with it.. Just use your.common sense, see the merge well in advance and create lots of space in front of you by slowing down or moving over.. common sense is very lacking on the perth freeways ive found, with almost everyone driving up your arse, hogging middle lans, and refusing to give people a safe amount of moving space!

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

If you`ve driven in London (are you crazy?!), you`ll be fine in Perth. :) It will probably still make you angry, though.

Fremantle is also a no-car option as it`s fairly compact and has a good free bus, and train station to link to Perth.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

IMO yes, trains are overcrowded and the anti-social behavior on them can sometimes make for an uncomfortable experience.
Also car drivers in perth are mental and just do not know how to drive slow.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

Some train lines are known to have more problems than others, eg the Armadale line.

Some Perth drivers do the right thing, though I can't help but wonder if it is the British migrants who do so:p.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

When I have been in Perth, I have had no issues with the driving. It's a broadly Western standard.

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

I have heard some Perth visitors to Melbourne say that the driving standards are much better there. I've also heard interstate migrants to Perth, as well as overseas ones, complain about driving standards here.

Which parts of Perth did you drive around?

Re: Is it essential to have a car in Perth?
 

CBD, and sarrf of the River. Where all the poor people live, or something.