Getting from A to B.
 

Hi All,
Is it possible to know how many people get from A to B, transport wise.
I can drive myself, but my wife can't. So really that's my main fear for her, with us having 3 kids.
I know theres buses, trains, taxis, etc, but i worry that once i go work she'll have a right struggle getting to and from schools, shops, etc, if we were to move somewhere not close to schools or shops.
It's only a 10 minute bus ride away for the kids, to get to school, which is brilliant for her,then she goes to work after dropping them off.
Personally i think it's the reason i'm dragging my heels on the whole migration process. We've talked about going for it since we done a reccy nearly 3 year ago now, but to think if we went through everything and all the expense of it, then she tells me after a few month that she hates the thing of feeling isolated.
I'd like to know if it's just me worrying for nothing, or do all non drivers know what i'm trying to say.

cheers
Steve.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Personally, whilst I lived in Adelaide,, if I couldnt have driven, I know for a fact I`d have been very isolated,, everything there is so spread out,, my children had to walk 45 mins to school if I was on an early shift and couldnt take them,, 45 mins isnt too bad but in the height of summer they said it was a killer! I cannot talk about the rest of OZ but where I was - a car was essential, I think it can be done with public transport, but I have no patience & have to be wherever Im going straight away. Would she not look into learning once she gets there? as an automatic car would maybe suit her if shes not confident with gears etc. Plus the process of learning is easier,,she can do it the log book way, I taught my 16yr old in OZ & when she came bk to the UK with us she only needed 10 lessons & passed 1st time!

Bluekipper

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

I'm based in north Brisbane, the OH drives, I don't - for numerous reasons I won't go into. I can cope, we live near a good bus route, and reasonably near trains, and I accept that I have to use taxis at times....BUT we don't have kids. I would have a lot of reservations about not driving when there are kids to ferry around. Its a half hour walk to the station for example, OK for me maybe, thats not so good this time of year, especially for little ones.
And if you are living in a suburb like this one - she will struggle to get shopping home - buses run to the city, not to the local shops, and I'm afraid she may feel isolated as suburban family life is built around families with cars.

Obviously each family is different, but most families are know here would struggle with one car.

Can I ask where you are heading for? Which city/suburb?

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Thanks for the replies Bluekipper & Pollyana,

Firstly, when i wrote the thread, i thought it was probably a daft question, but after reading your replies i'm glad i did.
Even at home here in the UK i think everyone who can drive just takes it for granted, as i do, "i'll just nip here, i'll just nip there", easily done in the car for me, but because my wife was in a serious road accident when see was only 4 years old, which left her blind to the left in both eyes, and partially paralysed in her left hand, she was told she would never be granted a driving licence on medical grounds. Don't get me wrong, she's a stunning looking woman, so i'm not after any sympathy:o. So getting back to the feeling isolated thing.
When we were in Oz about 3 year ago, we went to Surfers in Gold Coast for a month. All the housing estates we visited, like Pacific Pines, which we thought looked beautiful, but while we were driving around i was thinking "wheres the bus stops" to myself, and remember thinking she'll have a right trek, trying to get the kids to school.
Obviously if i could, i'd drop them off, but i'd have to be at work before they started school.
So if and when we go for it, i'd really like to know where would be the best place in Perth to go, where it would minimise travelling for her

I'm sorry if i'm sounding as though i'm whinging on, but i want everything to be right for all of us as a family.Then that's what would make it our dream move, because if she's happy we'll all be happy. :p

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

I agree with the others, even living in Canberra which has a good bus system compared with many places, everything is just so far apart that if you dont drive you would find it a chore. With kids as well, it would be very isolating IMHO. We went for a few years without a car for economy purposes but we lived very close into the centre of town and I was young and fit at the time and so it wasnt that much of a hassle but then the kids got bigger and needed to do different things at the same time and so we rejoined the motor market.

I cant think of anything worse than being stuck out in some suburb where most of the population are two income families and there is little to do.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

I totally agree Quoll,
But there must be hundreds of families out there in the same situation, and are able to have a nice lifestyle, and get about without driving.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

I knew of one women whilst I lived in OZ that didnt drive, she cycled everywhere, I wish I was that fit,, but that heat in summer must`ve got to her!

If you get good friends whilst over there they might help out,, I did for this particular person, esp with the kids for school!

Good luck
Bluekipper

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Cheers,
I don't think it'll be a problem using public transport just as long as we don't go too far away from the schools. Has anyone got any information on suburbs in Perth with good public transport ?

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

There are. I know lots of people where I live who use public transport and who have no cars. The buses and trains here are excellent. They usually run on time. I can walk to the bus stop and be assured of a train. If I'm out in the sun, I use a parasol and it keeps me cool enough. Sure you get hot if you're waiting.... but the trains and buses are air conditioned and you do acclimatise.


Life must be tricky for you now... it will be tricky here too. But you could live within a ten minute bus ride of the kid's school here too. Course you could. Or maybe 20... would that be ok?
I think it depends where you live and you're going to have to live fairly central to the town I guess, but I can't see that as a bad thing. THe places you mention aren't out in the sticks... they have good regular buses and trains to get around.
I suppose, also that where it might get sticky is if you have a commute from work and one of you can't pick up kids - so you might need an hour's after school care... which would prob have tax refunds given your wife's circs... so once again, not impossible at all....
Just different.


HOWEVER, I wonder, given your wife's disability if there wouldn't be some sort of help available to her from the gvt to help her get around. There are lots of community transport buses that I know come and pick people up from designated areas.... and drop them in town or whatever.
A local council website might be able to advise you better and it's possible your wife would have some sort of disability pension here in Aus, which could go on transport to help her out.

You're both obviously plucky types or you wouldn't be contemplating it. But I have found Aus transport to be so much better.
I live out in the sticks, in the Blue Mountains west of sydney... I don't find getting around a problem at all. I regularly get the trains into the city here. I don't always use the car to go to a job either. I walk into town a lot too...
I don't feel isolated.... I think that's down to the sort of person you are and what you do with your time. There's always people close.

I have noticed people with disabilities get more looked after here in certain areas, than they do in the UK. I would start by emailing your local council in wherever you plan to settle. Also, perhaps Centrelink too.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Thanks for that TiddlyPom,
I think reading posts like this will really help Maria(wife) .
We're really happy go lucky people, and make friends very easily, so i think we'll be ok.
Thanks again.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

You don't say how old the kids are, which makes a big difference, or where you are going to stay (you mention Perth and Gold Coast).

We are in Melbourne and 20k from CBD. Son walks 2 mins to school (12 yo), I have 20 mins bus ride to work. Walk to restuarants, shops and supermarket. There are primary schools, kindergartens and parks within 5 minutes walk. There is a bus loop to the big shopping centres. We have no trams or trains in this suburb, so add that and it would be great (move closer to CBD and you would have them).

Also bus drivers here will stop for people running to catch the bus (its true I tell you!) and women with young kids get first class treatment (as far as I have seen).

We were in St Kilda with no car for 2 weeks at the start and it was easy to get around (not as easy as doing it running a family I know)

I know its hard to secure rentals where you want them and lots of research is needed, but you may be able to find commuter friendly locations. Your situation is much harder than ours, but it could work for you.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

I'm a bit further out of the CBD in mornington but where I live there's a few schools within a 20 min walk also 3 buses on different routes which head to frankston (and all stop at my local shopping centre about a 5-10 min walk) which is a fairly large city and from there there's a train to Melbourne which runs every quarter of an hour. the only thing I find is unlike uk the buses don't seem to go through housing estates but skirt round them

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

We dropped from 2 cars to 1 when our second child was born and struggled.

For a while I commuted on the bus, but the 1hr+ journey each way together with vague timetables and sketchy reliability had me in a near homicidal rage most days.

I tried taking the car sometimes, but leaving the wife and kids stuck at home wasnt popular. Our finances wouldnt stretch to a second car so after some research I went out and got a bike licence. I spent $5k on a second hand bike, training and safety gear and now have a 15 minute commute to work stress-free.

If a full motorcycle is a bit daunting, then a automatic scooter might be more manageable and still gives you the ability to get out and about at very low cost and high convenience.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

In all honesty, its a difficult one. Life doesn't stop here because you've no acces to a car, BUT (and its a big but) it is made much easier if you do. Distances are far greater, suburbs are more spread out, and walking anything more than 10 minutes back and forth to school with kids, just isn't practical in the heat and sun.

If you do decide to move over, do plenty of research into public transport routes and hubs and work backwards from there to let it inform you of suitable suburbs, streets and schools.

Best of luck

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

I drive and like others take it for granted. However where we live we know that when we cannot drive we will be able to get the bus and train very easily and everything in the town is in walking or scooter distance. I guess you need to think country towns and smaller communities. On the Peninsula here especially on the western port side the communities are separate and each of them is good for people who do not drive. For instance there are three schools 10mins walk away and the shopping centres are walking distance and they deliver the groceries.

I guess if you want to migrate then you need to find a community like mine where not driving is not a problem. We have a lot of older people in the town who move here for the convenience and the retirement village.

Once friends are made I am sure they would assist as well.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

The Transperth website will give you a lot of info. There are a lot of bus routes, and the buses seem to be pretty frequent, and match up with the trains. If you were in a suburb well away from either, I think you'd find it more difficult, but if you choose where you live based on availability of transport, I think you'd be okay. We both drive, but there's a decent IGA within walking distance, and a bus route a couple of streets away. We actually tend to take the train into Perth because it's cheaper than parking (and easier)!

Cheers
b

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

I think there's two different issues here.
One is isolation and not liking that feeling and the other is getting around using public transport and how that will fit in with your lives.
I think the public transport issue, if you're careful where you live, should be fine. The isolation thing is going to be down to who you are and how you think... how you make friends, who you network with, what you do with your time....
It's possible to feel isolated in the busiest of cities for example... and yet secure and happy in an out of the way place.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Thanks for the messages of help and ideas.

As i said in the 1st post, i can drive, so it's only really going to be the school run, and odds and ends at a grocery store, that my wife will need a bus for. Or if we're lucky enough to find a suburb where everthing is on the doorstep us all the better. So if anyone knows any children friendly locations in and around Perth area we'd appreciate any feedback.
It's not as if we've got 3 toddlers, oldest son 13, next son 9, then our daughter just turned 2 years old.

Thanks again for any info in advance.

Steve.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Hey Pazza, your positive outlook will definitely help.

I lived in NZ for 2 years and I must admit I did feel isolated as I couldn't drive. I put off learning for years due to a slight disability on my right side (right hand & foot) but in the end I did it - although in an automatic car. Most people don't even know I have a slight disability and I get a bit of stick for driving in an automatic and taking 5 times to pass my test but who cares?

In England there is a system called Motobility or something that helps disabled drivers to learn & get adapted cars if necessary, maybe your wife should contact them? Not sure how her vision in her left eye would affect the driving but worth a go. Good luck. X

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Hi Mrs Kiwi,

Maria is exactly the same. To look at her you wouldn't know anything was wrong with her.
Not going in too much detail, but she's blind in both eyes, but only to the left of them. She can see straight ahead and everything to her right out of both eyes, but nothing to the left when she's looking straight ahead. Obviously she can turn her head to the left, when she wants to look that way, but has a blind spot there when looking straight ahead.
It's funny sometimes because now and again she'll ask where one of the kids have gone, and they'll be on her left side, and they'll say "i'm here mam" :rofl:
So i'm not sure if a car could be modified to suit her. She's got by for the last 30 year like this so she knows no difference really.

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Pazza,

you and Maria sound very strong as a couple and as individuals so try not to let her car situation prevent your emigration.

It won't be easy but shes survived this long in the UK with kids and no car so I'll bet she'll be ok in Oz - just live near to transport links as the other posters say.

Good luck & let us know how you get on

Kelly

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Mrs Kiwi,

Thanks for the kind words, and i think we will go for it. :D

Re: Getting from A to B.
 

Not driving is a drag wherever you are - Sunderland or Australia. Thing is here as you know is everything is quite far apart so you just have to be a bit more careful where you live.

I lived in Sydney for a couple of years, absolutely loved it, didnt need to drive at all.

Brisbane was ok too but getting the kids on the bus when they were all in nappies was hard work.

I lost my license because of fits when living on the Sunshine Coast and it was a bit of a drag with 3 kids then under 3 but it was ok. I lived near the childcare and about 10 mins walk to Mooloolaba so although my husband works away I was ok. got a bit fitter - I could get to the beach, the shops and to post office etc and it was nice and a bit of a community so I felt safe and happy walking around even at night (not late but up until around 10). Last year we had these really terrible storms and it was a drama when it rained so much.

You are just going to do your research. We chose our house so there was a shop within 10 mins and a childcare at the end of the road. It was part of our selection criteria because although I now have my license back I was not sure if I would be able to keep it.

Vivienne