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@villa-ru
It's very easy to say a car isn't necessary in London when you don't have kids, but trust me - it is!
Getting kids of different ages to different schools within really short timescales does not always allow the use of public transport. going on their own is fine for older kids, but not younger ones. Travelling with 2 or 3 kids where one is in a pushchair is a nightmare - buses won't let you on without folding them so you need to carry one kid, pushchair, any shopping, oystercard etc while making sure the other kids get on fine. Similar with stairs in train stations, tubes etc. It's a complete shag & everything takes twice as long as when you are on your own. It is understandable why some (most) people decide to chuck them all in the car & sit there in a jam in preference.
What is completely crap is the lack of car-pooling.
Mine go by bike with me 1 day a week, by train twice a week & by car twice a week (though that is with 5 kids in the car - sharing with another family).