If I start learning to drive a car...

[izzi81]

... do I really need a car to practice driving?

I've had a motorbike for 5 years now, but never got round to learning to drive. I really need to get round to it now! But we don't have a car at home that I could practice with, so currently my only option is just to get lessons. I do see cheap cars for sale now and then but I don't know if it would be worth it as far as buying the thing, running it, insuring it etc.

I might be moving soon and if I do I'm not even sure if I'll be able to take my bike with me, never mind a car!

So, the jist of this post is.. how much of an advantage would having my own car be, and can I make do with just lessons and perhaps the occasional drive in a friend's car (if I can persuade them?)
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[Ste]

You can pick a cheap car up which has tax and MOT for hundred pounds or less if you shop around. It means you can get all the practise in you want (assuming you can find someone to go in the car with you ) without having to pay about £20 to use the driving schools car and person to sit in the car with you. It also then means you have a car you can use after you pass your test, which is the general point behind getting a license.

Yes you can learn with just having lessons, but you'll need less lessons if you get yourself a cheap car and practise in that. Once you've been taught how to do something in the car you're probably just needing time to practise it and time goes at the same speed if you're in your own car or a driving school car. Insurance will not be cheap really, but it means you start to build up a string of no claims which is also useful.

So yes to practise driving a car is quite useful.

[stinkwheel]

You will probably manage with just lessons. I did, I didn't need a car myself at the time but needed to be able to drive one for work. You already know HOW to drive, it is just a case of mastering the controls and learning how they think you should drive to pass a car test.

Go for a couple of lessons and ask the instructor the same question, they will usually have a good idea how much practice you will need.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[ShortR6]

Just to agree with the others.

Owning or having access to a car is an advantage but not necessary. It will save you money on lessons and allow you to learn quicker.

Just don’t ask some loony to be passenger as you will no doubt pick up bad habits from them, pick a sensible friend or family member to assist in your training, or better still a car driving biker as these are the safest drivers on the road.

Andy
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Short but not sweet.

[Frost]

I passed my test without the benefit of a car in which to practise.
Quite what the point of passing my test was when i cant actually afford a car i dont know :/

[Fallen Angel]

I would recommend getting your own car.

My other half taught me how to drive and whenever we were going out anywhere, I would drive (obviously we had our own car).

I did take a few proper lessons (8 I think) though just to find out "How to pass the test" and I passed first time.

Personally, I think getting proper driving experience and then taking a couple of lessons makes it a bit easier! But that's just in my opinion!

How come you might not be able to take your lovely bike with you Izzy? The thought of that must make you want to
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[Frost]

the best way to do it is to get used to a car and to driving, have a few lessons to tell youy what you need to be learning. GO away and practise that for a few weeks untill its second nature, then go back and have a few lessons etc.

Of course a continuos block of lessons helps you learn very quickly, but there bloody expensive!

[izzi81]

[atom]

I live in Edinburgh, and park my bike in the street (with three locks and a cover), so far its been fine, touch wood, apart from the time I nipped inside and came back out and there were three 8 year olds hanging off it making Vroom noises.

I live in Dalry and a fair few other peole about also keep there bikes on the road. Depends where you end up probably but a lot of places have dedicated bike parking with barriers to secure them too.

dont abandon your bike!!
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[Fallen Angel]

Och that would be a shame Izzi - you love your bike!

Good luck on the car hunting though!
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[Shade_BW]

simple, don't buy any old flat unless you can get parking.

And do you have to move to the middle of edinburgh? Move somewhere a wee bit further out, cheaper housing, and commute in on the bike.

Shade
Job done.

[Bendy]

You don't need much room to keep a bike and plenty flats should have space out the back (I'm thinking of the Edinburgh style which is right on-street and imposing at the front but usually have a communal backyard area).

I kept my bike onstreet in central London for a couple of years and only had one theft attempt, the one night it wasn't chained to a lampost - and even crappy parts of Edinburgh are nicer than Paddington.

Just keep the bike in mind when flat hunting and I'm sure you'll find something with a garage, garden, yard or alleyway that you can stick it in.

[stinkwheel]

In certain parts of Edinburgh motorbikes grow legs and walk. Life expectancy of an unattended cub90 in Newington is less than 10 seconds, make it a minute if it is chained to something substantial.

They tend not to touch bigger bikes though. Noone ever touched my GPZ when it was parked on-street for three years. I used to park my moped in the communal drying green but came home one day to find the fire-brigade carrying it out of the door. I had a huge argument as to the likleyhood of a moped spontaneously combusting whilst parked on a drying green but they wouldn't have it and threatened to have the police impound it if I parked it there again. Chained it to the railings out the front of my mates flat and it was gone within 12 hours

There are loads of lockups in Edinburgh though.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[1cyl]

[Bendy]

I spend quite a lot of time in my car thinking "thank feck I'm not on my bike" actually.

[izzi81]

[capn]

i live in edinburgh and have a moped...i just keep it in my garden and chained to sumfin with a big chain.....i dont live in the most desirable place in edinburgh (south edinburgh) but most of the bike thiefs i know now have there own so no need to steal any ....but no way in hell would it still be there if i kept it on the street over nite
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