Statement: ‘I could never do without my own car’

Last year, the CEO of Siemens Mobility expressed the expectation that the Netherlands would be one of the first countries in the world where the private car will disappear. Just like Siemens Mobility, various mobility providers foresee a future in which you can use smart applications to make the journey from A to B via, for example, a combination of publicly available means of transport such as a loaner bicycle or shared car. Research by car-sharing provider Greenwheels recently showed that not everyone is ready to sell their private car.

Not only is the supply of shared means of transport not sufficient everywhere, but public transport is certainly not a suitable alternative to the car for everyone, especially outside the major city centers, concluded the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL). Of course you can go from Lutjebroek to an employer, shop or healthcare institution in Amsterdam without a car, but the question is whether you are willing or able to take the necessary time for this. It is not without reason that the car – whether or not your own – according to PBL is the means of transport in the Netherlands that provides you with the highest accessibility of facilities.

Of course, there are plenty of other reasons not to want to get rid of your private car in the future, even if (a combination of) public transport and shared mobility would be relatively opaque everywhere. Think of hobby, but you may simply find it unhygienic to use a car in which Jan and everyone unleash runny noses or sneezes. In your own car you are always dry and in a space managed by yourself. Please note, in this case we mean by ‘own car’ a car that is at your disposal for a long time. So also consider a (private) lease car.

As you can see, we are very curious about your opinion! Time for a voting round in which we posit the following statement:

“I could never do without my own car.”

Can you find yourself in that? Why yes, or why not?

You can leave explanations and arguments in the comments. And, as always, your opinion does not have to be someone else’s. We should all be on AutoWeek.nl because we have a thing for cars, so be kind to each other and try not to let yourself be drawn out too much.