gave up on means of transportation here

[catwomancat]

Hi guys need your advice please.

I take my child daily to a daycare in Mississauga which is about 10 minutes away by car from where we live. I chose this daycare because the staff are great and I did not like the ones near me because they were very tight in space.

the problem is, I do not have a car or license and because I am new here I am not yet comfortable to learn driving. So I started to take taxis, but beside the fact that they r super expensive for daily use, the drivers are so rude and aggressive. Today, the driver went loco on me just because I told him the ride usually takes 7 minutes and he started calling me liar and became so aggressive that my child started crying. When I called the customer service, they were surprisingly equally aggressive and literally said they had no time to take a complaint. It was really crazy.

Anyway, with these stressful incidents I thought I am done with taxis, at least this company (which I d have named but I guess I cannot do that here?).

My problem with buses is that people on board are so uptight about strollers. so when I take my child on a stroller on board, even though it is a small umbrella stroller and is not blocking the whole way, they start complaining. My child does not sit still which is why I keep her strapped in the stroller.

So is there any solution for this stupid dilemma? like where can I find someone with a car that I can pay to on monthly basis for daycare pick-up or drop offs. or what other alternatives.

Because I am new here I do not have friends who can help out and I am really stressed out with the roughness of the ppl I encounter in taxis and buses. so any advice is much appreciated.

Thank you

 

[steaky]

How about riding a bicycle?

 

[catwomancat]

How about riding a bicycle?

Good idea except that I have a child and I am very clumsy lol. besides in the rough winter here it could be very difficult

 

[steaky]

Many people ride bicycle with their children. Also you can try electric scooters.

 

[Leon]

If you'd like to find someone with a car that you can pay to give you rides, ask at the day care if you can put up a note. Another parent may live near you. You can also put up notes at the grocery stores and convenience stores where you live.

 

[catwomancat]

Steaky, something to consider thanks. still concerned about winter.

Leon, yes that is exactly what I should do. Thank you, I will check at my building and daycare.

 

[buliwyf]

Ultimately, you'd want to drive your own car.

Regarding buses, people complaining about your stroller have absolutely NO right whatsoever to complain! Buses here (Brampton, Zum, MiWay, YRT, TTC, Go, etc) have a dedicated area for strollers and wheelchairs (at the front of the bus, just behind the driver). I used to take the Brampton Zum bus going to York University (Zum 501/501A) during winter. It was THE most congested bus around (full of students) and there were moms with huge double strollers who took that bus regularly and no one complained. The seats on the stroller area can be folded up to create more room. If someone without any disability is sitting there, you have all the right to tell him/her to stand up because your stroller needs the space.

 

[Bargeld]

If someone's complaining about a stroller on the bus, tell them to go eff themselves.

I see no good result for you, especially in light of refusing to drive, yourself, by placating to people who whine about something as stupid as that.

 

[on-hold]

Plus, I would ask yourself why -- if the trip to day care takes about ten minutes, which means some days it will take more, depending on conditions and traffic -- you told the taxi driver it normally takes 7? That would irritate me too, especially if I had been driving normally.

As for your main complaint, though -- it sucks living in Canada without a car, even public transportation here is expensive. In Edmonton a bus costs more than 3 dollars to buy on the spot, and a regular month pass is either 80 or 90 dollars. That's just ridiculous, for a city that you'd think would benefit from people riding buses. I read once that if all costs are considered, there is very little difference between making a bus free and charging money for people to ride it; but they'll never do that here, because then homeless people would ride to keep warm.

 

[catwomancat]

Ultimately, you'd want to drive your own car.

Regarding buses, people complaining about your stroller have absolutely NO right whatsoever to complain! Buses here (Brampton, Zum, MiWay, YRT, TTC, Go, etc) have a dedicated area for strollers and wheelchairs (at the front of the bus, just behind the driver). I used to take the Brampton Zum bus going to York University (Zum 501/501A) during winter. It was THE most congested bus around (full of students) and there were moms with huge double strollers who took that bus regularly and no one complained. The seats on the stroller area can be folded up to create more room. If someone without any disability is sitting there, you have all the right to tell him/her to stand up because your stroller needs the space.

Oh! I did not know you could fold those seats! that's a great relieve because I cannot push my umbrella stroller in Winter, I would bring the big wheels cause of snow. Thanks for the tip. I take the MiWay bus, I ll try that.

 

[catwomancat]

If someone's complaining about a stroller on the bus, tell them to go eff themselves.

I see no good result for you, especially in light of refusing to drive, yourself, by placating to people who whine about something as stupid as that.

Getting there, gradually

 

[catwomancat]

Plus, I would ask yourself why -- if the trip to day care takes about ten minutes, which means some days it will take more, depending on conditions and traffic -- you told the taxi driver it normally takes 7? That would irritate me too, especially if I had been driving normally.

As for your main complaint, though -- it sucks living in Canada without a car, even public transportation here is expensive. In Edmonton a bus costs more than 3 dollars to buy on the spot, and a regular month pass is either 80 or 90 dollars. That's just ridiculous, for a city that you'd think would benefit from people riding buses. I read once that if all costs are considered, there is very little difference between making a bus free and charging money for people to ride it; but they'll never do that here, because then homeless people would ride to keep warm.

even if I miscalculated it, it would just be an honest mistake. nothing gives him the right to blast off like that.

However, I do agree with you; it is proving more difficult to live here without a car. I guess I will have to get a car/license eventually if not soon though I heard it s a long process and the insurance is expensive.

 

[Leon]

even if I miscalculated it, it would just be an honest mistake. nothing gives him the right to blast off like that.

However, I do agree with you; it is proving more difficult to live here without a car. I guess I will have to get a car/license eventually if not soon though I heard it s a long process and the insurance is expensive.

You can get along without a car in Canada but you need to plan your life around it a bit more like make sure you live on a good bus route. Bulk shopping is hard and getting kids to day care is hard. Sometimes, especially if you have business in an industrial or a remote location neighbourhood, you may have to spend hours for the round trip. You could of course take a taxi every now and then when you really need to.

If you've never had a drivers license before, the process to get one in Ontario where you can drive alone can take from 8 months to a year. You would have to start by passing the written exam and getting a G1 (learners) license. With a G1, you may only drive with a fully licensed person at your side. The waiting period to take the road test and get a G2 (probationary) license is 1 year unless you complete a course at an approved driving school, then it can be shortened to 8 months. Here is some info on this: http://www.ontario.ca/driving-and-roads/get-g-drivers-licence-new-drivers

 

[catwomancat]

You can get along without a car in Canada but you need to plan your life around it a bit more like make sure you live on a good bus route. Bulk shopping is hard and getting kids to day care is hard. Sometimes, especially if you have business in an industrial or a remote location neighbourhood, you may have to spend hours for the round trip. You could of course take a taxi every now and then when you really need to.

If you've never had a drivers license before, the process to get one in Ontario where you can drive alone can take from 8 months to a year. You would have to start by passing the written exam and getting a G1 (learners) license. With a G1, you may only drive with a fully licensed person at your side. The waiting period to take the road test and get a G2 (probationary) license is 1 year unless you complete a course at an approved driving school, then it can be shortened to 8 months. Here is some info on this: http://www.ontario.ca/driving-and-roads/get-g-drivers-licence-new-drivers

wow, thank you SO much Leon. very informative. appreciate it a lot.