For one kid, I agree, it's doable. More than one and it becomes complicated.

And of course, since you never got a driver's license you don't know what you're missing (and works around it)

E.g.: you have to pay/ask for someone to get something slightly oversized (either a store delivery or get a taxi), and/or doesn't have access to cheaper stores.

Pet transportation is limited.

You're pretty much dependent on others to places not covered by public transportation (and of course, this limits where you can live, and convenient public transport nearby implies a more expensive place).

Of course, for some people this makes no difference, and things like Uber make it easier nowadays.

> Pet transportation is limited.

My local tram network has 2 types of tickets: (a) Adults or (b) Children/pets.

Good, now take your 20kg dog that is sick and can't move in it to the vet.

Do you live in a big (or bigger than average) city?

I live in the UK in a small town and can not imagine having kids but no car. Most of my friends find having a car is essential even without kids (though I prefer to not have a car unless 100% necessary).

On my own I am fine with public transport, but anything between walking around the village or going to a big city isn't really covered by public transport.

My sister has three children, zero cars and some (OK, about ten) bicycles, including a cargo bike and a couple of trailers. They live in Edinburgh, which has a fair to medium public transport network, and manages to survive. I've travelled around with them and the kids and it really isn't a big deal, including long-distance journeys involving trains. One thing that does require a car is getting to out-of-the-way locations, we had to rely on relatives with vehicles for a trip out to the Museum of Flight, about 20 miles away and not at all accessible by public transport. We could probably have used the 'City Car Club' (similar to 'ZipCar') for that, if really necessary, although with children you then need to provide appropriate car seats, which is a hassle.

Anyway, for day-to-day travel and commuting, even with children, cars are not required in a medium sized city like Edinburgh.

One interesting (albeit off-topic) point she and her husband made to me was that having kids in push-chairs/buggies suddenly makes you appreciate the issues that disabled people in wheelchairs must have all the time for access to buildings.

I have to confess I would find the idea of not having a drivers license pretty extraordinary. If I lived and worked somewhere like New York City or London, I could imagine not owning a car depending upon the exact circumstances, especially given the availability of short-term rentals like Zipcar these days.

But essentially depending upon others to get out of the city for the weekend to anyplace that isn't likely an other city? Or being able to travel to destinations outside of towns/cities without having someone along who can drive? I'd find it incredibly limiting. In fact, I'm in the midst of planning a couple of hiking weeks in the Pacific Northwest that would be utterly undoable without renting a car.

Whatever works for you of course. I just can't imagine it.