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We are not currently motorised as Alan Bennett would say. And never will be.

It’s wrong to drive a car. Really wrong. And I do believe from absolutely years of being part of the highest levels of research, discussion and debate and learning from experts on all sides – that most people probably believe this too. Deep down.

Right now I need full disclosure, Old Mum does so hate hypocrisy. I have travelled in friends’ cars – it’s rare but does happen – and benefit from the services of long haul trucks that bring my south african cucumbers to the Morrisons near my home. And I’ve booked taxis when we just couldn’t put our cancer-ridden cat through a long bumpy trip to the vet in a bike trailer.

Then I should mention the ultimate sin of being a delighted passenger on numerous free long-haul flights – mostly in First Class – when Old Mum was a feted travel editor and had no eco conscience to speak of.

But I have never owned or driven a car and this is pretty big. I know of only two other people who do not drive (or get driven by their husbands, which is the same). One because they are medically unable and the other who, like me, cannot live with themselves if they do.

After so many years of presenting unarguable facts to everyone from MPs and education leaders through to my own dear friends, I know every single defence a driver can give to justify themselves – if they even feel the need to do so, for sadly, we are not at the stage yet where people feel shame over belting out vast clouds of CO2 into a word on the brink of environmental disaster, so they can spend an hour in a far flung shopping centre choosing a new cushion cover.

I have to drive to get to work/school/elderly parent in a care home etc etc

I challenge them to think of a single car journey they could not have done in a different way or simply not done at all.

This usually leads to all kinds of new extensions of the central theme so to cut through it all, I might add: “If you broke your leg tomorrow morning, how would you make those same essential journeys?”

The usual answer here is rely on a partner to drive you everywhere. Remove that and people are genuinely stumped.

As the car took over our lives so the world adapted around it. Train stations disappeared, bus routes dwindled away, cavernous concrete retail hellholes surrounded by acres of carparks replaced the corner shop (which kept communities alive and mental health intact.)

And this is the essence of the problem. Having a car means you do not have to find other creative ways to get around. Because almost everyone drives, public transport is hideously difficult to negotiate and criminally expensive. If you have no need for a bike, sadly you will probably not use it. Though you probably have one in the shed…

Conversely, if people did start to give up their cars, overnight the buses and trains would fill up and become incredibly cheap and very easy to use. Cycle lanes would spring up everywhere for safe, joyous journeys on car-free roads.

People would talk to each other again, freed from the steel bubbles blocking them from their communities outside.

They would get fit. They would be happy. This would save the NHS billions of pounds they could then spend on sick babies instead of fat people.

Anyway, because the world has shaped itself round having a car, it is a brave and dificult thing to manage without one. It was hard enough when I was on my own, adding a child to the mix just ramped up the challenges.

Then along came a dog.

Is this even possible I asked myself…..

I spent days and days learning how to make a video so I could show how it’s done so rather than write any more on this now, please watch it. (I am learning how to make videos remember!)