Hesitant on hiring nanny without car

[Anonymous]

I am hesitant on hiring a nanny without a car, and wanted to find out others with that experience whether she can be reliable. It a good 20 minute walk from the bus station to my home and they are ready to take the bus, and those than live more than 5 miles are ready to take train and bus. One even asked more money because $25 for her ride. Other said $5 for train one-way so they want good pay. Pay is not my concern, other than I am paying more not for their care. My main concern is that they won't be happy walking the 20 minutes - and I will have to be on constant alert on weather and whether I have to pick them/drop them from the bus stop. And if I don't, I am afraid they won't be happy. Or they'll be too cold and get sick, their feet hurting, them becoming too tired.

I'd like to know if this type of issue was a non-issue for others, then I might consider them using public transportation.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like your house isn't located in a metro friendly area. If it were closer to bus or train stops if say you're being silly to insist someone have a car, but this doesn't sound like it would work out long term in all kinds of weather. I don't have a car and don't apply to jobs that aren't on a major bus line with good service. I love to walk and bike but even I would get sick of a twenty minute walk, especially in the heat and snow. It's one thing to do it when you're in the mood but another to do it because you have no alternative. I live about 20 min from my job and usually walk, but one knowing I can bus it in about 5 min if I need to or want to.

[Anonymous]

This person is crucial to you getting to work yourself. I vote no. Find someone with reliable transportation.

[Anonymous]

If you are a 20 minute walk (minimum, weather may make it longer, and make the nanny late), absolutely not.

[Anonymous]

No, you are too far from public transit. Not only do you risk lots of last minute scrambles to find child care, you may end up losing your nanny in a month or two when she finds something easier to get to. Hire a mature nanny (25+) with a car.

[Anonymous]

Probably no, but I would look at past experience. If they've previously been a reliable nanny to another family or families with similar walks, then I would consider it. Some people do not want to drive for whatever reason and have years of experience walking in all sorts of weather to public transit. Otherwise, no.

[Anonymous]

I live in San Francisco and our nanny doesn't have a car. But we live two blocks from a bus, and up the hill from a metro step (just under a mile). Many people here don't have cars. It's never a problem.

[Anonymous]

You sound like a genuine pain in the rear. OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I live in San Francisco and our nanny doesn't have a car. But we live two blocks from a bus, and up the hill from a metro step (just under a mile). Many people here don't have cars. It's never a problem.

2 blocks or up the hill is fine. OP is 20 minutes on a normal day, with weather it will be worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in San Francisco and our nanny doesn't have a car. But we live two blocks from a bus, and up the hill from a metro step (just under a mile). Many people here don't have cars. It's never a problem.

2 blocks or up the hill is fine. OP is 20 minutes on a normal day, with weather it will be worse.

+1. I lived in the SF Bay Area for 11 years. Not one snow day, a handful of 90 degree days, and a city small enough that you could walk around the perimeter of it in a day, excellent bus coverage, too. There were no days that a bike would have been unmanageable, for example. Totally different reality.

OP, I passed on a candidate whose references told me she was very reliable once she told me that her transportation options were bike and her boyfriend picking her up some days. We were interviewing in June, and all I could think of was how she was planning to manage when it got dark early, and it was cold and rainy/snowy/icy. It seemed like hiring a built-in problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in San Francisco and our nanny doesn't have a car. But we live two blocks from a bus, and up the hill from a metro step (just under a mile). Many people here don't have cars. It's never a problem.

2 blocks or up the hill is fine. OP is 20 minutes on a normal day, with weather it will be worse.

+1. I lived in the SF Bay Area for 11 years. Not one snow day, a handful of 90 degree days, and a city small enough that you could walk around the perimeter of it in a day, excellent bus coverage, too. There were no days that a bike would have been unmanageable, for example. Totally different reality.

OP, I passed on a candidate whose references told me she was very reliable once she told me that her transportation options were bike and her boyfriend picking her up some days. We were interviewing in June, and all I could think of was how she was planning to manage when it got dark early, and it was cold and rainy/snowy/icy. It seemed like hiring a built-in problem.

I wouldn't be concerned about walking or biking when it's dark or cold, but the rain/snow/ice would concern me.

[Anonymous]

I was very open to nannies on public transport, but a few storms an experience where I questioned whether a more independent nanny would have been a better option. When public transport has problems, or weather related, count +2 days (overall) on what you would loose with a nanny on wheels. I hate to say that, but DC is no SF, and our public transport is unreliable and does not work in favor of nannies without car.