I use my van (3 carseats, 2 boosters) when we go anywhere. I personally worry about public transit ( I think that the bus safety videos they showed me as a kid in school scarred me for life. Lol.). I do take the kids on the occasional trip to the local nature trails but only when numbers are down. If I plan bigger trip (I do a couple of times a year) for everyone, I plan it for a day when I know that a mom I trust is available to come with us,drive her own kids and to help supervise.