It’s weird enough in the US to be my age and not have a licence to drive a car that I felt the need to put something here. I’m not a felon, I don’t have a DUI, cars don’t freak me out, and I’m not really explicitly boycotting them or anything.
Yes, a world in which we mostly use small electric vehicles and share larger transport among the community seems better, but my car-free life has a less thoughtful origin.
In high school I had the option to take an art class or driver’s ed. I was already riding my bike and taking the city bus everywhere, and saving up to buy a computer.
I decided to take the art class. Rather than pay for a summer driver’s ed course (dipping into my computer fund) I saw no reason to stop biking and taking public transit. I did eventually get out of the habit of biking and into the habit of walking, but I still find public transit fine for my purposes.
Many people need cars for work or transport for their families and so on. My choice to not drive isn’t meant as a judgement on those who do. I’m just happy to take a bus or a train, etc, and so far haven’t had much reason to change my mind about it.