Anna Semlyen is the author of the book, "Cutting Your Car Use", which has sold over 110,000 copies and is National Campaign Manager at 20's Plenty for Us. 

Here is what Anna says about being carfree.

"Though I have a licence, I'm a non-driver by choice, cycling around York daily. It's quick, inexpensive, non-polluting keeps me fit and trim (along with teaching yoga).

Although I could perhaps afford a car - spending £3250+ pa would be stupid when I live local. I'm an environmentalist. I was run over once when a driver didn't stop at a give way sign and don't want to do that to anyone, so haven't owned a car since 1994.

Using off-road routes like along the river when direct is pleasant. York is a cycling city because it's compact - the places I go regularly are within a 30 minute moderate cycle. I don't pay for parking and can accurately predict journey times.

All my family ride. My husband Graham Smith cycles the 8 miles to work at FERA in Sand Hutton. My daughter, Rosie (9) and step sons Oscar and Howard (9) can all cycle together with our trailer bikes (we've got a U plus Two double trailer bike) or on their own bikes. Rosie prefers to walk herself to school. We have done parent and child cycle training which raised her confidence.

I shop by bike, sometimes using a trailer box when I'm buying a lot.
 

I wish York had a 20mph city limit for residential roads anywhere within the Outer Ring Road and have vigorously campaigned for this. It would encourage new cyclists and be safer, improving everyone's quality of life. I'm on a 4 minute film made by Streetfilms of New York, featuring the work of 20's Plenty for Us in the UK."

http://www.streetfilms.org/no-need-for-speed-20s-plenty-for-us/

 Links:

 20'sPlentyforUs: http://www.20splentyforus.org.uk

Cutting Your Car Use:  http://www.cuttingyourcaruse.co.uk