You can make decisions that mean the car can be used less. When my wife and I were looking at houses to buy, I was insistent that we buy something close to the train line, which we have done. It is about 3 minutes from our front door to the train station. This comes in very handy. The local supermarket is less than a kilometre away and I have often gone shopping on foot, with a backpack (and until recently with one of the boys in the macpac possum
). This is a really good way to do it - the kid gets a good view of things and the pack still has a pretty large carrying capacity...
It does make you buy less and go more often, but when the shop is that close, why not?
Also, when my colleagues and I were choosing an office, we picked a spot that 2 (of the three of us) can get to easily via the train, so on the few days I go the office, it is a direct train trip there.
Yes, we have a car, but it is mostly only used when we are carrying lots of stuff or going distances we can't easily do any other way.