Being car free worked really well for me for 6 years. I was in an ideal situation for it ... easy walking distance from many of the things I needed, and cycling distance to and from work and several other things that were somewhat further away. Plus a decent bus service. I also discovered that my city had many ways to help me in difficult circumstances ... things like grocery delivery, pet taxi services, and car rental services that would pick me up and drop me off at my door.
And Winnipeg was flat as a pancake!