Yeah you are correct. I don't own a car and I have friends that are really annoying about me driving and I'm just going to have to be firm and tell them to knock it off already.

I'm an adult, and I don't have to justify to you why I do what I do or don't do something. I've been getting around just fine by means of public transportation and am happy with that. Respect that and kindly shut up about it.

For the majority of what I need to do I can use my bicycle. Why is that something laughable? I'm out her getting excercise and taking better care of myself and that's funny? Yeah ok.

It's definitely cultural and it's sad how people have been manipulated into thinking that this is the way it should be when it isn't. People look absolutely miserable being in traffic or dealing with other folks who can't just be civilized and go where they need to go.