| In Winnipeg, car culture is the norm, yet many people choose not to drive. This study explores the idea of car-free culture and its potential to both inform and be supported by city planning policy through three phases of research. First is an analysis of the prevailing discourse of transportation in Winnipeg as heard on a public radio program. Second are in-depth interviews with people who choose not to drive, presenting a car-free perspective, from which is created a profile of car-free culture. Third, a questionnaire for local policy-makers offers professional responses to the findings and helps to identify recommendations.;The findings also indicate there is value in further developing car-free culture, currently in its early stages in Winnipeg, and in using the concept to inform policy which in turn will better support living car-free. Recommendations are made to encourage, facilitate and promote car-free culture in the areas of infrastructure, regulation, policy, funding and marketing, to shift what is considered normal discourse away from the car and towards other modes. The study is intended to normalise car-free culture so it is more widely accepted and practised in the mainstream, ultimately contributing to the long-term sustainability of transportation.;Key words: active transportation; car-free; culture; discourse; promote; reality; sustainable transportation; transit; Winnipeg;The findings confirm that the prevailing discourse in Winnipeg expresses the viewpoint and characteristics of car culture as described in the literature. The profile of car-free culture created from the interviews presents a different reality. Car-free culture occurs entirely in the public realm, at a local level, and offers an immediate experience of the surrounding environment. While being car-free can be liberating and the journey enjoyable unto itself, personal safety, particularly considering the power imbalance when sharing the road with cars, is a concern. Car-free culture is rational yet requires flexibility, often achieved by using multiple modes. Though there are grades of deliberation in choosing to be car-free, the choice expresses one's self-identity. |
