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One Canberra family will have a head start on the government's plan to push people away from commuting by car having travelled almost solely by bike or bus for the past 40 years. The ACT had the fourth highest number of passenger cars per 1000 people among states and territories at 611. The figure drops for the whole of Australia to 578 per 1000 people, suggesting cars are the primary source of transport for most Canberrans. However, that may all change with the ACT government's strategy, announced last week, aimed at helping the territory reach a target of net zero emissions by 2045. Canberrans will be encouraged to switch to electric cars, or abandon them all together, with car free days planned for parts of the city. Opposition leader Alistair Coe labelled the strategy "very arrogant" saying it told Canberrans that it was "wrong to use your car" and "wrong to live in the outer suburbs". One Canberran who rejects that claim is John Mason who has done everything possible to avoid commuting by car throughout his lifetime. Raising a young family in the 1980s, originally in Cook, Mr Mason and his wife Nancy didn't own a car and it was a common sight to see the pair on bikes, Mr Mason towing one child with a rope, another riding alongside, and their youngest in a child seat. Five years later when the family moved further afield to Latham they finally purchased a car but still relied on bikes and buses to get almost everywhere. Mr Mason would commute upwards of 200 kilometres a week to his job in Acton and the children would bus or cycle to school. Their older daughter, Nadezhda Greenwood, said those early years instilled a love of exercise in her and is the reason she still cycles about 150 kilometres a week. "I think it gave us a lot of mental strength," Mrs Greenwood said. "When you have to do something you just do it. I think if we had a car I wouldn't have had that love for exercise instilled." Their youngest child, Anna Mason, had to take three buses to get to Dickson College. Rather than it being an imposition, she said the West Belconnen "bus crew" formed strong friendships which were a key part of those later school years. Mrs Mason said initially the reason the family didn't have a car was purely economic. "We weren't thinking about saving the planet, we were trying to save for a mortgage," Mrs Mason said. However, since then and with the arrival of grandchildren, Mr Mason said there was a case of "turning necessity into virtue" as he's become even more committed to avoiding the car for the sake of the planet. So much so that at Anna's wedding he gave a speech about the need for everyone to combat the progress of climate change. "For my grandkids this is really important," Mr Mason said. "To make sure things are right for them you have to do something now." At 77 years old, Mr Mason is still cycling upwards of 50 kilometres a week to commute and takes advantage of the ACTION bike and ride initiative. Mr Mason does not criticise those who use cars, and sees that in many circumstances, such as with small children, for long trips and employment, they are necessary. However, he said avoiding being reliant on cars was not only possible but could be overwhelmingly positive. "We live in a beautiful city, we don't want to live in a car-centred city," Mr Mason said. "It's just not a good way to get around an urban environment." More cycle paths, better public transport planning, extending the tram and road safety education were all ways he said the government could help people become less reliant on cars. Ms Greenwood, as a keen cyclist, said changing attitudes to respect motorists, cyclists and pedestrians would encourage more people to choose other forms of transport.

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