How easy is it to get around your area without a car—and do you think that shapes the place at all?

A natural way to answer

It's fairly straightforward—there's a regular bus and a station nearby. I do think good transport links shape the character of an area; when people aren't reliant on driving, the streets tend to be livelier and a bit more social.

Key phrases to use

• bump into — to meet someone unexpectedly by chance“I bumped into an old friend at the market.”
• cooped up — shut inside a small or confined space for too long“The kids get restless cooped up indoors all day.”
• get by — to manage with what you have, without difficulty“We get by perfectly well on one salary.”
• deserted — empty of people; with no one around“The streets were completely deserted by midnight.”