It's been many years, but when we were stationed in Germany, we walked, took the streetcar or train or biked when we could, for many reasons. First off, our gas was rationed, and was still very expensive (I dunno if this rationing was a military thing or a German thing, but in any event it applied to us). Secondly, it was easy to get around on the streetcar and you didn't have the parking hassle. Streetcars were everywhere and were on time, inexpensive, and safe. We walked to work and many other places, like when we went out to eat -- everybody walked everywhere, both military people and the German people as well. If we wanted to visit another city, we took the streetcar to the train and then when we arrived at our destination, took the streetcar to where we wanted to go visit.
Many times the only time we moved the car in a month was either to get a bunch of groceries from the commissary or take people and luggage to and from the airport in Frankfurt.
I wish the US had such easy and safe public transportation, but in most places it doesn't.