Interesting and I agree with some of your points. Very true I am not working so shopping by foot relaxing and ideal. But up to end of last year I was leaving home at 5.45 am and getting home about 6.30pm , looking after elderly relative and still never used car to shop in SE 23.
Call me excentric but I honestly believe by time you have gotten in traffic jam and then parked quicker to walk for most people in SE 23.