Car owners, and refusing lifts

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Does anyone know why motor car owners (usually NTs I guess), always either seem to either take offense at my refusal of a lift, or become so baffled that they have to have a discussion among themselves about the potential reasons for my refusal?

Especially where my family are concerned, I could have rode a bicycle home by the time we have finished arguing about why I don't want to travel in their car.

Why will no one just accept 'no'?

Sure, cars do have their uses on odd occasions, like when I have lots of luggage, or when the weather is bad etc, but most of the time, they do nothing but damage the environment, damage people's health, and are a safety risk.

Learn to do little white lies.

"Sorry, I can get car sick..."

or

"Sorry, cars make me claustrophobic."

Be sure to smile and thank them for their offer.

It's a direct way of saying to them that they are a bad driver. Or rather a direct interpretation.

I guess that kinda makes sense. I guess most typical car addicts don't really care for safety or the environment, so probably wouldn't understand my point of view.

Or (in my case) I'm fat and I need the exercise of walking home.

I wish people would give me lifts, i've tried hitchhiking before but never had any positive results.

when you own a car its hard to see why someone would want to walk or ride a bike
its just so much easier and faster to get places

Why would anyone take a lift from a stranger or give a stranger a lift? It's risky. I thought drivers knew this.

I've had occasion where my acceptance must have constituted a license to criticize aspects of who I am. Most of the time in the past those offers had not been there when I needed them and only since I got my own means of transport has anyone bothered really. There's a form of subliminal superiority at play in someone saying "let ME drive". Additionally I've never liked being stuck at the mercy of someone who wants to leave early if I want to stay and vice-versa