Afuá, Brazil

Living in a car-free Amazonian town might sound romantic until you realize your only transport options are boats through tide-dependent channels, and an airstrip that's frequently submerged. Afuá, self-styled as the "Venice of the Amazon," forces its 39,567 residents to adapt to life on stilts, with wooden buildings elevated above the mercurial waters of the Vieira Grande Bay.

This isolated Brazilian settlement, where roads are actually raised wooden walkways, has been vehicle-free since 2002 - not by choice, but because the island simply can't accommodate them. The municipality sprawls across 8,372 square kilometers, though much of this is water and remote islands in the Amazon Delta. Despite the logistical challenges, the town has gained attention as a potential model for zero-emission living, though this environmental win comes with significant accessibility trade-offs for residents who must rely entirely on water transport for connections to the outside world.

Note: The population figure 8,120,131 appears to be incorrect based on the source text, which states 39,567 as of 2020.