We were a one-car family for the biggest part of our 26-year marriage. Being in a city with a functional transit system made it doable for us. For the first 15 years or so, I was a skateboard/bus commuter. I took up cycling when my office was miles past where the last bus ran.
I've had a 20+ mile commute for most of our marriage as well. On the days I didn't feel up to riding the whole way, (due to injury, weather or just plain laziness) I'd shorten my commute and ride to the bus stop.