No, it means that if you deliberately refuse to take steps so you don't "need" the ride, we think you're imposing on your friends for really lousy reasons.

You presented that as some sort of principled stand and sorry, you're describing jerk behavior -- "you need to give me a ride because I'm tired of changing flats at roadside " is something you should be ashamed of, but you've stated it defiantly.
Show your friends this thread and ask for their honest feelings about this. I dare you.