Here in The Netherlands we use bikes. They're great; so much faster than driving for short distances. It helps that housing is for the vast majority of people within 10-15 mins cycle and the land being flat.
I've always wondered: how do disabled people get around in cities designed for bicycle travel? Mostly those powered wheelchairs? If so, how did they get around before the invention of those? (The answer in America has always been 'you put them in a car, and then they can go wherever a car can go.')
You see a lot of those electric wheelchairs. There are also special buses provided by the council. Disabled people get a personal budget for stuff like help in house and a mobility budget. Because, you know, you need to look after the weakest members of society.
Oh man, I live in Melbourne, Australia and riding a bicycle here is terrible. The bike lanes are squeezed between parked cars and driving cars, with the risk of getting doored being really high (should be zero). And if you do get doored, the attitude of the person trying to kill you thinks that it is the cyclists fault.
I know, happen to live in Groningen, and love cycling as a solution. However, there are some situations where I still like a car. Cycling in winter isn't great, cycling with baggage isn't great either, and cycling in the rain gets wet.
Cycling is great, I hope to get along in life without a car, but cars are still great to have as an option.
Trust me, we know. Your reliance on bikes is a huge inspiration and talking point for US urbanists.
Unfortunately there are features of most US cities (lack of public interest, obesity, disability, low density, long commutes, weather) that block our adoption from approaching yours.
