interesting
history of how roads became viewed as made for cars. There was an organized effort by the AAA and car companies to change perceptions. I think people realize that cars are a real problem, but the Stockholm syndrome has taken over.
There is a public monument here in State College that shows how the main drag in town used to look before cars took over. Looked like a nice place to walk. Nowadays, it's effectively been turned into a highway, and you'd have to be getting drunk to want to sit beside the road during the day.