Sometimes Europeans make fun of US for whining when gas gets above $3.50/gallon when they're paying $7+. However, in most places in the US, a car is practically the only option for getting around. I live in OKC, and there's basically zero public transport. There are some bus routes, but they aren't extensive enough to rely on fully, and some of the distances from residential areas to commercial areas make bike commuting difficult. In Europe, they have viable public transport that is a real option in most places, and bike infrastructure to support bike commuting. I am in a position that I could bike to my office from home, but I'm an IT guy and have to make 4-5 trips daily to customers' offices for tech support, so biking wouldn't work.