Yeah, but cars did appear quite quickly, and only thanks to a small number of fortuitous conditions (cyclists successfully lobbying for improved roads being one of them). Cars have always existed on the edge of a razor. It wouldn't take much in the way of an oil crisis to force a bunch of people to consider alternative transportation. And if it came on the heels of a recession, well, expect bicycle prices to skyrocket and car dealerships to be handing out brand new SUVs for a song.

America is only the land of the automobile as long as people can afford to run them, and that time has to come to an end sooner or later.