Given the average age and fuel economy of the existing car fleet in the U.S., several years of sustained high gas prices could drive quite a shift away from inefficient cars, without necessarily creating many more cyclists.

If there were just a little less ego tied up in horsepower in this country, most of the V-8 passenger vehicles on the road could be replaced with far more efficient cars that just aren't quite as sexy. I can carry five people and 300lbs of dogs in my little Subaru wagon, it just doesn't get up to freeway speeds quite as fast as a Hemi Charger.