the article talks about being "ensnared by cars" and being, "in a society so saturated with cars" so talking about the application of bicycles in these conditions as being more efficient and swift in comparison seems fair. It's not talking about Kansas.

I'm fortunate enough to live in an area that has seen almost non-stop growth in the 40 years I've been here. In that time, along with the growth, traffic has noticeably changed, so much so that a trip that would once have been quicker in a car than a bike has become slower than the bike.

Luckily, city council has recognized this and invested in infrastructure that encourages more efficient management of the limited resources the city has to move citizens more efficiently. That usually means more support and encouragement for cycling, transit and walking than ever has been granted in the past.

I suspect more of this in the future because after all, this investment results in greater return than investing in personal motorized options. When that policy was pursued in the past, mobilization became worse, not better.