Sometimes you don't have much choice but to drive if you want to ride on country roads. In some cities, it is a heck of a long ride to get out of town or maybe the roads to get out of town are just too dangerous. I grew up in a city like that (New Orleans). I feel fortunate to live in a city that has a first rate system of MUPs and it is easy as pie to ride out of town (Des Moines).