Originally Posted by tandempower

I think that 1% growth rate is deceptive, the way the population growth rate neutralizes births with deaths. Many people try out bike commuting and then give up for various reasons. You would have to closely analyze those reasons to see how they are being subtly discouraged from making the switch.

Think of it like all the people who have quit smoking, or drinking, or eating meat; only to give up and restart. The reason they go back is because of peer-pressures, cultural norms, etc. If the same person who fails at quitting smoking moved to a society where no one smoked, it would be much less likely for them to relapse and go back to smoking when they were the only one doing it.

Driving is the same. It's easier to go on doing it because everyone else is; and if no one else was, it would be hard for most people to muster the independence to be the only one doing it.