Steve,
Not defending cars & car culture by any means, but, in looking at a new job for myself, I've seen a LOT of "must have own car" etc, and also work places that are far from public transport & dense residential areas. Part of one owning their own car is subsidizing the employer. (the employer could choose to do business in a public-transport, dense environment, but chooses not to) Instead, they choose cheap locales for their businesses and expect the employees to subsidize the employer. (by having to drive everywhere)