It's a little different over here in the States....for one thing the distances involved are much larger if you don't live in a city center and there really is very little public transportation, especially out in the suburbs. We also have weather - in all the negatives that implies - heat, wind, humidity, cold, ice, snow hail rain and on to deal with on a daily basis....hard to get to work every day when you're dealing with that too.
Another factor is age, once you reach a certain point in your life bicycling becomes less of an option - my wife for instance could not ride to the grocery store and bring home a weeks groceries - or even a days worth. When I was younger and lived inner city I would ride my bike to and from work, better than 10 miles each way but it was pretty interesting having to carry a suit and tie in a bag on the bike, then change when I got to the office.
But I agree with the premise....car ownership HAS gotten extremely expensive and I think we're all going to be looking at alternatives. It's great that you live in a country where public transportation has been well developed. Also interesting to hear the universal loathing for the bus!
The wife and I are retired, but still own two cars - she hates being "trapped" at home if we only had the one car and I was gone for a few days, but I can see us approaching that time - in the future just the one daily driver and one Mini should do us OK I think.