There is a documented history of this kind of thing. See https://www.vox.com/2015/1/15/7551873/jaywalking-history
The idea that everyone hated cars and the evil car lobby came in and forced it upon them is flat out incorrect.
What the auto industry accomplished was to push the government to favor cars to the eventual exclusion of almost every other form of transit.
Even if people didn't hate cars, this still wasn't a fair fight in an open market. It was an industry co-opting consumer and voter power.
This idea is not present in the article and is a wild exaggeration of your own.
Even Paris discussed in TFA is 10 times better than 99% of American cities... and most of European cities are even better walkability wise...