Well yes, cars are do have their advantages. No mode of transportation is perfect. Mooching off == carpooling == good :) If roads and cities were planned so that bicycling is easier then it will create incentives for more people to use pedal power. Easily accessible mass transit can solve the hauling capacity problem and long-distances problem. Honestly, if I could bicycle on roads (without having to worry about being run over by an SUV) and take the bike on a train/subway, I would do that 99% of the time. And, if I only need a car for the 1%, then I might as well rent one when I need it.