-- Roel appears to have knowledge in this area, so I don't want to contradict him, but it does seem that the Dutch went at least part-way down the path towards a car-focused society and successfully pulled back. Read http://www.roadswerenotbuiltforcars.com/netherlands/ for more history.
-- The "bike path" in my town that we celebrate as amazing would be derided as complete crap in Holland. It's too narrow, not well paved, not lit at night, and it's mixed-use, which means you have to dodge pedestrians, roller bladers, dog walkers, etc. Bike paths in the Netherlands are BIKE ONLY. Not only are you separated from cars, but also from pedestrians. One of the worst crimes as a pedestrian (and a sure sign of a tourist) is to stand in the bike lane.
-- Cycling is not just a fair weather activity. Nearly all bikes are equipped with dynamos to power lights, which are legally mandated for riding at night and are useful in the fall/winter fog and gloom. Yes, people ride in the rain, and even in the snow. For most people, biking is the one and only way to get around, so it's not an option, it's a requirement.
-- It's hard to comprehend how thoroughly bikes are integrated into society. Every office has a bike parking shed with racks and locks. Apartment buildings have storage rooms in the basement, with special ramps built into the stairways so you can roll bikes down the hill. Train stations have massive bike storage areas, and most stations have both bike rentals and also repair stations. For an extra 6 Euros, you can take your bike on the train with you to go anywhere in the country, and if you have a folding bike (very common), you can take it on the train for free.
-- Cycling is integrated into daily life. No Lycra and clipless pedals -- you cycle in street clothes. Bikes are upright and comfortable. Nobody wears helmets, even kids (our kids went nuts because we made them wear them ...) People ride at a good clip, 10-12 mph, fast enough to get there, but not so fast that they get sweaty or out of breath. When you run across a friend or co-worker on the bike path, you'll typically pull up next to them and ride two-abreast (the paths are wide enough) so that you can talk and ride.
My favorite thing: you'll often see older couples riding side by side holding hands.
Man, I would love to see this take hold in the US, but it will take a major change not just in public opinion, but also in city planning and infrastructure investment.