Yet Danes have very high car ownership levels too...

Let's not kid ourselves: we have simply made choices that favour the car over other transport modes. Rip out the streetcars without building rapid transit, reduce bus service and force bikes to mix with high speed traffic, and you'll end up with what we have today: auto-dependent cities. Car culture did not spontaneously take hold in North America. We made policy choices that favour the car.

I think the point is that we can make choices that support a more balanced transportation system. Cars may not be going away, but they aren't always the best way to get around, either. Building streets that give people meaningful choices as to how to get around - as opposed to our car-dominated streets - will likely reduce auto dependence, and create more livable places.