The underlying issue is urban planning, cities built around car travel. I live on the other side of a river from where I work. There are exactly 2 bridges in the entire greater New Orleans area. In order to get to my office, which (a straight shot) would be 10 miles from my house if there was a bridge, I have to drive 20. Oh, I could take the ferry-- assuming it's even running, or there is room for me to put my car on it. And it costs a dollar. There is NO transit that goes to my office. Carpooling is out because there are only about 10 employees here and everyone I know at my office lives less than 5 miles away.

On the other hand, some people are just lazy.