@BWeaves - I think if you live so far from work (I mean 30 miles a day -- there and back -- is not bikeable, even with an electric) perhaps one potential way to reduce car use is to bike to a transit point? Or bike to a co-worker to carpool? I live 6k (about 3.7miles) from work, that's doable, I think I could be OK with up to 5 miles, after that I would seek an alternative. If your work is near an airport then then there is usually transport to the airport. (and you could avoid horrible bike-unfriendly highways).
I used to commute with my fold-up bike, 15 minutes to the train station by bike, an hour and 15 mins train, 10 mins on the other end to work... it worked but it was a pain meeting the train times since my tickets were very inflexible. But I liked the bike bit...
@imperator well I hope you're right but signs are bad
@runningtravel I think the demand for air travel is still increasing -- people are flying more and more instead of less and less. So I do think demand plays into it.
@travelteach -- hearing you. America seems to be completely stuck train and bike policy. I can only imagine that ordinary citizens have to take pains to raise the issue with local governments, local businesses, state governments etc. We have to have a lot of conversations about it. It's a lot of work, and why can't it just work? Beyond frustrating. Why would not flying mean not seeing the grandkids and parents though? Chicago is the train hub of the US if nothing else.