Why is it hard for cities/towns to promote public transport over cars and freeways?

Question

Why is it hard for cities/towns to promote public transport over cars and freeways?

In: Other

Answer 1

A big reason that stands in the way has been that the cities were originally designed and built to promote individual vehicles. In areas that public transport, like trains, were more popular, they build trains into the city plans, instead of erecting them after.

You can see this in some towns/cities in Germany that are predominately sidewalks. The city was build to promote walking and public transit for larger voyages.