How can people afford cars?

some thoughts:

• I don't think the £15 a day is far fetched when you take into account depreciation, financing, tax, insurance, MOT, all the repairs, parking charges, petrol etc... People seem to have nice new cars and I understand cars in this country cost even more than say in France.
  
• all earth resources are precious, I'd rather see less cars and more public transport rather than finding alternative fuels in order to sell more cars. Some people don't have the basics for cooking and heating their homes so I find it a bit sad that we think we have the right to own a car and demand to pay a minimum for it.
  
• It is a shame that people do not have enough choice in public transport when they are outside London and cannot find jobs nearer their homes.
  
  

Has anyone noticed any change in traffic in London the past few years? What was it like to cycle say 2 to 10 years ago compared to now?