[Jochim]

The problem is that the majority of people do end up driving within that ~5km limit in cities that don't invest in public transport and cycling infrastructure. In the UK most cities are around this size, but our modal share for cycling is much lower, despite similar climate conditions. The main difference I see is that we invest heavily in infrastructure suited for cars, but very little in public transport or cycling.

I guess what I'm trying to say is cities typically end up the way they do due to how their residents approach transport planning. You can either continue with a car centric approach that leads to more sprawl and a city center that's less welcoming/interesting to visit, or you can try to make the city friendly towards more efficient modes of transport that encourage people to onto the streets.