There are many cities where you need a car. Sure you could try to optimize where you live but that alone is a luxury that many cannot afford.

Yet many can't afford cars even in those cities.

There are many places where it's almost impossible to live a normal life without either owning a car, or heavily relying on someone who does.

There are many places where the opposite is true. Are we just focusing on the states here? The world is pretty big and most of it is unlike the USA.

We're not focusing on the states no. I live 10km outside one of the largest Danish cities and work across town, that is not doable with public transport or biking (biking would add 10km to my commute). It becomes even less possible when my child starts daycare and I have to pick her up no later than 17:00.

It's not even that I can't take the bus, it just adds 1 hour and 45 minutes in the morning and at least 1 hour in the afternoon.

Due to Danish taxes on cars and the high starting prices on electric cars it's becomes a problem for most people.

You can't even take the train across the country in Denmark, it takes to long. If you have a meeting at 9 in Copenhagen, you have to leave Aalborg (400km away) the day before. You have to fly or drive, which will be significantly cheaper anyway.

Does that mean the folks who are capable of living without a car shouldn't be proud of it?

No one is saying everyone should be without a gas car, just some folks have moved on and are proud of it.

No, I'll just Uber everywhere :)

Guess depends where you are/how far. It got expensive fast for me Ubering 15miles(one way) to work and back. Was about $60/day with tipping.