I was damn near broke when I moved to my apartment. I had to change cities due to rent prices. I found a central location in the new city but after 8 months of job searching the only hit I got was in a rural area just outside the city. I am very good at this job and the owner respects me so its currently my best employment oppourtunity. I am expected to be on call at times so I cannot rely on the bus service to the rural location. I carpool with another employee when the schedule allows.
Things aren't as easy to switch as you make it seem. Many of us are forced to drive because that is the world that was built for us. I manage to walk most places I need to in the city and even downtown pedestrians are barely considered in the design of the street. If I must drive somewhere I save those trips for days I'm already commuting.