Cars are difinitely thing of convenience. But as long as public transport exists, it is not a necessity. On another note - 2 miles is a walking distance, or at leats it should be for a healthy individual. If you had said 20 miles probably would have gotten more compassion in community against cars.

EU is 450 million in population. Nevertheless, the statement is still valid, that this is a massive population size and it is not to mess with. But in pricipal, divide and conquer could break this up in to managable pieces.