It's a matter of political priorities. I didn't have a license when I lived in Toronto because I didn't need a car, couldn't afford one and, to be honest, was afraid of the responsibility. I cycled everywhere, except during the coldest and snowiest days of winter, and took transit. After moving to London, having used their PTS for a couple years, i needed to cut out the 2+ hours a day on transit so got a license and bought a car.
I love driving, and I'm pretty good at it. I really enjoy walking. I also love cycling, and am pretty good at that too (just need to get my knees fixed and I'll be back on the bike!), but I'm too busy to spend hours on transit in London for a trip that would take 20 min by car. I've met with the Chair of London's transit committee and there's neither the funding or the will to improve public transit. He said, "there isn't the ridership to warrant more routes". I said, "you'd get the ridership if you improved and increased the routes." I doubt whether anyone on the transit committee has taken a bus in their adult lives.