What the hell happened to horse and carts?

I was going to go into town today to do some errands but found myself running a bit late for the bus, and next bus was an hour or two later, (live in the countryside) so, I decided to bike the distance, approx 8 miles, not too long, would be nice to get out into the fresh air.
Fresh air was great, for 2 miles, small country lane, even mud tracks on a field, then whallop, the only road into town, a heavily trafficated two lane road, lovely.
There was I, helmet, even mirror on the bike, and still felt like this might be my last day alive.
Lorries were passing by, breakneck speed, even cars, some driving so close to me, I could feel the wind sucking me in.
The thought that struck my mind then was, 'is it really worth it, there is quite a large possibility I could in a few seconds be no more, wiped out, all my future plans, a lifeless heap on the road, and there would be no reboot of life.

Now I get to the title, when horse and carts drove, blow me away if you had a fatal accident then, ok, it happened, but would you ever really think, god I hope I don't get run over by a horse today, the fear wasn't there as it is today with cars. Of course nowadays it would be impossible to have horse and carts, as society is based on speed and performance, often a desired combo, and horse and carts would be far too slow in society's opinion to sustain a working business climate.

Yet, why can't society slow down just a little, prioritise the building of cycle paths, even if it's just a bit of mud on the roadside, to name one example, instead of building new cinema colosses, or laying new tarmac on a road with ridiculously small potholes. It could honestly survive having a few dents in it, worst thing that can happen is your car get's splashed by minute puddles.

This fantastic way of thinking in Society (^o) is so disappointingly due to the loved and hated concept of 'money' and it doesn't seem like it is going to change, at least not for the better.

/Mercury