I read it, but I didn't agree with it. Over decades Utrecht drifted from small town, to large freeways running through the middle, to flooding the freeways to create canals. And now converting freeways to long parks.

Over a long time period like that it's never that you can't do it. The USA and Canada managed the conversion from European style cities before trains, to public transport based cities when trains and trams arrived, to car centric easily enough. They could go back.

If they don't, it will be because the won't, not because they can't. I wouldn't say never, because once the car manufacturing falls away a major source of lobbying pressure will fall away. Car centric lifestyle needs a champion, because it's more expensive, less efficient time wise, and less healthy than the alternatives.

There is no car manufacturing done in the Netherlands now. I doubt this is a coincidence.