That is a vox article. It's fun to read and gets a lot of shares on social media. But it wildly exaggerates reality and wildly downplays that massive demand and growth in car ownership during that period.
The idea that everyone hated cars and the evil car lobby came in and forced it upon them is flat out incorrect.
Such a chart would in no manner prove your point. Something can become prevalent could be because (a) it is the preferred option out of many equivalent and equally available options or (b) it is the chosen option due to having been given preferentially treatment. Given that your time period contains Eisenhower's expansion of the federal highway system, option (b) is the more reasonable interpretation.
The idea that everyone hated cars and the evil car lobby came in and forced it upon them is flat out incorrect.