You don't have to replace your commute, if its not feasable. But you could try replacing other smaller trips with a bike if you can. Like trips to the grocery store or doctors appointment.

Truthfully if the infrastructure to do these things doesn't exist for you, then don't endanger yourself.

40 minutes is a long ride, true. Maybe buy a foldable bike or a bike rack for your car, park your car outside of the city and reduce car traffic by riding from there to your workplace by bike? It sure would make this city a better place.

You're allowed to drive if there's no other infrastructure connecting point A to point B. This post is dumb because it lacks nuance. There are some cases where driving makes sense. If you live in a city where other options are safe and reliable, you should use those instead. And if you live in a city where there should be safe and reliable options but there aren't, well that's what you should be really upset about.

I used to do a 40 minute bike commute twice a day. Once it becomes part of your routine those 40 minutes are easy to conquer. Now I do the same distance by speed pedelec in 25 minutes. I'm faster at work now than when I used to go by car.

If you can't make the trip safe though, than you shouldn't. But you can, like me, start out on nice days and incorporate into your days as a workout just to try an see.

Doesn't you rural area come with horses or donkeys?

By forcing your elected officials to work on a public traffic infrastructure that could get you to the city in 30 minutes.

"How am I supposed to maintain all my privilege and continue a lifestyle that emulates a landed aristocrat?" Fucking move to the city like the rest of us exploited working class assholes. If you can't afford to live in the country without externalizing the expenses on other people, then you can't fucking accord to live in the country. Suck it up.