So cyclists started raising money for roads in the 1900s from private individuals ("Pope [...] and other special interest groups"), private companies ("asphalt

So cyclists started raising money for roads in the 1900s from private individuals ("Pope [...] and other special interest groups"), private companies ("asphalt manufacturers") and 16 years later when it was too late, the government passed some bill to give themselves credit for funding the roads by saying they would match state contributions. And now everyone thinks if it weren't for the government we couldn't have roads.