5 ms·

The US public transportation system is severely lacking so there needs to be a very high incentive for people to take it or a disincentive to take the car. Pub

by Fuxy 11y ago

The US public transportation system is severely lacking so there needs to be a very high incentive for people to take it or a disincentive to take the car. Public transportation is by design more inconvenient than taking the car because you have to wait for it and during rush hour be crammed in to a busy train. However if the city has very good and fast public transportation it can still be better than driving the car and being stuck in traffic for hours. London is a good example if public transportation done right. I can get anywhere by underground and bus way faster than you can with a car.

wolfgke 11y ago
> Public transportation is by design more inconvenient than taking the car because you have to wait for it and during rush hour be crammed in to a busy train. You can work in the train but not while driving.
- throwaway049 11y ago
  The majority of people on my commuter train are obliged to stand, and those that have seats don't have tables nor enough elbow room to do much laptop or even tablet work.
  - wolfgke 11y ago
    I have already read math papers while standing in the tram. Not comfortable but possible (the same would, of course, hold for a train). Also depending on the type of train it can be possible to answer emails on your mobile phone while standing (I don't own a mobile phone but have seen people doing that). Not all kind of work is done on a laptop or tablet. It can also be reading texts, checking emails etc. (of course you will try to optimize your schedule accordingly).
- ekianjo 11y ago
  > You can work in the train but not while driving. I recommend you get a reality check in the Tokyo metro at peak hour. Maybe you'll change your mind.
  - vacri 11y ago
    Not even the extreme of the Tokyo metro - there are plenty of rail lines that are standing-room only during peak hour.
  - Fuxy 11y ago
    You can't do that even in London. Unless you're luck and you're getting on at a terminus station and there's seat available. If you absolutely need a seat you can always let the first train got if there's no seats depends on haw important it is to get a seat for you. Of course if you avoid peak hours which we can it's a different story.

by Fuxy 11y ago

wolfgke 11y ago

> Public transportation is by design more inconvenient than taking the car because you have to wait for it and during rush hour be crammed in to a busy train. You can work in the train but not while driving.

throwaway049 11y ago
The majority of people on my commuter train are obliged to stand, and those that have seats don't have tables nor enough elbow room to do much laptop or even tablet work.
- wolfgke 11y ago
  I have already read math papers while standing in the tram. Not comfortable but possible (the same would, of course, hold for a train). Also depending on the type of train it can be possible to answer emails on your mobile phone while standing (I don't own a mobile phone but have seen people doing that). Not all kind of work is done on a laptop or tablet. It can also be reading texts, checking emails etc. (of course you will try to optimize your schedule accordingly).
ekianjo 11y ago
> You can work in the train but not while driving. I recommend you get a reality check in the Tokyo metro at peak hour. Maybe you'll change your mind.
- vacri 11y ago
  Not even the extreme of the Tokyo metro - there are plenty of rail lines that are standing-room only during peak hour.
- Fuxy 11y ago
  You can't do that even in London. Unless you're luck and you're getting on at a terminus station and there's seat available. If you absolutely need a seat you can always let the first train got if there's no seats depends on haw important it is to get a seat for you. Of course if you avoid peak hours which we can it's a different story.