This reply seems to be a good illustration of the attitude described by its parent. The word they is telling. I live in a city with one of the most cost-effect

This reply seems to be a good illustration of the attitude described by its parent. The word they is telling. I live in a city with one of the most cost-effective public transport systems. People in Tokyo tend to think of the railways as an extension of themself / their home / their city. Whereas I imagine most Americans tend to look at such systems from an external perspective: hence "they".