Yes, the parent commenters did skip public transport and focus on the other modes. But focussing on public transport, I use it. I go to Manchester on the train

Yes, the parent commenters did skip public transport and focus on the other modes. But focussing on public transport, I use it. I go to Manchester on the train. It's about the same time as driving (once you've got to the station), and when you take into account parking about the same cost. It works for me because I live not too far from a station, and Manchester is a /relatively/ nice city to walk around in. I like it at least. I do it in part because it's easy, and in part because it means I can have a few sociable beers at one of the user groups I attend. But it doesn't take much to make it a far worse option than driving. I live on the edge of the area that's reasonably walkable to a station. Many others live further away. If I want to go somewhere else (the closest town, Stockport, for example) I'd have to get the train into Manchester, then back out to Stockport. It'd take potentially an hour to do, and cost way more than the 15-20 minute car journey + parking. The bus to Stockport is an alternative, but also weirdly more expensive, far less convenient, less reliable (1+ hour wait for a bus? Done that when I was younger), slower and less clean than my car. If I want to go to Chorlton, a little further over (there's a nice supermarket apparently) I can take a 35 minute car journey, or I can take a 3 walk + 2 bus journey at 1 hour 20 minutes. A trip that has all the downsides of bus travel I previously mentioned, but doubled, + it will still cost more. Public transport is great, and cars are toxic, but it only works where it's not crap. I used to live in London and didn't need or want a car, it was great. Here, I'd be isolated. In the US public transport as far as I can tell is even worse. I don't hold out much hope for public transport here, or in the US unfortunately. It's a nice idea, but then so is universal healthcare and not leaving Europe.