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It's less about the number of people and more about the percentage of them that can afford a vehicle. Horses are expensive (lots of upkeep). Cars are expensive
by db48x 6y ago
It's less about the number of people and more about the percentage of them that can afford a vehicle. Horses are expensive (lots of upkeep). Cars are expensive too, but not as expensive as a pair of horses. Society is today quite a lot wealthier than it was a hundred years ago partly because cars are so inexpensive, but it does mean that the roads are more crowded.
- rhn_mk1 6y agoNow that I think about it, I don't quite remember the number of pedestrians on the streets this century. I think it is slightly higher now compared to then, but the total number of people outside is definitely higher. Reading the sibling comment, with constant population, this probably boils down to lifestyle choices. Do people live farther away from workplaces now? Are businesses more centralized/spread out? What would have to change to recover the lost freedom from traffic while keeping the population content?