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In rural areas, cars make sense, because public transport is (usually) abysmal: bad connections, not often, don't go on saturdays/sundays, lots of walking, have
by Fnoord 5y ago
In rural areas, cars make sense, because public transport is (usually) abysmal: bad connections, not often, don't go on saturdays/sundays, lots of walking, have to take various different connections, or have to phone them up to come (great way to get rid of customers even when they state they need it every workday). A bike is useful, but has its limits. Yes, you can clothe yourself, but doing groceries or going out and about with the family to a remote location (say 50+ km away) is a no-go.
In a city, bikes are useful because everything is compact and therefore relatively easy to reach. If more people go by bike, the traffic must adapt to bicycle popularity (as happened in Berlin, as is default in The Netherlands). Public transport is also good because its popular and various options for various ranges (tram, metro, train, ferry, etc). If both of these are good, the need for cars is less there, and public parking spaces are usually sparse in big cities, therefore expensive (also the required security costs money).
One thing car/bike have which public transport don't is that you are in a relatively private space instead of sharing the commons. In COVID-19 pandemic that's a plus, if you like being social to strangers (I don't, I'm a private person, but I don't condone such behaviour).
It doesn't have to be completely anti or completely pro car. Just like with FOSS and veganism and what not, there are shades of gray, people.
- syedkarim 5y ago>> In rural areas, cars make sense, because public transport is (usually) abysmal. Where in rural America is public transportation not abysmal? I don’t believe there is anywhere in rural America where a personal vehicle can be completely replaced by public transportation.
- autokad 5y agoyou have to put the disclaimer "usually" because people will downvote you for being "too certain". There is also the haters who are like "I know a friend who lives in a rural town that has great public transport so you are wrong on everything!"