> benefits outweigh the risks and negative impacts This is deflecting a critique of a systemic problem with a defense in terms of individual (and personal) eff

> benefits outweigh the risks and negative impacts This is deflecting a critique of a systemic problem with a defense in terms of individual (and personal) effects. Taken broadly, this statement is utterly wrong, and the benefits come nowhere close to the dramatically negative impacts on human health and life, accessibility, neighborhood cohesion, child development, commute time/difficulty, the local and global economy, the local and global environment, etc. If the whole system around you were changed, even marginally, toward more efficient and effective uses of land, infrastructure, and resources than a car culture, you would almost certainly significantly benefit (along with everyone else). For problems of this magnitude your personal choice is not really the issue (though there are certainly personal choices you can make which have a slight positive impact in your local neighborhood).