Of course, some people owning cars is not the same as society "relying on car-based transportation" (as the grandparent said). Tokyo has probably the best publ

Of course, some people owning cars is not the same as society "relying on car-based transportation" (as the grandparent said). Tokyo has probably the best public transport system in the world, and automobiles have a ridiculously low mode-share for a modern city (12%), but car ownership rates are, relatively, much higher (approx. 300 cars/1000 people). Many people own cars that they use "occasionally," when it makes sense, not as their primary means of transportation. If those people all suddenly lost use of their cars, what would happen? Not much really; the city could cope easily.