> What I still don't see is how this all applies to local transport. If I understand you correctly, you claim that local transport options in Europe and the US

> What I still don't see is how this all applies to local transport. If I understand you correctly, you claim that local transport options in Europe and the US cannot be compared. Why is that? In some cases it can be, but that's where the issues of density and context/surroundings really come into play. In order for a transit line to be viable, you have to a critical mass of people willing to use it. It's inefficient to run trains and busses with no passengers, so schedules are reduced, which makes things less convenient for users. In my experience, there actually ARE local public transit systems in the US. Most of them use busses, but they exist. Most people don't use the public transit unless they have to, though, because cars are so much easier and more convenient. And while more investment into transit could make it more attractive, there are still issues and limits on how much it would actually be used due to the generally fewer number of people with access to any one transit line, as well as the destinations available from the pickup spot.