Im also european but even in rural areas you tend to not have to drive american distances as often. Americans often consider anything below 3h drive a short drive (crazy right?)
I guess? Most American cities have extremely poor public transport. NY and Chicago are okay but in most of Europe any place with more than 50-100k people will at least have a tram system and regional trains, maybe even a metro. It’s just when you get down to places with only a few thousand or a few hundred people, then the bus to town might only come once in the morning and once at night or something like that.
It’s not like all European towns have perfect public transit. We have plenty of places without a busline too. I agree it’s not to the extent of the USA, but here in Denmark we have a lot of smaller communities that simply don’t have busses, because they’re not directly sandwiched between two bigger cities.
Yes that’s basically what I was saying, that in small places the options can be very limited. I don’t know about Denmark but where I have lived (France, Germany, Switzerland) and visited, without literally any bus at all is still somewhat uncommon.
Yeah, fuck that guy for not being born in a different place or having the socioeconomic standing to pack up their entire life and move to a better place. He deserves to be miserable for other people’s collective actions!
That’s such a nonsense argument.
80% of the US lives in an urban area. That has plenty of options for walkable neighborhoods with public transportation. The reason that those don’t exist are active policy choices that people have voted for and keep voting for.
I think that’s exactly what that person is saying though. There is plenty of opportunity for good public infrastructure, but bad policy and auto lobbies have prevented them from happening. A good example is how most neighborhoods are not allowed to be located with businesses/shops/restaurants, and vice versa. This simple change would make so much more of the country more walkable
The shitty thing is before WW2, America had some of the best public and most profitable transportation infrastructure in the world. American railroad tycoons were some of the most wealthy individuals in the nation for a time even and before that it was steamboat tycoons. As you say auto lobbyist ruined it all unfortunately and AmTrak is a sad excuse of what’s left.
To this day, the boomers in my life tell me that “freight trains in the US are the envy of the world.” Ok, great, but it would be nice if it was usable in daily life
It’s easy to be cynical and point your finger at the corporations and politicians. They certainly play their role in the problem, but placing blame solely on them is really uninformed.
People in the US are spread way the hell out. It’s difficult for lower population areas to institute mass transit that is economically viable due to the low density and distances involved.
And as far as major urban areas with really high population densities? Not everyone who works in a large city lives there. Some people travel 1-2 hours one-way to make more money in the city and live somewhere much more affordable in the suburbs. It’s very hard to effectively service all of the suburban areas that surround large cities.
Bottom line, it’s as much of a logistical problem as any other reason.
Commuting from the suburbs to the city center is a perfect use case for advanced high-capacity public transportation. It’s something that most cities on earth manage, the US could too.
Also this isn’t theoretical. The deliberate prevention of new and in some cases destruction of existing public transportation in the US to increase car dependency is well-documented.
The pressing question is: why must public transport he economical viable when its supposed to enable the economy by moving people from their homes to the working place?
Europeans don’t have to drive to survive the way most Americans do.
There are more European countries than the Netherlands.
The distances the average american has drive is greater than that of the average european
Sure. Doesn’t mean that there aren’t millions upon millions of Europeans who spend more than 1-2 hours per day in their cars.
Well it’s about time we fix that, isn’t it?
Gekoloniseerd
Ah yes goods and supplies don’t have to come by truck. They can just public transport themselves to the supermarket.
don’t forget the postal delivery pony
Scandinavians drive a lot
Depends. In cities no. In rural areas or small villages, often yes.
Im also european but even in rural areas you tend to not have to drive american distances as often. Americans often consider anything below 3h drive a short drive (crazy right?)
But then that goes for America too.
I guess? Most American cities have extremely poor public transport. NY and Chicago are okay but in most of Europe any place with more than 50-100k people will at least have a tram system and regional trains, maybe even a metro. It’s just when you get down to places with only a few thousand or a few hundred people, then the bus to town might only come once in the morning and once at night or something like that.
It’s not like all European towns have perfect public transit. We have plenty of places without a busline too. I agree it’s not to the extent of the USA, but here in Denmark we have a lot of smaller communities that simply don’t have busses, because they’re not directly sandwiched between two bigger cities.
Yes that’s basically what I was saying, that in small places the options can be very limited. I don’t know about Denmark but where I have lived (France, Germany, Switzerland) and visited, without literally any bus at all is still somewhat uncommon.
no, in Statesia most cities don’t have functional public transit
Try living in the alps, for just one instance.
Yes we do.
Of course, excuse me while I take the monorail into town to do the weekly shop.
A crass misunderstanding, but sure, if its what you think.
Oh no, if it isn’t the consequences of everyone’s collective actions
Yeah, fuck that guy for not being born in a different place or having the socioeconomic standing to pack up their entire life and move to a better place. He deserves to be miserable for other people’s collective actions!
Lack of empathy for people who inherited their forebearers mistakes is not a desirable character trait.
The consequences of what exactly? Living in a really big country with a much lower population density than Europe?
That’s such a nonsense argument. 80% of the US lives in an urban area. That has plenty of options for walkable neighborhoods with public transportation. The reason that those don’t exist are active policy choices that people have voted for and keep voting for.
Have you even been to the US? Even most of the urban areas have horrible public transit and even worse infrastructure for biking.
Maybe get off your high horse and engage in reality.
Maybe vote for somebody who will give you better public transport and cycling infrastructure.
I think that’s exactly what that person is saying though. There is plenty of opportunity for good public infrastructure, but bad policy and auto lobbies have prevented them from happening. A good example is how most neighborhoods are not allowed to be located with businesses/shops/restaurants, and vice versa. This simple change would make so much more of the country more walkable
The shitty thing is before WW2, America had some of the best public and most profitable transportation infrastructure in the world. American railroad tycoons were some of the most wealthy individuals in the nation for a time even and before that it was steamboat tycoons. As you say auto lobbyist ruined it all unfortunately and AmTrak is a sad excuse of what’s left.
To this day, the boomers in my life tell me that “freight trains in the US are the envy of the world.” Ok, great, but it would be nice if it was usable in daily life
Living in a country under laws written by oil corporations, in cities whose public transportation was privatized and destroyed by car manufacturers.
Yes… I’m occasionally sorry I was born too. Thanks for that.
I just answered the question. IDK why you’d take that as a personal attack.
It’s easy to be cynical and point your finger at the corporations and politicians. They certainly play their role in the problem, but placing blame solely on them is really uninformed.
People in the US are spread way the hell out. It’s difficult for lower population areas to institute mass transit that is economically viable due to the low density and distances involved.
And as far as major urban areas with really high population densities? Not everyone who works in a large city lives there. Some people travel 1-2 hours one-way to make more money in the city and live somewhere much more affordable in the suburbs. It’s very hard to effectively service all of the suburban areas that surround large cities.
Bottom line, it’s as much of a logistical problem as any other reason.
Commuting from the suburbs to the city center is a perfect use case for advanced high-capacity public transportation. It’s something that most cities on earth manage, the US could too.
Also this isn’t theoretical. The deliberate prevention of new and in some cases destruction of existing public transportation in the US to increase car dependency is well-documented.
The pressing question is: why must public transport he economical viable when its supposed to enable the economy by moving people from their homes to the working place?
Yes but no. What you say came later.
Fyi, Europe is bigger
What about rail? What about EVs?
What about trading in those giant penis extensions you drive for something more fuel efficient?