If you live in a car-centric city without walkable and bikeable streets nor great public transit and force car-dependence that is what you get.
There are plenty of non-car-centric expensive cities that one can travel across in less than an hour.
There are plenty of non-car-centric expensive cities that one can travel across in less than an hour.
Once I went to car free I got rid of about 25,000 in credit card debt in 6 months or so. Much of why so many Americans are so desperately poor has to do with car ownership. While it's possible to get Uncle Jimmy's Old Jeep running, most people just finance something. Once you make your car payment your insurance and gas, that's easily a third of your income. Compared to a $100 a month bus pass
1. Expensive
2. Not particularly family friendly
So if you are a high earner with roommates or a partner and no children, you have options. For the remaining 90% of the workforce, it isn't particularly feasible.