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Comment by code123456789 | Hacker News Reader

This kind of advanced city is so expensive that the middle class has to use public transportation, even when they wish to ride a car. That's not about the rich. Really rich people do not use public transportation, they can afford a car with a driver, or a helicopter even in the most expensive cities. Taxis exist all over Europe, even though middle class often uses the public transportation.

So I would rephrase this quote as An advanced city is the one where public transportation is clean, safe, time-reliable and abundant (covers most of the city/metropolis).

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I mean it depends on what you think rich is. However the reason why rich and popular people often use the train in Switzerland are not only the views and because it is comfortable but also because it is usually by far the fastest way to get around.

I've seen our then president getting a sandwich before he jumps back on a public tram.

I feel the article is talking about the top 10 percent in the city not the top 0.01% who can afford a helicopter.

And these people would use the subway if it would get them from point A to point B faster than a car.

Exactly. Talking about the top 0.01% is a distraction, because whatever they're doing won't move the needle a bit on transportation (unless they're blocking a highway construction or something).

Don't think of billionaires. Think of your average Google engineer.

Faster and more comfortably. Back when trains were only for the rich (just after private cabins) they looked like high end restaurants. This gradually went away but I imagine a great breakfast to be a much more appealing activity than driving in rush hour. Decent seats, tables/desks and fast internet (without a portal page) so that one can plant down the laptop and get to work would also be more interesting than driving.

This. The business lines here in Switzerland even sometimes have a Starbucks on board. And are comfortable and classy as fuck for only like 20 or 30% more cost than the cheap seats. I've had colleagues who would actually write down the travel time as work hours.

I don't like the idea but perhaps the service level needs to be adjusted more accurately to the audience. The rich are getting richer while everyone else is losing purchase power. I really don't like paying 2 or 3 times what a trip by car would cost. I'd prefer a 3rd class cabin with simple seats or non at all if it means I can travel where I like cheaply. Others might prefer to do more of a business class commute, at much higher rates, in comfort, with some actual service.

It doesn't cost 2-3 times as much. Especially as business traveller you pay a flat price lower than semi-nice car would cost per year. Many 'normal' travellers use this too.

I often travel first class when I find tickets on sale. Sometimes I plan my travel around good ticket offers.

6.5 hour train ride first class for 30€ is a thing. Normal price is ~€100. Gas would be about 60€ so it is cheaper anyway as soon as you are two people.

I assume that our household is in the top 10 percent in our city. I ride the bus because it is more convenient and better for my temper. It is also less expensive, by about $75/week.

Quite a few streets in Istanbul are too narrow for cars. No matter how "rich" you are, you'll have to exit the car and walk like the rest of us 'plebes'

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