If we (tech fans) really wanted to help alleviate the problems roads have (traffic, accidents, etc) - public mass transit is the way to go.
But I guess .. where’s the immediate hype-based profit in that? (think: “omg blockchain… I mean nft… I mean ai!!1!!”)
It is freedom. Life is "energy wasting" too, but don't let that get in the way of ideological virtue-signaling...
Those working in the mass transit industry call passengers "cattle" for a reason.
Roads may have problems but the alternative you're proposing is far worse.
Yes, one can get into the car and drive and live “the way of the road” like Ricky’s dad on TPB but again:
How is that freedom?
“Freedom” is american marketing.
It is freedom
Sorry, but "far worse" is simply excessive.
Living in a large European city, namely Paris, and having experienced both car and mass transit, I prefer the second option a lot, to the point I sold my car without replacement about 6 years ago after 2 years of barely using it.
There is of course the ecological aspects, but even in terms of quality of life, I much prefer public transports: it's cheaper, it's less stressful, it's more predictable and I'm able to do other things like reading while transiting.
By comparison, in this context (dense urban area), cars, with their needs (maintenance, parking, etc) are actually more constrain than freedom.
And that's not like I'm a unique case, most of my colleagues either use public transports or (e)bikes, car users are a minority (~20%).
In Paris, there is even a large proportion of the population who didn't even have a driving license at all.
Doesn't it means that mass transit is the perfect solution? no. But in dense urban area, it's probably the best compromise.
I think mostly people are talking at cross purposes though. I too live in a large European city and getting around by car is incredibly constraining (traffic, parking, other drivers etc) while using the public transport system, while not perfect, is smooth in comparison.
However, for less dense areas, eg going on holiday somewhere in the countryside, it is much more convenient to have a car and I suspect that many people are coming from this angle. In those circumstances, I will rent a car as necessary. It doesn’t happen often so I still save in comparison with the cost of owning a car.
Living in sparse suburbs is probably hell without a car. This is partly because of poor town planning but also, I imagine, because a certain set of people want to have that much space. The trouble is that the externalities of the car travel are generally concentrated elsewhere, so it’s a bit unfair.
I don't see how it's pretend. Sure its not true freedom in the sense there's no cost or rules, but cars allow for spontaneity and a way to easily go off the beaten track.
Cars are liberating in the same way a horse would have been hundreds of years ago. A car allows me to go where I want, when I want and that's worth any cost.
They make the average person's life better and I wouldn't want to live in a world where I couldn't drive.