I feel very grateful that I live in a country where the social contract between the government and its constituents has guaranteed extensive, affordable public transit and biking infrastructure for everyone.

I do feel quite sorry for people living in countries where that is not the case, often due to extensive lobbying from car manufacturers — and as a result are subservient to the severe constraints of car ownership.

Having lived in such an area earlier in my life, my quality of life was absolutely worse off for it, and having to bike on roads only suited to motor vehicles in the southern US summer heat to go grocery shopping or go to school did induce anxiety, yes.

My kid can't leave our neighborhood on foot nor bike. There is no walking here. If he tried, I would be very, very anxious.