Individual independence and convenience were a goal in American culture the middle of the 20th century, until the externalities of that were understand.
There's some famous interview - can't remember with who - about how at the time getting a car gave incredible freedom nobody had experienced before. It was a big part of how people saw the American dream in the last century, before the impact was understood.
> how at the time getting a car gave incredible freedom nobody had experienced before
It's not just "at the time" - it still does that, and I'm saying this as an immigrant from a society that relies much more on public transport. I'm not disputing the impact, but in these discussions, it's often presented as price that's paid for no gains of note, and that's just not true. Whether they're worth the cost is another discussion.
I sure don't see it that way. Let me know when we invent something that can affordably and reliably take me to the base of mountains for hikes (real hikes, not shitty crowded garbage like Lake 22 or Mount Tam).
> Let me know when we invent something that can affordably and reliably take me to the base of mountains for hikes (real hikes, not shitty crowded garbage like Lake 22 or Mount Tam).
If you visit Switzerland, you'll find this is an extremely solved problem.
Getting to a particular mountain is solved. This isn't a comparison of some tourist experience in a country the size of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Its about the freedom to explore our great national parks, etc.
> Its about the freedom to explore our great national parks, etc.
No one's getting rid of that freedom. Cars are still legal and commonly used in Switzerland.
The point is that effective public transportation networks can reduce the need for cars (and the resulting pollution, congestion, noise, etc.), particularly in populated areas. Instead of a family needing to own two cars because reaching the grocery store and kids' school requires a drive, a family might need just one, or even be able to just rent one for a weekend of camping.
One of the best things about the Swiss system is the close integration between different modes of transport, even across different operators. Bus schedules are set up so they drop you off right before the train comes, and they leave just after it drops off its passengers, so you're not sitting around for an hour awaiting a connection.
Can you elaborate on how my feet would help get me to remote trailheads? Even if buses took me directly to the dirt roads, it's often another 20 miles to the trailhead itself. Are you suggesting I take unreliable 3 to 5 hours one way buses and then walk for 6 hours on a dirt road just to get to a good mountain climb?
Yes. Or you could just keep using personal vehicles and complain about the lack of alternatives.
The only issue I have with your plan is that while walking on that dirt road I'd have to deal with people that don't care for pedestrians using their roads meant for vehicles.
Anyone who doesn't get free parking, or doesn't want to spend their time and money maintaining a personal vehicle, but is coerced into doing so by society that was built around them.
Land has been completely irrelevant to the success of the entire information economy and the US still dominates that. It has nothing to do with a “superior moral fiber”, it’s about having an environment that promotes innovation and businesses based on new innovations.
How fast is it? Prior to the first Gulf War, airport security didn’t impose long waits and significantly tilting the balance away from trains. On the freight side, companies have to keep product on the books if it’s on some rail car vs. having been delivered by truck the day before.
The US has prioritized other modes of transport because the US had priorities beyond "how clean it is".