I've been living in Europe for many years. Never needed a car, and moved around cities on a bicycle, public transportation, and sometimes a cab. On a train/plane for longer distances. Safe, healthy, pleasant, loved it.
Moved to the US last fall. One can't live here without a car anywhere outside NYC (and maybe Boston/Chicago?).
The reason is not just the car-centric cities design. It's the individualism culture, the severe income inequality, and the crime levels. I'm not advocating for or against the US culture to be clear, just pointing out the slightly less obvious causes of the car use.
It's also not specific to the US. Canada has identical car culture. And even the utopias in Europe have lots of cars. And suburbia, too! It's fascinating how perceptions are manipulated on HN to fit a narrative.
Moved to the US last fall. One can't live here without a car anywhere outside NYC (and maybe Boston/Chicago?).
The reason is not just the car-centric cities design. It's the individualism culture, the severe income inequality, and the crime levels. I'm not advocating for or against the US culture to be clear, just pointing out the slightly less obvious causes of the car use.