> But commute times on public transport are absolutely dreadful.
Where this is true, it’s due to a policy decision to prioritize private vehicles ahead of everything else. I noticed your subsequent “less than 10 minutes of drive time”, which as an American seems quite fanciful for someone who didn’t “win the lottery” - that’s barely enough time for parking in many cases, or a single congested intersection or on-ramp.
The other big factor is alternate use of that time: if you’re walking or bicycling, you get a workout; if you’re on transit, you can catch up on your reading, gaming, social media, or prepare for your first meeting; but if you’re driving you’re just staring at the car ahead of you wishing you could go faster. That’s why so many people really want to believe self-driving cars are right around the corner because that holds the prospect of a simple purchase making their lives better without having to help anyone else.
Where this is true, it’s due to a policy decision to prioritize private vehicles ahead of everything else. I noticed your subsequent “less than 10 minutes of drive time”, which as an American seems quite fanciful for someone who didn’t “win the lottery” - that’s barely enough time for parking in many cases, or a single congested intersection or on-ramp.
The other big factor is alternate use of that time: if you’re walking or bicycling, you get a workout; if you’re on transit, you can catch up on your reading, gaming, social media, or prepare for your first meeting; but if you’re driving you’re just staring at the car ahead of you wishing you could go faster. That’s why so many people really want to believe self-driving cars are right around the corner because that holds the prospect of a simple purchase making their lives better without having to help anyone else.