While public transport is undoubtedly fantastic, let’s not pretend that it’s a great option in many European countries. I’d love to take the train in the UK, but thanks to the Tories it would cost me more to take the train (when it works) than it would to drive and park.
Public transport in Europe is often in a sorry state, but trust me, it’s nothing compared to the US. Here in France, a lot of regional trains are very unreliable at best but at least high speed trains on dedicated tracks are fine (very expensive, but ok).
I don’t remember UK rail to be a shitshow and/or that expensive but my only experience is going to/from central London to/from neighboring counties and it was fine.
But in the US, oh boy. About 15 years ago I was living with some roommates in Campbell, CA and we went to SF one day. 1h drive mostly on shitty concrete motorways, including probably around $5 of gas. They were heading north for a romantic getaway so I went back to Campbell by myself. It took almost 4 fuckin hours, on maybe 4 or 5 different private companies, and cost me like $25 to get back.
Public transit in the US is so fucked up im almost convinced it’s by design.
While public transport is undoubtedly fantastic, let’s not pretend that it’s a great option in many European countries. I’d love to take the train in the UK, but thanks to the Tories it would cost me more to take the train (when it works) than it would to drive and park.
The key is public ownership of public transport.
Public transport in Europe is often in a sorry state, but trust me, it’s nothing compared to the US. Here in France, a lot of regional trains are very unreliable at best but at least high speed trains on dedicated tracks are fine (very expensive, but ok).
I don’t remember UK rail to be a shitshow and/or that expensive but my only experience is going to/from central London to/from neighboring counties and it was fine.
But in the US, oh boy. About 15 years ago I was living with some roommates in Campbell, CA and we went to SF one day. 1h drive mostly on shitty concrete motorways, including probably around $5 of gas. They were heading north for a romantic getaway so I went back to Campbell by myself. It took almost 4 fuckin hours, on maybe 4 or 5 different private companies, and cost me like $25 to get back.
Public transit in the US is so fucked up im almost convinced it’s by design.