why do people ride cars rather than Metrorails, Buses and NMT?

Question

many people use their cars to work. this is despite the distance from home to work is walkable, bikeable, or less than an hour by train?

they complain on the smoke and pollution. yet it is the cars emmissions that contribute to that pollution they avoid.

btw, NMT is Non Motorized Tranportation

Answer 1

One word, convenience.

Answer 2

Other than the absolute "convience" they THINK they are experiencing, I don't quite know !! With the internet, scheduling your trip and gathering local information is SO easy !!

I was in the Navy when I started taking the BUS to work back in 1993 when my ex got my car in the divorce... it required that I think ahead in scheduling, and it tagged on an additional 15 minutes on my normal 30 minute commute. BUT I could relax, do the crossword and laugh at the idiots on the road. I did that for 2 years, using my car only for the 2 mile drive to the Exchange/Commissary every other week.

Then after I returned to California in 1998, I had gotten a DUI and was sort of "forced" to take public transit for a spell.. but again found it perfect !! I could move to an area of lower-rents... ride my bicycle 2 miles to the train station... take a 30 minute train-ride, and bike another mile to my office.

Later, I moved closer to work (mile and a half) and would just walk or bike to work... and also the 5 blocks to the market or my pub or the bank / post office.

Now I have a new roving job that forces me to drive my materials to the job, but I take my truck TO 80% of the sites on Monday with my bicycle... and bike / train home Tues-Thursday with a van-drive home on Friday.

I UNDERSTAND those who live in RURAL areas (like my brother who is 25 miles to the nearest town)... but if you're in an urban / suburban area there is NO excuse.

I grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area back in the days when 30-50 mile visibility was the NORM !! Now adays you're lucky to see 15-20 miles !!

Answer 3

In many places in the United States, the public transportation system isn't reliable, or not readily available to anyone not living in a major metropolitan area - many employers will not accept tardiness at work due to a 'train or bus' being late - unlike the employers in Denmark (where I currently reside), where it's accepted that the transportation occasionally is behind schedule.

Unlike many cities in Europe, the majority of major cities in the US do not have a designated bike path, which places cyclists on the road with all the vehicular traffic, which is much more dangerous. In smaller towns/cities, they don't have the budget to support the infrastructure needed to have their own public transportation system.

Answer 4

All too often the mass transit will get you close to where you want to be but you may be miles from your office, store, shop or wherever you need to be. This is particularly true in Los Angeles where the city grew up with cars. Older cities like New York, Chicago, San Fransisco and others have multi-use neighborhoods that were necessary before cars made rapid transportation commonplace.

Answer 5

Independence, distance to job or requirements of job.

You must not live in the US. Many cities here do not have train systems for commuting or buses or subways.

I personally stop and start 75 to 200 miles on any given day that I work. This is in Florida. So nothing but a car would allow me to do my job.

America is a sprawling place and God Bless it.

Answer 6

Here in Los Angeles we have a very poor public transportation system. Since the city is so spread out the cost of creating a workable public transportation system is vast. So everyone drives a car or motorcycle, those that can afford one anyway.

I drive my car because it would cost just about the same amount of money to drive my car as it would to take public transportation, and it would take longer for me to get to and from work in public transit, so I save some time.

Answer 7

Because it's convenient.
Taking NMT usually means you have to buy tickets and be at the bus stop or whatever at a specific time. Using your own car means you don't have to worry about being at the bus stop on time. - I'm only guessing because personally I usually take a bus then train to get to Uni unless I'm running late.

Answer 8

Cars are made for small groups. trains and planes; other large carriers means, when the accident happens, more are likely to die at once. your choice of safety precautions has been taken away, you have no choice but to die or arrive with the traveling group. small cars do not give you a safety choice either. Way too much herding up of the people going on.

Answer 9

I live in a city that does not have good public transportation. I am too far to walk and I don't think bikes are safe. So my only option is to drive. I don't drive much. Just to and from work and that is pretty much it. I wish I lived in a city that had great public transit, but I don't.

Answer 10

Because people are lazy and don't care about how the world will be like in 20 years. All they care about is money and fun. People need to think about others! The kids who will be living in this world after you die. Think about how your leaving it for others. This is just sad. It's like if you offer someone a piece of gum then chew it up and give it to them. Anyway.

Answer 11

And the motorcycle helmet on your avatar represents YOUR preferred method of transport? OR is it just for recreation? So you pollute without any purpose but your own pleasure?

Glass houses, bud.