Yes, cars are flexible. They are jacks of all trades, but masters of none. At long distances, trains win handily. At short distances, bikes do.
> Need to move 3 or 4 people? Driving the car may be cheaper.
That's the issue―the average car occupancy is <1.5. Our goal should be to raise it, by offering alternatives to cars in cases where they're not appropriate.
> Are there many cases where people should take public transport or ride a bike instead of their car? Obviously yes.
Not many, most. Cars are a niche, they're only economical when transporting a few people with cargo over medium distances. Everything else is more efficiently covered by another mode of transport.
And "obviously", huh? Look outside. It's all roads.
> But once you have a car to cover the exigent circumstances it is easy to use them for personal comfort reasons.
You'd be surprised. The Netherlands is the best example of this―the Dutch own almost as many cars per person as Americans do, yet they cycle orders of magnitude more.
It's a matter of designing our built environment to make the most efficient mode of transportation for the situation the most convenient option.
My initial post had the context of "life as it is now". To further these thoughts though:
> > Need to move 3 or 4 people? Driving the car may be cheaper. >That's the issue―the average car occupancy is <1.5. Our goal should be to raise it, by offering alternatives to cars in cases where they're not appropriate.
When I said this, I meant in terms of $ to the individual making the choice. Apart from city parking costs, and congestion charges, with modern phones being used a lot for transport these days could we do dynamic group discounts? IE my transport app shows a QR code, my friends who are coming with me scan it with their transport app and by travelling together(beeping on and off at the same locations within the same timeslot) we get a discount?
> Not many, most. Cars are a niche, they're only economical when transporting a few people with cargo over medium distances. Everything else is more efficiently covered by another mode of transport.
I agree in the context of city planning and public transport being a lot better than it is now. Otherwise, the last mile problem is a hard one to get past. As soon as you walk or ride a bike to the station/bus-stop you've introduced constraints on cargo, physical fitness and weather. All mostly easier with a car. Also, a car provides freedom/flexibility for midday decisions like "I'll do the groceries on the way from work" or "my wife had an issue at work, so I'll go pick up the kids this afternoon" or similar - harder to do if you've committed to pubic transport in the morning.
> And "obviously", huh? Look outside. It's all roads.
Where I am, public transport is buses. Bicycles are meant to ride on the road. So the roads are still used even if the car isn't.
> You'd be surprised. The Netherlands is the best example of this―the Dutch own almost as many cars per person as Americans do, yet they cycle orders of magnitude more.
This is one thing I find frustrating. But not everyone has a "default active" lifestyle. Many are quite sedentary. Also, a significant chunk of car costs - purchase/depreciation, yearly insurance and registration - are not mileage based. But it is frustrating that other options are not even considered. Again though, urban planning and current public transport shape the society we live in for generations. Maybe we'd all be more active if it was better done.
> It's a matter of designing our built environment to make the most efficient mode of transportation for the situation the most convenient option.
So much this. But there is a lot to overcome. Individualism, NIMBYs and cars themselves as a status symbol of freedom and "go anywhere, go anytime" flexibility. I don't see how to do it - but I'd support smart attempts to try.