Originally Posted by
Roody
As long as car use is cheap, there's no need for an alternative, according to most people. (and by most, I mean 99 per cent.)
But car use isn't cheap. A new car will probably cost between six and 12 months' take-home wages. That's a huge outlay of cash. Anyone who's bought a new car understands the payments quite well. A used car is cheaper, but it's still a lot of money. Insurance and repairs are also significant. Parking comes with a price. Fuel is probably the cheapest part of the equation and it's getting more expensive each year. None of this begins to include the psychological effects of sitting in traffic on a daily basis or dealing with road rage.
The problem isn't cheap cars. Instead, we've created a society where, in many areas, there are few other practical transportation solutions.
Those of us who are car-free or car-light are demonstrating that there are some alternatives. If we can live in such a way that car-free or car-light living become attractive and realistic, we may start to see others joining us. But if we make it look like a hardship, cars will still be the transportation method of choice, even if they are expensive to own and operate.