(06-27-2024, 04:53 PM)tomh009 Wrote: And yet, many people spend 3h+ per day commuting to Toronto. That's a month/year if you prefer to count that way.
Yeah, but that's usually out of necessity, not a want. A 3 hour commute is something people do because there is some sort of benefit that outweighs the time wasted and the negative health impacts spent commuting. It's not something most people are going to choose to do if they do not have to or continue to do any longer than needed. The same fact holds true about a 25 minute commute each day - or a 25 minute bus or train ride to a concert. Choosing to drive also comes with its own forms of poorly spent time, but for most people in most situations...driving is always going to be the superior option. If it weren't, there'd be more demand for alternatives. It's not as if people are brainwashed into choosing to drive places over cycling to them, it usually just that driving is more comfortable and convenient. Better buses will make people use them, but driving is still likely going to be the "better" choice.
There's nuance, but I think this explains the general attitude as to why as a society most of us choose to drive places. This is intentionally leaving out arguments that people would bus more if it was more frequent or if cycling was safer, because of course they would if alternatives were simpler. Or conspiracy theories about how Big Auto and Big Asphalt have conditioned us into having to drive. It's just a great way to get around.
And indeed a lot of us do willingly choose the longer option for plenty of reasons, be it that a car is too expensive, they enjoy travelling that way or they're idealistic about it. I recall overhearing a lady on the LRT chatting with a random guy next to her, explaining how she loves taking the GO train to Toronto because it's more laid back. But at her age, she could afford the time spent doing that.