comment: >
  
  Public and private transport must cooperate and both must work well. A public transport will never cover all the advantages of a private car... never, not even in a hypothetical world where it would work perfectly (and, at least where I live, it is very far from being so)...
context: I used to live in a big US city and didn’t have a car. Public transit worked great most of the time. What sucked was if I needed/wanted to go somewhere that wasn’t accessible or needed to go at a time that didn’t work for the train/bus schedule. I also often felt kind of trapped because I couldn’t really get out of the city without a car. This was before Uber and I was too poor for a taxi most of the time. >
  
  This is only an issue because public transport isn’t developed >
  
  Plus being trapped in a crowded bus for 1 hr+ sucks far worse than having to drive to work and deal with some traffic >
  
  Like if were 45 instead or 30 minutes. I’m not turning it into a 90 minute trip one way though. >
  
  I live in swizerland and only use public transport and gotta say it has its positive and negative sides
  AND IT'S FAKING EXPENSIVE >
  
  Having been to Zurich I gotta say it’s not transit… it’s your country is expensive haha. >
  
  Even for Switzerland it's expensive >
  
  Okay. Because damn that was wildly more expensive than I even expected. Back in 2010 or so. Great trip, but the sticker shock in Zurich was wild. >
  
  The problem is public transport often takes 2-3x as long as driving. I don't want to turn my half hour work commute into an hour and a half. >
  
  Plus being trapped in a crowded bus for 1 hr+ sucks far worse than having to drive to work and deal with some traffic >
  
  Eh. You can multitask and get things done on the bus; read, send emails, listen to music, watch something on your phone. in a car you just have to sit there >
  
  
  listen to music
  
  I can play music/audiobooks/podcasts through the speakers in my car via Bluetooth, that’s all I need really. Don’t have to deal with other people in my space during a commute that way >
  
  You can’t read or write though so ultimately your productive potential is extremely limited >
  
  I can’t focus in a loud environment enough to read and write. >
  
  Sure, as long as the public transit isn't full of disgusting and violent mentally ill drug addicts. >
  
  It is >
  
  No matter how good public transport is - there will always be people who will pick cars instead. Flooding streets with hundreds of buses just for sake of making it as good as possible is completely missing the point. 
  Unless there will be form of public transit which you can take from right under your house, anytime you want, and take it wherever you want all by yourself - public transport will always be less convenient and because of that inferior to most current car users
  I know I never willingly use it, most people I know prefer cars over it (despite living in area known for terrible roads) - that's just how it is, convenience is subjectively more important than anything. And it's something public transport won't ever beat cars at >
  
  The issue is that 5 min of walking isn’t a big inconvenience when u can than just do what ever u want while reaching ur goal
  A car can be the most inconvenient thing ever once u get into traffic >
  
  Well, in car traffic I can peacefully listen to some music or podcast - even eat lunch. Even if you sometimes (very rarely) spend potentially more time in there, at least you're sitting by yourself in warm and peaceful car >
  
  U can’t do this In a bus or train where u don’t even have to pay attention? >
  
  No, because then I'm more distracted by being cramped with others and having to deal with their obnoxious behavior. Most of times you will find someone listening to some awful loud music, opening windows when it's already cold, talking (loudly), having phone notifications every few seconds or doing any other annoying crap
  No point of getting annoyed and depressed over it if you can just sit by yourself and do what you want to do with your environment >
  
  Thats all just false narratives/the result of poor management, better public transportation accounts for this
  ​
  u cant do what u want, ur heavily occupied by driving >
  
  So you can't listen to music or YouTube video while driving? And yet most people do, radios are standard equipment after all. And especially in traffic jam
  And even if you couldn't, not having to deal with others is huge benefit which immediately makes it far more enjoyable way of transport than bus or train. Add to it convince of not worrying about schedules or routes. Even in worst traffic, own car gives much more freedom what public transport ever could >
  
  Not unpopular. I think Europe and Japans entire infrastructure revolves around public transport. Or at least most of it. Back in the 50s and 60s when cars were become main stream, auto industry in the us lobbied hard against public transport or in favor for cars. 
  I dislike driving myself. If public transport could get me to work and other places on the, gladly pay for it >
  
  Lots of places in Japan still need cars. I’d say you can go car-free in maybe 2 or 3 cities. Tokyo, Osaka, maybe Nagoya. The rest you’re going to need a car if you want to really get around. 
  Even in Osaka most people I know have at least one car for family purposes. 
  The big difference is that you can do MOST things without your car rather than needing the car for EVERYthing. >
  
  Also the difference in Japan is you can get between Tokyo, Osaka, and everything beyond and in-between without needing a car for the majority of cases.
  While possible for some cities with Greyhounds and Amtraks as an example for the states. It’s nowhere near as easy to just go other places in a lot of countries.
  If you feel like going to the mountains, the beach, the country side, a different city, whatever you can get there with public transport in Japan. >
  
  Generally yeah. I’d say that once you leave the Tokaido corridor though it gets a bit dicier. JR is great but you can definitely end up in places where it’s hard to go pure train. I lived in Kyushu and did study abroad in Tsukuba. Both times a car was pretty useful. 
  But yeah, why can’t I easily train from SF to LA? The US is a mess in that regard. >
  
  Yeah, not at all trying to say you won’t need it. But it’s probably the most livable without a car country I know of. Definitely best for traveling while just visiting. >
  
  100%. I miss it. 
  I don’t miss some aspects but man I wish I could just take a train to work for my one day a week in the office. Instead I get to drive up to Marin from the SF Peninsula. Sigh. >
  
  Great until you need to go somewhere the bus doesn't go. >
  
  Or if you have to haul literally anything. Fuck doing any sort of home project if you have to lug everything on the bus. >
  
  Yeah, I was gonna mention that. God forbid you work for a living and have to carry tools around. LMAO, "hold the bus doors while I load up my table saw" >
  
  Or just like to work on shit for fun. "But Home Depot rents trucks." 
  Yeah and by the time I pay for that literally every weekend it's just fucking better to have my own vehicle. >
  
  Having to wait for a bus to arrive at a certain spot to pick you up to go grocery shopping and then wait for it to come back again to take you home is not convenient. And being able to drive anywhere you want at any time is the definition of freedom of movement. >
  
  Depends, it's okay if there's (at least) a 15 minute interval. Otherwise I agree with you. >
  
  I'd rather be in control than put my life in the hands of a stranger driving a bus or taxi.
  Just editing to add I'm from South Africa where busses and taxis are notoriously dangerous >
  
  
  busses and taxis are notoriously dangerous 
  
  The vehicles, the drivers, or both? >
  
  Cant speak for south africa, but in guatemala it is definetly both.
  80 year old schoolbusses pimped up with some diy welded metal ornaments and plates spitting 2m plumes of black smoke with rusty holes in the floor and chairs that fail to meet the safety standards for the children they where designed for, let alone a 2m adult. Driven by a smashed guy that has 2 different bottles of rum in a custom made holder welded to the floor. 
  Oh and these drivers think its a good idea to overtake sportcars, near a blind corner, on a mountain road, in very misty conditions, while being completely smashing drunk and going 100km/h on a 50 road.
  Drove a bus like that once, afterwards always luxury private busses where the chauffeur was fired on the spot if he drove drunk or unsafe and you made a video of it. >
  
  100% disagree. I would rather do the driving as I can come and go as I please and I can haul everything I need home or somewhere else and don't have to ask a friend to use their truck. Having a car is the ultimate freedom and, bonus, you don't have to sit next to stinky and loudmouth dickheads. >
  
  “If done correctly” is a cop out. You could say that about almost anything. >
  
  I agree, but specifically with public transportation there is a lot of objective data from European cities where it’s clear to see a positive increase the standard of living where there is cheap and efficient mass transit. People are more connected, they’re healthier, and they engage with their cities in healthier ways >
  
  I don’t want to connect with others or engage with my city. I want to be able to drive to my local grocery store whenever I want, get tons of groceries, and then go home. If I wanted to engage with others, I’d do that. >
  
  Im sorry but US cities are one of the worst mass built infrastructure in the world and a big part of that is the US DREAM. Live in a big house in a big suburb with a big car for big grocery trips.
  And this isn't a choice its objectively worse for the environment, for the people, for public services, for the country/city because of subsidies ( ever wondered why your gas is so cheap compared to everywhere else ). Thats also why US cities are nowhere close in livability measurements while European and Australian cities are thriving. Maybe you don't want to engage with others but if you have kids an American suburbia is a terrible place for socializing.
  If you want to learn more about US cities and their terribleness i suggest youtube channels: 
  Adam Something, Alan Fisher and Not Just Bikes.
  They provide examples and fixes for alot of these problems. But if you need a quick video i would recommend this one but checking the other channels would be educational. The first step is changing the mentality of people born in these towns and cities >
  
  I’m fully aware. I feel like you’re not getting what I’m saying. I want to be able to do my shopping on my own schedule, buy as much as I need (not simply as much as I can comfortably carry onto a bus/train) and go home, all while dealing with as few people as possible.
  Like I said…I do not want to engage with others. If I wanted to, I would. I just wanna do my thing and be left alone. >
  
  Why do you feel like decent public transport would be a direct attack against your life choices. YOU may not feel like engaging with other people and it's your right not to but someone else might prefer that. >
  
  When did I say it was? I’m learning from these responses that y’all are acting as if I said public transport is bad. I never said that. My response was entirely about OP’s assertion that public transport is better all around. I was saying it’s not and private vehicles do actually have benefits too. >
  
  I misunderstood. My bad >
  
  Absolutely agree. Love living in a big European city where almost nobody owns a car. The only times I wish for one are when I want to transport something bulky. >
  
  That would be my big issue that I don't see how public transport could ever accurately address. I transport way too much lumber, massive grocery hauls, big boxes, etc in my vehicles to ever make public transport a viable option. >
  
  I think the way out is to either make renting a car more convenient or having moving companies offering smaller services in an affordable way. Most grocery, hardware and furniture stores offer free delivery here nowadays if you order goods for ~50€ or more. >
  
  We don't have that, unfortunately. We have a local order being delivered this week and the delivery is almost as much as the actual order. Not worth it long term. >
  
  It probably is so less lucrative if people don't live 30 min, but 2 hours away. I still hope that it gets easier in the future for people living more rural. If perfectly organized it would probably also reduce the energy usage for basic products. Right now it seems unusable for you though. >
  
  Especially living in Southern US, I would be incredibly screwed without a car. Plus I will always prefer having agency over where I'm going >
  
  Public Transport would be amazing, but I don’t think the ruggedness terrain of Idaho or Montana would allow for efficient transport >
  
  Very true but it still shouldn’t be so hard to catch a bus in Houston 😭 >
  
  Major metro areas do need better transit. >
  
  
  the absolute soul crushing stress of driving a car
  
  what is so stressful about driving a car? lol >
  
  Gas prices and car insurance >
  
  Hell no my camaro is much more kickass than public transportation. >
  
  Too many freaks and crazy people ride busses/subways. >
  
  I like the freedom a car provides.
  That said, this isn’t an unpopular opinion. >
  
  
  in reality cars do more oppressing than liberating
  
  That's utter BS.
  I don't have a license (can't get one) and believe me, you have no idea how oppressing it is to ALWAYS depend on external circumstances to get anywhere not within walking distance.
  I grew up and still live in a mid-to-small European city, with ok public transportation (busses downtown, well-connected railway, a few airports relatively nearby) but STILL, going somewhere in the suburban area without a car requires on average 15-30 minutes longer than by driving.
  Need to be in Smalltown, 10 miles away at 3pm? The bus stop is 10 mins from home and busses leaves at 2,15 or 2,45. So you'll have to get moving one hour in advance or be late.
  Same goes for places with no nearby busses, or at  late night or on weekends. You must arrange a ride or you're boned.
  Not even larger cities with great PT infrastructures can save you. Sure, cities with the underground or with metropolitan trains are great, but all that doesn't completely cancel the need for a car if you need or want to travel outside the city limits covered by the tube. >
  
  Yes Comrade, I concur, will be excellent to discuss chess manoeuvres with you on bus.
  Seriously though, fuck cars! >
  
  That's facts. Not an opinion. You can say that about anything. What if this was this it would be better. Not an opinion. Facts.  
  If I had public transportation that could take me anywhere and everywhere. When I wanted it to. With no hassle for cheat. Yes that would be cool.  
  But that's a what if. And we'll never happen. >
  
  If only more people thought like that. Larger cities do lend themselves better to that, try out Japan, China, big cities elsewhere in Asia... An absolute joy to live without the hassle of wasting time driving. >
  
  You waste even more time waiting for the bus or train, whatever then sitting through a very indirect route to your destination then most likely having to still walk to your actual destination. >
  
  Working in a cab or train is pretty handy >
  
  What! Working in a cab or train? What does that mean and what does it have to do with what I said? >
  
  It means the time isn’t wasted. Working, reading, any tbh. It’s hard to read a book while driving but surprisingly easy while sitting on a trainbench or in the back of a cab.
  Edit: maybe I should clarify. Work as in reading and responding to a bunch of emails, reading reports, playing with spreadsheets … >
  
  I can do all that before and after work while I can leave for work later and arrive home earlier. >
  
  Except for the lack of freedom and having full control to manage your time and what locations you can go to. >
  
  Have you lived in cities with great transit? It’s actually quite freeing not to need to deal with your car every day all day. >
  
  I don’t have good public transit, but I’m located some where very walkable I only drive about 2500 miles a year. >
  
  Most cities with great transit are ALSO walkable. 
  Have you been to London/Tokyo/Paris? >
  
  I’ve been to Paris back when I was a child. I don’t have the money to go back plus I hate Europeans. >
  
  Europe is a huge continent. Saying you hate Europeans is a dumb comment. The cultural differences between Germans and Italians is huge. 
  Maybe one day you’ll get a chance to travel again and not have such a myopic take. >
  
  No thanks. Not until they culturally all stop treating America the way the costal elites treat the flyover states. >
  
  I’m guessing you’ve met very few, if any, actual Europeans. 
  I’ve worked in Europe. Have European friends. 
  Get off Reddit and stop imagining this is what they’re like. >
  
  I’ve met a few they are all people who permanently left Europe to be American.  My sister lives in the uk and I can say I’m not a fan of all the second hand culture I’ve had to deal with. I’m gonna assume we are on opposite political spectrums. >
  
  So because you’re infatuated with Tucker Carlson you can’t think for yourself? I’ve actually lived in multiple countries and speak multiple languages. You’re basing your ideas on such small information sets. 
  Europe has conservative politics too, y’know. 
  It’s not like there aren’t places elsewhere with transit too. But, I suppose small world small ideas.
  Enjoy it. Ignorance is truly bliss. It must be nice. >
  
  Very unpopular. I hate public transportation. Won't do it. Prefer to drive. More convenient and avoids the unnecessary human interaction with random people. >
  
  This so UN-unpopular >
  
  Depends. Most of the conservatives or republicans in the U.S. don't seem to think this opinion is popular. 
  To most other people it is semi-acceptable. OP probably doesn't know the social view on this opinion. >
  
  I never understood people that prefer public transport.
  My car is ready for me and will wait. I don't have to rush to my car in case it leaves without me.
  Not to mention I've never got in my car to see a homeless guy vomiting on the seat like I have in a bus. The fact that wasn't just a one time thing really shows the type of place I was living in at the time. >
  
  Come move to Vancouver Canada. Many of us don't have cars and just take skytrain. It's a great system
  People not agreeing with you don't live in areas with good public transit and have no idea what its like at all >
  
  i havent been in years but ive heard the homeless population has skyrocketed over there. how safe are they nowadays? >
  
  How safe are what? People? Quite safe
  The homeless are everywhere but mostly concentrated in a few areas. If you don't live or work near those areas, it's fine >
  
  i was wondering how safe the skytrain was. over here we cant ride the trains because of how many homeless attack people and shoot up on them. glad the skytrain is still safe to use. >
  
  Yeah skytrain is quite safe. Sometimes there's incidents - but that's everywhere. We also have a dedicated police force just for transit and they usually respond quite quickly >
  
  It's much healthier, too. Less exhaust, more exercise, generally just better. 
  Taxing carbon is in each nation's own best interest (it saves lives at home) and many nations have already started, which can have knock-on effects in other countries.
  If we had to pay the true cost of driving no doubt fewer of us would drive. >
  
  Having your own vehicle opens doors that wouldn't be open. You can't cross country on a local bus line while doing ubereats.
  A good vehicle is basically an apartment. 
  But if the car is breaking down, then yeah. Even then.
  Still, mass transit is pretty neat. Ever talk to the drivers? Some of them have some cool life stories. >
  
  You would almost come to believe that the those who promoted cars as being free and liberating where the same people who benefited from car sales >
  
  I just like not having to share my space with anyone else.
  I don't have to worry about someone space invading me by sitting too close or someone who listens to music out loud.
  I don't have to wait in the cold for a bus that may or may not be cancelled >
  
  Of course it is better. I hate having a car. I would love to use a decent public transportation and not shell out money to buy the car, pay the asshole gauging insurances fortune every year, service fee, parts, upkeep fees. Also worry about frequent possibility of some inbred asshole steal it, break into it, smash it, scratch it at any given location. Plus pay government sales tax, car plate licence fee, driver licence fee. All of these are avoidable costs for most of the residents just by setting up a decent public transportation in the city. 
  But i think car mafia is lobbying too strongly for it not to be a mainstream initiative in the north america, look how many of these leeches gain money from just not having a public transport >
  
  This can be said for literally anything. If anything were done right, such as electric or solar power cars, it would change society probably dunk public transportation >
  
  Sure, I'll visit a city and use the public transit but certainly won't live in one. >
  
  I'd love to live in a walkable city >
  
  It's never done correctly >
  
  Have you lived/been to London or Tokyo? >
  
  I've been on two London busses. On the first there was a homeless guy vomiting into the pram section and the second a group of drunks broke out into a fight 
  Neither of those things have happened in my car. At least so far anyway >
  
  I lived there a few months. Lived in Tokyo a year. 
  I’ve had maybe one or two weird experiences. 
  Upside was that I got to spend my commutes reading, didn’t have to deal with driving in general unless I wanted to. 
  Cars are a hassle. I need one since I have kids but I’d prefer to not need two of them. >
  
  Merry MF Christmas 
  Even in the US, i hope this isn’t unpopular. >
  
  Totally agree. Car dependency is a large cause of poverty. >
  
  I don't think that's an unpopular opinion, there's just a big lobby against it. it would break a lot of industries and democratize a lot the public space and everybody, from car to real estate to even security industries, has a vested interest in that not happening. >
  
  Trains scale so damn well, unlike cars. But too many people in my country just don't grasp this >
  
  r/fuckcars >
  
  In France public transports are pretty useful in towns where using your car becomes a nightmare because it's hell to find a place to park and drive around they would be perfect if things like the train were more reliable because strikes and technical issues are really frustrating to deal with because idiots in the Government thought it was a good idea to change everything. According to my parents taking the train was really great back when it was public you hardly ran into strikes or unexpected delays.
  If we want to reduce pollution and solve many issues we should make for sure public transports more reliable and better.
  I totally agree with you OP >
  
  I'm 41. Only passed my driving test and bought a car a month ago, after a lifetime of putting up with local public transportation, which has steadily got worse. Its only massive cities which seem to get it right because they've got the budgets to do so. I don't live in a massive city and I'm enjoying driving :) >
  
  Move into big cities. >
  
  Absolutely >
  
  The issue is the people. The people that use public transport are annoying as shit. >
  
  Being Reddit the more unpopular thing is to say I love cars, and there’s nowhere in the world where the utility of a car is able to be matched by public transportation.
  People talk about the security of trains vs airports, but if we are being honest, most planes probably don’t need as much security as we give them.
  Like if the idea is preventing the next 9-11, you don’t really have to worry about some small regional airliner, but a large intercontinental airliner like a 767. Heck it’s probably debatable that just having crews lock the cockpit door has been more effective than everything the TSA does.
  The other argument is that public transportation eliminates all the pollution of a daily commute, but as Covid pointed out, there’s an even better solution that eliminates daily commutes, at least for most people, entirely.
  There’s also the elephant in the room of profitability which I think could realistically be better described as purpose.
  Look at something like the California HSR, how many people are traveling from LA to SF every day, week, month, or even annually, vs how many people are just trying to get from somewhere vaguely in the north LA metropolitan region to somewhere in the south LA region?
  For as much as you can look at roads and say “well the government spends all this money on unprofitable roads” it’s really balanced against the fact that roads can be used for commercial, residential, and military purposes, when a high speed train really can’t, we’ll unless you do what we already do and split railways between commercial and passenger service.
  Which I would argue is a lot better way to spend the money. They make locomotives that can run off of catenary or diesel fuel. You can make catenary wires with enough clearance to fit double TEU cars. By reducing the amount of diesel that needs to be burned by both freight and passenger trains it would be the same as removing thousands, maybe even millions, of cars from the road.
  Heck you could look at what Amtrak Midwest did, I don’t even think the states involved spent a billion to bump speed limits from 80mph to 110mph. A nearly 40% increase in speed, and they improved rail lines that are still dual use. >
  
  Teleportation is just killing your, creating your clone elsewhere, and downloading your memories. 
  I'll pass. >
  
  Read the subreddit title, it says UNPOPULAR opinion >
  
  Great example of this is London. Huge distances but everything comes so often that it's just so fast to get around. >
  
  Move to Europe. Here is much easier to travel by public transport than by car. 
  Fast and efficient >
  
  Jeez, soul crushing stress is a bit extreme. It just sounds like you don't know how to drive at all.
  Yea traffic's shit but stick on a podcast or some music and enjoy yourself. Then when you find a bit of open road enjoy it. >
  
  Only slightly unpopular here in the U.S., everywhere else already knows this. Sorry but you're getting a downvote. >
  
  better than that is you buying an electric bike and go wherever you need with it. it's what I do. >
  
  I’m pretty sure this is a very common left leaning stance. Meaning it’s a common stance on Reddit. >
  
  Only unpopular in the US and even then most people know this should be the case but our infrastructure just wasn’t built for public transit >
  
  Perhaps the problem is the soul crushing stress. Have you taken some time to figure out why you find driving do stressful? It’s doesn’t have to be that way - even busy city traffic can be easy and relaxing if you’re mentally prepared, appropriately  trained, and not in a huge hurry. 
  No argument that public transit is more efficient, and walkability is something we need to prioritize. But if driving is causing you soul crushing stress, you may be able to improve your quality of life by addressing it. >
  
  Upvoted, unpopular. >
  
  Personally think the use of smaller private use vehicles are the future, like electric scooters or electric bikes as cars get too expensive for the majority or a larger percentage of the population. I’m in the UK rather than the US, May not be as feasible over there >
  
  The thing about public transit is that American cities feature lots of low density suburbs which do not allow public transportation to work efficiently. This is why public transportation is much better in other parts of the world. >
  
  Man, just go back and circle jerk with the rest of the folks in r/fuckcars. >
  
  Public transit is great if you live in a city and have a schedule, a lifestyle, enough money, and hobbies that align with a 9-5 job, minimal food preparation and storage, and anything you ever need or use is smaller than a breadbox. 
  I lived in a big city with decent transportation when I was younger. It was nice about 30% of the time, and sucked the rest. As I got older, my needs did not align with the gaps public transit fulfilled.
  With a bus or light rail or train you often can't really get home in reasonable amount time if you work late shift- all the busses change to one an hour or none after 2am in many metropolitan locations. In the burbs, a lot of transportation stop running at 10pm or earlier. You have to rely on uber or taxis and those are expensive. 
  Can't go to Costco, or a garden supply store, and get large bulk items without a car. Cant carry a kayak on the bus- and that bus doesn't go to the places you'd want to be camping or hiking. Can't refill multiple propane tanks or haul firewood without a car. Can't have proper weather emergency supplies with you at all times without a car. Can't scoop up used or free furniture, home supplies, or large project goods before they are taken by another buyer if you don't have a car- the alternative is having a high income and buying everything new and having it delivered. 
  I have so much more freedom with a vehicle. >
  
  I hate driving. I've had my licence for years but only drive when I have to.
  If I have a choice it's cycle or train.
  A city where public transport works and I reliable would be a wonder. On that day I'd put my licence in a drawer and forget about it.