&gt; the absence of a set schedule removes the biggest drawback of public transportation.<p>I&#x27;m wagering that most everyone who thinks this way is mentally comparing against their most familiar American city. In Germany and Switzerland (and probably others), the trains and buses run on a schedule, and if a train is more than about 30 seconds late, you&#x27;ll see the locals starting to anxiously cross-check their watches with each other.<p>When you can plan down to the minute, using public transport becomes much more convenient and efficient (This is easier with trains than buses, though the buses do stop and wait at stops until it&#x27;s time for them to proceed).