Why does the United States have such bad public transportation? (population, houses)

[Ivory Lee Spurlock]

Originally Posted by SCguy81

Our culture has a love affair with the automobile.

And what's wrong with that? I would much rather commute to and from work in the comfort of my own vehicle instead of a crowded bus or train.

[lukas1973]

Originally Posted by 2nd trick op

and a class-consciousness which has, until recently, viewed the private automobile as a luxury intended only for the wealthy.

Sorry, but that's nonsense. That was maybe true in the fifties, after WW2, but surely not for the last 5 decades. It just doesn't make sense to use the car for everything, when there is a reliable public transportation system. And the public transportation system is not a luxury, it's a necessity. The roads were constantly congested if all people would use their cars. Cities in Europe don't function without public transportation.

[lukas1973]

Originally Posted by BadgerFilms

Prague is a European major city, Cheyenne is a small city in Wyoming. Why does it even make sense for you to compare them?

The US is a large country without the density of most of Europe.

The population density in Sweden is lower than in the U.S. but the Cities in Sweden have a reliable public transportation system.
The reason why European cities normally have a reliable public transportation system is, that they are build much more compact.
In most American metro areas a dense public transportation system would be highly inefficient. Suburbs are normally build not dense enough. If people have to walk half a mile to the next bus stop, not that many would take the bus.
Either you completely rebuild the metro areas to make them more dense or you have to spare a reliable public transportation system. The first proposal is absolutely crazy. So you have to live without a public transportation system. Maybe as time passed at least the areas around city centers will become more densily populated. Then maybe it would make more sense to build a better public transportation system.

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by David2300

After spending lots of time in Prague in the Czech Republic, I could get around without using any sort of automobile. The tram stopped right in front of my hotel and the Metro got me everywhere. So, after using the amazing public transportation of Prague, it was a real slap in the face when I returned to the US. Why is it that other countries like Germany, Portugal, and the Czech Republic have such great and efficient public transportation while most cities in the US only have buses (see the disaster of public transit in Cheyenne, Wyoming for example) and many other cities have even less? Is it a financial thing, or just US officials being against public transit?

Seriously, nearly every public transit project in smaller cities have been put on hold. Remember when we were going to get high speed rail in Wisconsin? And then it gets cancelled. And at the same time, two lines on the Prague Metro get expanded/extended.

I'm surprised US officials aren't taking this into account.

So you are comparing the public transit system of Prague (pop. 1,247,00) to Cheyenne (pop. 59,466)? Isn't that apples to basketballs or something?

[Katarina Witt]

Originally Posted by lukas1973

The population density in Sweden is lower than in the U.S. but the Cities in Sweden have a reliable public transportation system.
The reason why European cities normally have a reliable public transportation system is, that they are build much more compact.
In most American metro areas a dense public transportation system would be highly inefficient. Suburbs are normally build not dense enough. If people have to walk half a mile to the next bus stop, not that many would take the bus.
Either you completely rebuild the metro areas to make them more dense or you have to spare a reliable public transportation system. The first proposal is absolutely crazy. So you have to live without a public transportation system. Maybe as time passed at least the areas around city centers will become more densily populated. Then maybe it would make more sense to build a better public transportation system.

You, too, are comparing apples to oranges. Doesn't most of Sweden's population live in the cities in the southern part of the country, which are compact?

[Vacanegro]

Originally Posted by lukas1973

The population density in Sweden is lower than in the U.S. but the Cities in Sweden have a reliable public transportation system.
The reason why European cities normally have a reliable public transportation system is, that they are build much more compact.
In most American metro areas a dense public transportation system would be highly inefficient. Suburbs are normally build not dense enough. If people have to walk half a mile to the next bus stop, not that many would take the bus.
Either you completely rebuild the metro areas to make them more dense or you have to spare a reliable public transportation system. The first proposal is absolutely crazy. So you have to live without a public transportation system. Maybe as time passed at least the areas around city centers will become more densily populated. Then maybe it would make more sense to build a better public transportation system.

THIS.

Take a look at Atlanta - it has a downtown and a perimeter highway and the major office parks are scattered over a large geographic area. Atlanta has decent public transportation by US standards but to make if function like a European city would require central planning along with funding just not possible to achieve when juggling priorities between 4 or 5 counties, the state and the federal government.

Also, the fact that European countries are smaller, prioritize (and subsidize) public transportation while the US never has - at least at the Federal level. Oh, and gas and cars are both cheaper in the US.

[cpg35223]

Because we don't tax gasoline out the yin-yang.

The other reason? When it comes to energy expenditure per passenger mile, automobiles used to be twice as costly in the early 70s. Now costs are equivalent. And it is anticipated that energy costs and pollution output will actually be lower per passenger mile in the near future. Here's something to consider:

Honk if You Love the Mass-Produced Automobile - WSJ

[Mircea]

Because General Motors embarked on a policy of buying up mass private transportation, then running it into the ground, in an attempt to force Americans to buy cars, instead of using mass transit.

It's not a conspiracy theory....it's a documentary film. Watch it and learn.

[Serious Conversation]

Originally Posted by MSchemist80

Europe is much more densely populated with large cities closer together. The US is far more spread out. Aside from the largest cities, having extensive public transit makes little sense. Also anything run by the govt is likely to be over-priced, inefficient, and unreliable. Especially in Illinois.

This. Even many of our major cities are not as dense as Europe's and many of our cities are newer and were constructed with the automobile in mind or at least easily retrofitted for one.

[Disgustedman]

Originally Posted by David2300

After spending lots of time in Prague in the Czech Republic, I could get around without using any sort of automobile. The tram stopped right in front of my hotel and the Metro got me everywhere. So, after using the amazing public transportation of Prague, it was a real slap in the face when I returned to the US. Why is it that other countries like Germany, Portugal, and the Czech Republic have such great and efficient public transportation while most cities in the US only have buses (see the disaster of public transit in Cheyenne, Wyoming for example) and many other cities have even less? Is it a financial thing, or just US officials being against public transit?

Seriously, nearly every public transit project in smaller cities have been put on hold. Remember when we were going to get high speed rail in Wisconsin? And then it gets cancelled. And at the same time, two lines on the Prague Metro get expanded/extended.

I'm surprised US officials aren't taking this into account.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

That's why

$$$$$$$$

Look at what they get paid and compare that to our workers....