BUFDRVR wrote:

Wow, talk about cultural ignorance! For nearly every American, having their
own
transportation is a benifit, not a burden. I drove two hours last weekend to
visit my sister in college. I *loved* the drive! The scenary was beautiful, I
cranked up my car stereo, bought a 20 oz. soda (which eventually caused me to
stop on my trip) and relaxed. It was me, my 8 cylinder car and a fairly open
highway. I didn't have to make multiple stops (one to redeposit my soda),
didn't have to sit next to a guy smoking one cigarette after another while
listening to a screeming 2 year old. Even if I had the option of public
transportation, I would have driven. Your ignorance of Americans, our
passions
and our way of life is glaring.

I'll also add that I rented a car when I visited Europe earlier in the month
and if you're sticking with public transportation you're missing some great
scenary as well. I drove from Stuttgart to Verdun on the major highways, not
much to see. However, I drove from Verdun to Mons on small back roads. What
great scenary and as a 20th Century European history student (one BA, finishing
MA) I was fasinated by the scenary and the historical signifigance of the sites
I was viewing.

Transport is one area I'd say we Americans have missed the boat on.

Every time I'm in Europe, I grow to love the public transport system
more and more, and wish we Americans hadn't destroyed our public transport
infrastructure.

You don't have to wait long for a train or a bus; stations are usually placed
right in the heart of tourist attractions and accommodation, just as it used to
be in the US until post-WWII.

A car is a wonderful gadget, but it is responsible for a lot of social
destruction in the US IMHO. Never mind pollution concerns, just the social
ones. Suburbia, destruction of city centers, traffic congestion,
depersonalization and even fostering of anti-social behavior.

No doubt the car is a wonderful mode of personal transport freedom. Go when
you want at your own pace. Too bad we could not have merged Euro and American
transport paradigms into one. Use the train or bus for our normal, day to day
work/living needs, then hop into the car and head out to Monument Valley or
visit the sis' at college when the opportunity arose.


SMH