Originally Posted by
UniChris
The interesting part though is that it didn't take away people's cars - or change the landscape.
It just took away the need to use a car to transcend the landscape every day.
Some of the reduction in unnecessary commuting is likely to remain.
But what we haven't yet tackled is the car-dependence of housing design. One of the things I've noticed is that even new, dense, supposedly efficient housing design isn't necessarily near life essentials. Maybe at best it's a plausible walk to the bars and nightlife - but if the actual grocery store is yet another mile and a half (making three total), and an automatic car trip for most, especially in winter.
And a mile and half trip that might be plausible for an adult, becomes a car trip once kids are involved.
The way we in America tend to have "zones" for commercial and residential areas makes that "European mix" impossible to do. Older cities such as Boston or NYC might have that, but newer housing tends to be zoned "residential" with maybe a small "7-11" commercial zone at an intersection nearby.
The US mentality forces us to commute some distance for nearly all our goods. Now, after two years of WFH... many of us are seeing a call back to the office that may or may not be an actual requirement for the office to function... depending on the tasks. Sure, it's is difficult for a factory to run, without bodies to standing side by side... but other tasks, involving computers, phones... typical office work, really doesn't require a daily car/bus/train commute.
Maybe other areas of our lives can decentralize and we can have local bakers, grocers and other vendors again... But I won't bet on it... 2 years isn't enough to change life long habits.
As long as the mentality is that someone is gonna drive 3-4 blocks for a loaf of bread... cars will be used.