Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
Again, IMO, in the premise of the OP, biking and walking may be more prevalent among the affluent as a personality characteristic, whereas using public transit, may also be more prevalent too, depending on where they live.
Just to qualify, the term "affluent" - it means a person or community have easy access everything they
need. "Wealthy" has an entirely different meaning. You don't have to be wealthy to be affluent. (See: "
The Original Affluent Society"). On this note, not owning a car is one of many "tricks" I use to remain "affluent" without monetary wealth. By living a car-free existence I can take a job making $8-10,000/year less than the same qualified person who needs a dependable car to get to work. Or I can take the extra money and use it elsewhere. A healthy person can live as Spartan a lifestyle as they desire cutting costs all sorts of ways. So for me, the car going away was the PRECURSOR to "affluence". And just one of the puzzle pieces albeit a big one. When I owned cars it seems I was always broke, or near broke, with maybe $50 in the bank and no way out other than to get a "better" job. As soon as I ditched the motor vehicles money began piling up. From there I learned more and all of a sudden didn't have to work very hard (or very long) to make ends meet plus some.
In short: I got rid of the car, then became "affluent" because of that (and other) similar decisions.