By all means, please do use the car when you go to your good mates! As I’m saying in the other comment below as well, I’m not asking you not to. I’m only saying it would be to your benefit if some part of the traffic would be served by trains or even bike lanes, too. Like, your trip would get faster because of that. Your trip on the car to your friends.
It wouldn’t though. Inner city people already use public transport or walk/bike for the most part. Not everyone that works in the city lives in the city though, and Australia is too big for any public transport solution to work efficiently or cost effectively.
By the way, you really faithfully downvoted all my neighbouring comments - even those where I share a picture of the Netherlands. That’s quite the dedication. I guess your car mobility is really important for you? Please keep in mind that I’m not advocating to take this away from you. Even in the city where I live right now, cars are the dominant transport. It’s just that those drivers are also happy when their kids return from school safely, by themselves. If that’s not “freedom” akin the one mentioned in your nickname, then what is?
I downvote comments that are making bad arguments and comparisons, doesn’t matter what it is. The Netherlands is not comparable to Australia. At all. Using them as an example makes no sense
The Netherlands is not comparable to Australia.
…
Using them as an example makes no sense
I disagree. I’ve lived in countries with almost as low population density as Australia, and in the Netherlands of course, and the biggest incompatibility there is between lands is people’s assumptions. You can absolutely transfer knowledge and best practices. Yes, lots of land can make “building out” cheaper in the initial stages. But if you notice that costs are rising and comfort goes down comparing to regions of the world that invested heavily in trains (or rarely, cycling infra), you know that cars are not the only option. Like, not throw cars out of the window. But add alternatives, removing pressure from fuel and car lanes. Yes, it works. Yes, it works outside of the Netherlands, too.
EDIT: by the way, I’ve visited Australia for a short while, too. I’m speaking from personal pain points and moments of positive amazement here.
When I go to visit one of my good mates the round trip is longer than driving the entire size of your country from top to bottom.
As a European you need to stop thinking that every country is as tiny as yours.
By all means, please do use the car when you go to your good mates! As I’m saying in the other comment below as well, I’m not asking you not to. I’m only saying it would be to your benefit if some part of the traffic would be served by trains or even bike lanes, too. Like, your trip would get faster because of that. Your trip on the car to your friends.
It wouldn’t though. Inner city people already use public transport or walk/bike for the most part. Not everyone that works in the city lives in the city though, and Australia is too big for any public transport solution to work efficiently or cost effectively.
By the way, you really faithfully downvoted all my neighbouring comments - even those where I share a picture of the Netherlands. That’s quite the dedication. I guess your car mobility is really important for you? Please keep in mind that I’m not advocating to take this away from you. Even in the city where I live right now, cars are the dominant transport. It’s just that those drivers are also happy when their kids return from school safely, by themselves. If that’s not “freedom” akin the one mentioned in your nickname, then what is?
I downvote comments that are making bad arguments and comparisons, doesn’t matter what it is. The Netherlands is not comparable to Australia. At all. Using them as an example makes no sense
I disagree. I’ve lived in countries with almost as low population density as Australia, and in the Netherlands of course, and the biggest incompatibility there is between lands is people’s assumptions. You can absolutely transfer knowledge and best practices. Yes, lots of land can make “building out” cheaper in the initial stages. But if you notice that costs are rising and comfort goes down comparing to regions of the world that invested heavily in trains (or rarely, cycling infra), you know that cars are not the only option. Like, not throw cars out of the window. But add alternatives, removing pressure from fuel and car lanes. Yes, it works. Yes, it works outside of the Netherlands, too.
EDIT: by the way, I’ve visited Australia for a short while, too. I’m speaking from personal pain points and moments of positive amazement here.