Earlier quoted context omitted.
> less time then you'll sit in traffic in the city going a few miles to the same thing Most people aren't going to drive for just a few miles though, surely. I'd just cycle or take one of the busses that arrive every 6 minutes. Although this is purely hypothetical, because I already have access to everything I need within walking distance. It's a bad faith argument. You've claimed that it takes much longer to get som…
Judging from all the traffic inside cities and my experiences, most people do idle for awhile in traffic just to go a few miles. The bikes are the minority vs cars sitting in the roads and all the full streets / lots, but the bike riders are generally the worst offenders on the street. Most city public transportation is sub-par quality and safety wise. I don't mind public transportation in some countries to an extent…
My idea of small towns is based on well designed towns in central Europe. Almost everything you talk about here are problems from poorly planned suburbs, and have nothing to do with actual towns/cities.
> bikes are inconvenient because I'm most likely getting groceries for the next two weeks, or it's raining
If you can't realistically walk to a supermarket to buy groceries and carry them home, then your town is not a functional town. A lightweight rain jacket is very cheap.
> The bus is super slow with all the stops
The bus is faster in busy traffic, because the bus has dedicated lanes and routes that are not legal for cars to drive in. There are no personal cars allowed in our town center, you need to drive around the outside and find parking which is always less convenient than the bus.
> Most city public transportation is sub-par quality and safety wise.
Again, this sounds like a massive failing of infrastructure. I find busses are clean, cheap, and as safe as walking down the street.
I have a car, I understand they are sometimes necessary and that there are things which unfortunately are not possible without them right now. But for making short distance journeys on a day to day basis in your own town or city? That just shouldn't ever make sense.