@HistoPol @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau Here's the timetable for the Sydney Metro. Trains run every 10 minutes off-peak, including on weekends and public holidays (it runs every four minutes during the weekday peak). That's 5am to after 11pm, on Sundays and public holidays.

https://transportnsw.info/documents/timetables/93-M-Sydney-Metro-North-West-20201221.pdf

Being a modern metro, all stations and trains are wheelchair accessible, including level boarding with the platform (with no stairs). It features platform screen doors (that keep kids off the tracks), and the trains themselves are automated and driverless.

It runs through tunnels or on viaducts for most of its 36 km (22 mile) length.

There's no red lights, no traffic jams, no looking for parking.

It stops right in front of several major shopping centres (including Castle Towers, Rouse Hill, and Macquarie Centre), the main campus of Macquarie University, and numerous office parks.

There's also a number of excellent restaurants in the actual station building itself at Chatswood.

Compared to taking the Metro, driving (even off-peak) involves red lights, traffic, and parking, which often doubles or triples travelling times.

This means, compared to the Metro, cars are no good for stressed-out parents with several younger kids who already feel guilty about spending too little time with their family.

Cars also don't account for frail elderly people or people with disabilities (such as severe visual impairments) who can't drive.

#Urbanism #UrbanPlanning #MassTransit #trains

@HistoPol @JessTheUnstill @doppelgrau Unfortunately, I think too many people in the US have never lived in a city with even decent public transport, and so have no point of reference to compare to.

So their comparison doesn't end up being driving compared to a modern metro service, it's instead driving a car vs. the local hourly bus service/Amtrak.

@ajsadauskas @JessTheUnstill @[email protected]

This was my point, too.

And even in big cities, many bus stops and train stations for metropolitan trains are not (yet) suited for wheelchairs, in particular at suburbs.
Furthermore, it is not just wheelchairs. Anyone who has broken a leg once knows how exhausting it is to walk just a couple of hundred feet/meters to a bus stop. Also, if youvhave strongly impaired vision, just as 2 more examples.

Oh, and try the former with a shopping bag... 😉