"A developed country is not a place where the poor have cars. It's where the rich use public transportation."
@straphanger I have terrible news about the transportation habits of rich people in France.
@wooliex @straphanger
Also, public transport outside of major cities seems nearly unfeasible.
Most French people I know in Alsace, each need a car just to go shopping, let alone get to work.
@andbhold @wooliex @straphanger Alsace seemed pretty bikeable when I visited recently. Need, or want and use? Do French supermarkets not do good delivery yet?
@mjr @wooliex @straphanger
Many Alsatians commute quite long distances, also across the border into Germany and Switzerland.
Rural Alsace is beautiful to bike through on a Sunday afternoon, but not likely for the school run and drive to work.
@andbhold @wooliex @straphanger rural has challenges most places but Alsace cycleways seemed to go further out than Norfolk's, and people I passed looked happy cycling to work in Strasbourg, Colmar and Guebwiller (I was too late leaving Mulhouse to see many workers). I appreciate many things encourage car use, but it looked like it remains a choice not a strict need in urban fringe villages.
@andbhold @wooliex @straphanger forgot to say: yeah, long distance commuters can't easily walk and cycle, so if no train or bus, they lose and have to use cars or relocate. And the poor state of #CrossBorderRail means that's more likely in Alsace, borders on three sides.