It's also a status thing, and an identity thing. Which, judging by the alignment between demographics and politics, and car choice, is probably the real dominant factor.
The point about freedom is a valid one. On the other hand, I'm an American with a credit card. I can fail to own a car, and still go wherever, whenever, for whatever reason, by any of a variety of transport mechanisms (including a rented car). On the flip side, how many car owners have the free time to exercise their freedom of movement? If I work all day to make the payments on a car that I never have a chance to take further than the grocery store, how much freedom do I actually have?
The converse, I think, is more true: Not having a car, on the other hand, really does constrain one's freedom. But that's not inherent in urban life. It's a function of the infrastructure and development patterns that have resulted from ubiquitous car ownership.
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the freedom thing
Date: 2007-04-30 11:47 pm (UTC)The point about freedom is a valid one. On the other hand, I'm an American with a credit card. I can fail to own a car, and still go wherever, whenever, for whatever reason, by any of a variety of transport mechanisms (including a rented car). On the flip side, how many car owners have the free time to exercise their freedom of movement? If I work all day to make the payments on a car that I never have a chance to take further than the grocery store, how much freedom do I actually have?
The converse, I think, is more true: Not having a car, on the other hand, really does constrain one's freedom. But that's not inherent in urban life. It's a function of the infrastructure and development patterns that have resulted from ubiquitous car ownership.