[hugh4]

Public transport will always be inferior to cars in the sense that it goes from somewhere that isn't exactly where you are to somrwhere that isn't exactly where you want to be, at a time that isn't exactly now, in the company of people that you don't necessarily want to be with.

[r00fus]

All of these are valid factors but when total trip time door-to-door is less than or equivalent to getting your car, driving (including traffic) and finding parking then the benefits are clear.

Similarly with total annual cost of transport. Parking and fuel can come at an high premium sometimes.

Notice - you see this happening a lot in big cities where congestion is best result by public transport.

[hugh4]

True. But if your car can be self-driving then you don't need to park it, and if everyone's car is self driving then traffic becomes less of an issue.

Eventually I think public transport becomes obsolete, or else an incredibly expensive and rubbish subsidy for the tiny minority who can't afford cars.