[escalt]

Shopping would optimally happen by foot or by bike. Somewhat impossible with US zoning laws, but in a decent mixed use neighborhood a grocery store would be a <5 minutes walk from home, with actual sidewalks and no highways in between.

And overcrowded buses happen in underfunded bus systems with not enough capacity or on peak times. Consider increasing the frequency or upgrading to a tram line if your buses are always full

[r00fus]

Yes, visiting France, it's amazing to me how local laws have resulted in shopping that's accessible by most via bike/walk/tram (ie, car not needed). I saw dozens of these folks doing that as an activity with their kids on the weekend (of course, French have lots more vacation too so they can afford to combine exercise + commerce).

The captured regulatory system in the US benefits corporations first, and people last.

[pjmlp]

Try to enjoy that wonderful experience in rural France, without a car.

I had such joy during two years, close to the French Alps.

Tourist visits isn't the same as living deeply into the country.

[escalt]

Yeah in rural areas it's hard to justify building public transport. Villages can still have grocery stores though. But we were talking about cities here

[pjmlp]

I wasn't, as my point was about every kind of place, and plus there are plenty of cities on rural areas that are cities only on paper.