[gbil]

Couldn’t resist but China is same land size and 4+ times the population of USA yet they do have a huge high speed network and pubic transport

The issue therefore is not size but attitude/will to have public transport

[JWLong]

You can frame this as a lack of political willpower, but that won’t get you closer.

China will have spent far less per commuter, in this process. Whether you want to chalk it up to the lack of certain standards in China, or onerous regulations in the US, doesn’t matter. End result will be the same. Just like Europe is not a fair comparison for the US, neither is China, or Siberia, for that matter.

[bushbaba]

4 times the population for the same land size means greater density to justify rail transport.

The car is actually an amazing transport concept. And very hard to beat

[ashayh]

|The car is actually an amazing transport concept. And very hard to beat

You do know you can have the best of both? Germany (where BMWs, Mercs, Audis are made), France, Japan, Switzerland etc have no shortage of easy, high end mass public transport with luxurious options for long trips. Or you buy/rent cars if you need to drive, or insist on driving.

If a Texan could get by with $500 a month on public transport, instead of $1000 on a car, they could go on a long vacation, and rent a Ferrari with the money saved in a year.

[throwaway4220]

Petroleum is also an amazing concept and hard to beat doesn’t mean we should not try to improve things

[Mountain_Skies]

China doesn't see diversity as their strength.