[Tade0]

Driving isn't nearly as important in Europe though.

American households spend 16% of their income on transportation, while European 11% on average.

https://itdp.org/2024/01/24/high-cost-transportation-united-...

In absolute numbers the gap is considerably wider due to differences in salaries. And all that while cars and fuel are significantly cheaper in the US.

In the co-working space I rent there are around 50 parking spots and half as much bicycle stands. In the warm period between the solstices the latter is packed and I have trouble finding a stand.

I started cycling mostly because they removed the free gravel parking area not counted in the usual spots, but I've found I don't miss driving as much as I thought I would.

[wasfgwp]

The majority (60-70%) of Europeans still commute by car. Distances might be shorter and their cars might use less fuel but on the whole its still more appealing option for most people (despite quite a few countries trying to actively change it by making it more expensive and leas convenient).

https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php...

[Tade0]

Indeed they do, but out of convenience, not necessity. And I get it - I much prefer driving if the distance is more than say 7km or when it's raining or really cold or really hot.

That being said I estimate that in Europe people who genuinely need a car in their day-to-day lives are closer to 40-45% of all commuters. It was noticeable in the first days of the Hormuz Strait crisis, when the government fuel subsidies didn't kick in yet.