r/Glasgow Tools

That's all good points, but you're missing one other factor. Selfishness.

Even if public transport was amazing. Even if it was dirt cheap. Even if it was more comfortable and any other good stuff, I still would not give up my car.

It's not a case of having bought into some idea of public transport being crap and driving being better. My choice to own and drive a car has absolutely nothing to do with public transport. I could not tell you how much a bus or train ticket costs. I don't care how much it costs. Even if driving a car ended up ten times the cost of public transport, I'd still drive; for no other reason than I want to. Even if we got integrated transport and super comfy buses, I still wouldn't use them. I want to drive.

I'm also fully aware that I don't need my car (if we ignore that I use it to make a living, but even on that I dont need to be a taxi driver, but for the point we are talking about, ignore the job). I simply do not need a car for 100% of the social and domestic activities I use it for. I can totally walk or use public transport for everything, but I just don't want to. I want to drive.

If the cost of owning and driving my car were to considerably rise then I would cut other stuff from my budget before cutting out the car. I would be perfectly fine giving up internet and tv subscriptions before entertaining the idea of getting rid of the car. I've actually been there. I was unemployed for a couple of years. I tightened the belt on absolutely everything to make sure my budget allowed me to keep driving. Yeah, it meant that I had to drive a £300 scud bucket at that time, but it was better than no car at all.

Driving a car is 100% a want for me. Yes, I am aware that it's selfish.