Owning a car in Singapore, one of the world’s most expensive countries, has always been something of a luxury. But costs have now soared to an all time high.
US urban planning was centered around cars basically since the 50s, not without the help of lobbying and the funding of certain urban planning studies. It's part of the notion of the "neighborhood" which also arose via similar means, where the ideal of the Yeoman Farmer/middle class, that's been a fixture since the country was founded, is now contained in the single family detached home. You may not live off the land anymore or have any material connection to that lifestyle, but you CAN own a commodified form of it shaped by your consumer preferences! It's ironic how the individualism behind all this produces such conformity.
The full-cab pavement princess pickup trucks that line the suburban streets and mid-upper class neighborhoods symbolizes this so well. It's like bitch, I got a big fuck'n truck here, you see that truck? That's America.
It is the American car mentality.
Cars are so ingrained in their society, they can't even fathom anything else.
I know plenty who do not even have a driver license in Belgium. They get around by bike and public transport just fine.
Hell I have a car and I get around most of the time without it.
US urban planning was centered around cars basically since the 50s, not without the help of lobbying and the funding of certain urban planning studies. It's part of the notion of the "neighborhood" which also arose via similar means, where the ideal of the Yeoman Farmer/middle class, that's been a fixture since the country was founded, is now contained in the single family detached home. You may not live off the land anymore or have any material connection to that lifestyle, but you CAN own a commodified form of it shaped by your consumer preferences! It's ironic how the individualism behind all this produces such conformity.
The full-cab pavement princess pickup trucks that line the suburban streets and mid-upper class neighborhoods symbolizes this so well. It's like bitch, I got a big fuck'n truck here, you see that truck? That's America.
Well, considering my work area is like seven times larger than all of Belgium, no, i cannot fathom life without a car.