Public Transportation

I was talking to a Houstonian about the public transportation system in New York, and her comment was that people in Texas are very independent, and she would not be able to give up the freedom of having a car, New York would be a nightmare for her. A few days later I experienced the first traffic jam and started thinking about independence and public transportation.

Cars don't get you much freedom at all, of course in Houston cars are essential. But consider this, a car makes you dependent on a) the car running properly, b) fuel in the tank, gas station, gas prices etc. c) the traffic running smoothly, and other road conditions, d) your own concentration while driving e) other drivers around you driving safely.

On the other hand the time spent driving is a complete waste, you can't read or do any kind of work. In New York you'd wait for a train, if the train is delayed just get up to the street and hail a cab, and if everything is blocked you can just walk. For all their independence Houstonians can't depend on their own two legs to get them anywhere. I think the meaning of independence, freedom and liberty really needs to be thought over.