> Unfortunately in 99% of the US today an automobile is a > necessity not a luxury.
that's because your society (and towns) have been built on an assumption of car ownership and cheap fuel. I once stayed in a small town in North Carolina which had a very beautiful town centre, built on a human scale and containing at least the potential for every kind of store you could want, within easy walking distance of each other. It was not that far from the main residential areas. I imagine it worked perfectly well before widespread ownership of cars. I imagine it could work perfectly well if people largely abandon their cars. However, the town centre was practically a desert. The shopping had all transferred to vile and enormous chains in malls stretched out along the freeway out of town. Using these absolutely demanded that you have a car. The car brought these into being, and only the car keeps them alive, but they are, frankly, horrible places. Things are similar in many parts of the UK. -- Cheers, Bob
