I am still bemused by this mindset. I drove to college in the US, 1+ hr each way every day. Never thought about it as an issue. Where I grew up, people regularly commuted to DC by train which was 2+ hrs each way. In Sweden, people ask me ALL THE TIME why I drive to work when it's only like 20min. I can bike it in that time but I hate to get to work sweaty and with bloodshot eyes from the wind. In recent years, car-shaming has been picking up (hence all the questions I get). People are really good here - if they can travel by other means than a private car, they do so. The eco- focus impresses me although I do love my own car.
I think it's a question where you live.
People in rural areas, such as the one I grew up in, tend to be the ones stating that a one hour drive is a burden of hell, while in metropolitan areas it is impossible to get anywhere without spending an hour in traffic or trains.
As always, I harken back to the Danny bhoy skit:
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"Canada is STUPIDLY big. You get in a car in Canada and you drive for 9 hours, you get out, look at the map - you haven't fucken MOVED!
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If you get in a car in Scotland and drive for 9 hours, you'll be in the heart of the Czech Republic!"
But... it isn't really relevant how big the USA is. Europe is as big. I work with customers all over Europe and meet them frequently (covid times are the exception). My point is that there is a basic attitude difference in how you handle your transport in daily life. I can only assume that it is due to that many US cities were founded and expanded during the car era, and it entered the national psyche that what in Europe is considered long distance driving on a daily basis is normal. I grew up on the East coast though - our cities are planned differently and our habits are by and large more English than you might think, but not regarding this.
Our view of distance is from settling days, westward expansion and frontiers. And Europe ain't really as big. Maybe Russia, China, India or Australia get it, but Euros really don't. The majority just don't comprehend population density disparity, American Federalism, why "Americans don't travel", or why we love cars so much.
Same way I don't get tv licenses, German/Euro free speech, being a polyglot, or hating Gypsies.
@laughwendylaugh idk where he was talking about haha. He was in Quebec at the time.
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Used to drive between Alberta and Saskatchewan on occasion. Trip would take over 7 hours one way haha
@xvarnah yeah, but you can drive east to west through Quebec in a day but it takes at least 2 days to get out of Ontario. I've done it...twice. Manitoba and Saskatchewan both can be done in a day...Canada is really, really big. Which is also a great Arrogant Worms song.
I think part of it has to do with where you are in the US. I know when I lived in south Florida we thought about going to Miami like it was leaving the state. But it was only like 30 miles from where we lived. Now, I live in a rural area where the nearest grocery store is 18 miles from home. I travel 90 miles to see the doctor. But when I lived in the city I would never have driven that far.
I'd like to clarify that most people in the UK don't think a 45 minute drive is a long way, many people would consider a long commute over an hour's drive, although I think that's partly because we know how terrible the roads are and an hour's journey can very easily become 2hrs+ if there is just slightly bad traffic. For a long journey I'd say that is more like anything over 5 hours. I think it's also significant how far you can actually get in any given amount of time in the UK, it takes me around 4 hours to drive to my parents' which is 170 miles away (due to the UK being very old and not built around the idea of going frequently from town to town because they were built when people still used horses as their main mode of transport) I imagine in many places in the US it would be much quicker to drive that far (although perhaps not?)
That's not to say that it isn't a small amount of time compared to the US but yeah, like @grimreaper said, I think that person just hates their dad.
I was thinking the same thing.. live and work in London.. my commute is over an hour one way (take the train though.. not going to pay £500 a month on parking), my friends have the same commute.. nobody complains. Sure I don't see my grandmother more than 4 times a year.. she lives 8 hours away. But when I do visit her it's for longer periods of time instead. That person just doesnt want to see their dad
40 miles, each way, each day. Still better than Canada or Australia. Here in Texas, a 4 hr drive will get you almost to the state border. In AU & CA... you are almost to the end of the driveway.
People in rural areas, such as the one I grew up in, tend to be the ones stating that a one hour drive is a burden of hell, while in metropolitan areas it is impossible to get anywhere without spending an hour in traffic or trains.
.
"Canada is STUPIDLY big. You get in a car in Canada and you drive for 9 hours, you get out, look at the map - you haven't fucken MOVED!
.
If you get in a car in Scotland and drive for 9 hours, you'll be in the heart of the Czech Republic!"
Same way I don't get tv licenses, German/Euro free speech, being a polyglot, or hating Gypsies.
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Used to drive between Alberta and Saskatchewan on occasion. Trip would take over 7 hours one way haha
That's not to say that it isn't a small amount of time compared to the US but yeah, like @grimreaper said, I think that person just hates their dad.