I don't disagree it requires a change in mindset. However for that a good system is needed as people already have it good in terms of moving (although the environmental impact is bad)
In Ottawa
- Busses have their own bus lanes, so the traffic impact is minimal
- We have an LRT. It's ridiculously unreliable. So much so that there was a provincial enquiry into it and the Mayor and City manager were accused on incompetence.
- The city had recently invested $6B into that system and yet you cannot go North/South using it. Only east/west. There are a lot of people south including our Airport. However money is going in but the results are not what people want/need
- The system is designed to take people from suburbs to our downtown which is where most federal/city employees and the 2 universities are located. That's great for that group. Horrible the others. There are of the others.
- With people's busy lives of dropping off the kids, going to work, picking up the kids, taking them to Hockey/Soccer/Karate, going home, cook dinner, do the homework people are just not willing to sacrifice that extra time to bus it. You get a hell of a lot done with those two extra hours a day.
I think the ideal scenario for us would be that your first insure vehicle should have to be an zero emission/Hybrid vehicle. Most people have two cars or more anyways. Then you can get whatever you want. I think in this country it would have a impact without changing people's lifestyle too much. Most people have relatively short trips where they can charge daily.